Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and their treatment

Osteochondrosis occurs in women about twice as often as in men. The reasons for this lie both in the peculiarities of anatomy and physiology, as well as in the way of life, traditional ideas.

The symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are generally similar to those seen in men. But there are also special cases due to biological differences.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in young and mature women

Previously, it was believed that most cases of osteochondrosis occur in women "over 50". But in recent years, cervical osteochondrosis has clearly “rejuvenated”, its detection in a 30-year-old woman is no longer a rarity.

The manifestations of osteochondrosis in women and men are similar: pain during movement, crunches, headaches, visual and hearing impairments, numbness of the limbs, chin, part of the face. Less often than men, women experience nausea. But the prerequisites for the manifestation of symptoms of the disease in representatives of different sexes are different. In men, this is more often caused by injury and excessive stress.

In women, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depend on other factors.

1. Objectively, women have weaker muscles and bones - that's physiology. Therefore, a woman's spine is under more severe stress. Than that of a man. Due to the lack of muscular corset.
2. The hormonal factor influences the condition of the spine. Therefore, the onset and exacerbation of osteochondrosis in young women provokes pregnancy and menstruation, in mature women - the onset of menopause.
3. Women have traditionally performed many types of housework that require a slight tilt of the head. It's bad for the neck. One of the signs of damage to the 7th cervical vertebra was even given a "female" name - "widow's bump" or "housewife's roll". In men, this symptom practically does not occur.
4. Other types of work with the head tilted slightly forward lead to the same result. This position must be taken in front of a computer or a desk, and among women there are many representatives of the "sedentary" professions (teachers, secretaries, cashiers, dispatchers).
5. Older women who have reached retirement age, under the influence of unreasonable traditions, “greet each other”. They stop watching their weight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. These are favorable conditions for osteochondrosis.
6. Women suffer from diet addiction much more often than men. Violation of nutritional balance leads to the appearance of osteochondrosis and its exacerbations.

These factors cannot be avoided. But you can detect the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women in time, and her treatment will give a positive result.

Pain syndrome: what pains can occur with cervical osteochondrosis

Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. But it is important to know what pain in cervical osteochondrosis can occur. This is necessary so as not to ineffectively treat non-existent disease instead of osteochondrosis, and not to miss the threatening symptoms disguised as osteochondrosis.

More often with osteochondrosis there is pain in the neck: sharp when moving or dull, painful for a long time. But this pain immediately suggests a spinal injury. It's worse when it donates to completely different organs. This is due to the compression of the deformed vertebrae and discs of the nerve roots and blood vessels.

1. The head can hurt in different areas (depending on the damaged vertebrae). Such pain can be confused with migraine, neuritis, the manifestation of VSD.
2. Sometimes shoulder pain occurs, especially when trying to raise your arm. There is no point in treating bursitis.
3. The pain may radiate throughout the arm. This symptom usually only works on one side.
4. The most dangerous option is pain in the chest or under the scapula. It can be mistaken for signs of heart disease or even myocardial infarction. It does not matter if the osteochondrosis requires you to unnecessarily disturb the cardiologist. It is worse if the first signs of a heart attack are mistaken for osteochondrosis.

The intensity of the pain may vary. In the early stages, there is periodic lumbago and a dull ache due to muscle fatigue. But with the development of the disease, lumbago can become literally unbearable, depriving the patient of the opportunity to completely move his head.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome in women

If this phenomenon occurs in the lower back, it is usually called radiculitis. Its essence lies in the compression of nerve roots extending from the spinal cord through deformed vertebrae and intervertebral discs.

Radicular syndrome is manifested by a severity of symptoms - severe pain and inflammation, dizziness, fainting, panic attacks. This only happens if the disease has been treated poorly or not at all. This is the increased danger for women in our country - they tend to "endure", "not pay attention to the little things" or settle for folk remedies, and this is not always acceptable.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome cannot be treated on its own. It manifests itself when the modified discs are already bulging, forming hernias, and growths have formed on the vertebral bodies. Serious diagnostics and professional impact on the spine are needed to stop this process. And the pronounced symptoms cannot be removed with home methods.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute stage

Exacerbations of osteochondrosis periodically occur in all patients. It is possible to determine the onset of an exacerbation by increasing the manifestation of symptoms and the appearance of new ones (the pain intensifies, headaches or fainting appears, vision is impaired, insomnia occurs. ). In women, snoring during sleep can also be a sign of exacerbation. But it is more important to know what reasons can provoke an exacerbation. And avoid them or be prepared to fight the disease.

Typical cases - a sudden change in lifestyle, heavy physical activity, infectious disease, stress, trauma. But women also have specific bodily conditions that can lead to a deterioration in well-being.

1. Fearing that they are overweight, women are more likely to resort to grueling diets. And no one is interested in how it will affect health. And drastic dieting can cause serious damage to the spine.
2. In case of osteochondrosis, women should wait for it to get worse during menstruation or pregnancy.
3. The same can happen when using hormonal contraceptives - osteochondrosis is sensitive to hormonal balance. It affects the health of the joints.
4. Menopause is a serious factor affecting the spine. Older women need to be especially mindful of themselves. Yet the majority of patients with osteochondrosis are their age.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute stage is treated in the same way as in men. In some cases, hormonal treatment (or its discontinuation) may be necessary. You should not act alone, home treatment is used during the period of remission.

Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck in women: characteristics

Strictly speaking, there is none. Women receive the same drugs as men:

pain relievers
• ;
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
• muscle relaxants for muscle relaxation;
• medicines to normalize blood pressure and relieve vascular spasms;
vitamin complexes
• ;
• chondroprotectors for the restoration of cartilage tissue.

These medicines may be offered as injections (in severe cases), tablets or topical treatments. They are prescribed by a doctor. He also recommends massage and physiotherapy procedures - without them the treatment of osteochondrosis can not do. Catch-up gymnastics is a must, and the same goes for women and men.

Women are most often prescribed sedatives. Although women (contrary to popular belief) are more resistant to stress, their nervous reactions are more pronounced. Hot temper, depression, panic can interfere with treatment.

Folk remedies for osteochondrosis of the neck

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are often associated with nerve reactions. Soothing teas should be especially recommended for women. They can be prepared from lemon balm, chamomile, mint. There are ready-made herbal preparations for sale. It will improve overall health, sleep, and help you fight disease.

You can use folk remedies for pain relief - horseradish leaf or burdock, steamed celandine herb. Compresses should not be too hot - it is dangerous for the vessels of the brain. Homemade ointments are also suitable as a heating agent. You can prepare a mixture of mummy and butter (1: 1) or petroleum jelly with honey, mint and red pepper (in grams: 100: 20: 3: 2). Suitable for grinding and vodka-pepper.

Baths with pine needles (you can use a ready-made extract) or sea salt and oak leaves are well suited during the period of remission or for temporary pain relief.

And naturally, women need to exercise regularly and lead a moderately active lifestyle to strengthen the muscle corset around the spine.

It is not that difficult to identify the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women, and its treatment is not impossible. It is more important that women themselves pay more attention to themselves and lead rational lives.