Cervical osteochondrosis in women.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women is a common disease. Representatives of the fair sex over the age of 30 are the most susceptible. 75% of women are faced with this unpleasant ailment, while the consequences and severity of the disease can be completely different.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women

Symptoms of female osteochondrosis can already be detected in the initial stage, since the discs of the cervical spine are located close to each other and have a small height. Cervical osteochondrosis can lead to serious consequences, complications, and even death. After all, the arteries run through the neck region that feed the brain, nerve trunks, and roots that have connection to the lungs, arms, and heart, as well as the spinal cord. Therefore, you should not postpone treatment with a good doctor.

In order for a woman to recognize cervical osteochondrosis, she should pay attention to the following signs:

• When turning the head, the neck contracts and unpleasant painful sensations are produced;
• Frequent and recurring occipital and temporal headaches;
• Shooting pains radiating to neck;
• Rapid fatigue, weakness and fatigue;
• High temperature;
• Severe neck stiffness, difficulty turning head;
• An unpleasant pain in the shoulder occurs when the arm is lightly loaded or when coughing;
• Numbness and tingling in the limbs and tongue;
• Dizziness, darkening of the eyes;
• Snoring while sleeping;
• Difficulty swallowing;
• Irrational anxiety, fear;
• Cycle-independent mood swings;
• Sleep disorders;
• Severe impairment of memory and attention;
• Jumps in blood pressure (either increase or decrease);
• Pain in the heart region, hearing impairment and ringing in the ears, complications with vision are much less common.
• Nausea, vomiting;
• The skin takes on a bluish tint.

Cervical osteochondrosis can cause fever and poor health.

Important!Women especially experience acute cervical osteochondrosis in the climacteric period.

Characteristics of female osteochondrosis

Osteochondrosis is a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, due to which the intervertebral discs and joints can collapse. Due to the structural features of the body, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men. The fact is that the shoulder region of men is wider, it supports the entire spine, which helps not to overload the neck.

The female cervical vertebral region is characterized by high activity and the presence of a large number of nerve fibers that function as conductors between the brain and other organs. The deformation of the intervertebral discs causes rapid pressure on the roots of the fibers of the nerve endings. Generally speaking, women have more fragile vertebrae and thinner bone tissue.

Important!Pregnancy followed by caring for the baby also exacerbates the problem. During pregnancy, the load on the spine increases, and breastfeeding in an uncomfortable position and constant carrying of the baby in the arms provoke an exacerbation of the disease.

There are several stages in the development of cervical osteochondrosis:

1. Decreased position of the spine due to dehydration of the nucleus pulposus (the interior of the intervertebral disc, which should normally be filled with semi-fluid and gelatinous tissues).
2. The muscles and ligaments sag, which is the cause of the imbalance, that is, the displacement of the vertebrae.
3. Protrusion of intervertebral discs (out of their content) and osteoarthritis.
4. The human body is trying to help the spine to put the "loose" vertebrae back in place, remove support and protective barriers. For this, osteophytes appear on the vertebrae - bone growths. Fibrous tissue also grows. As a result, the motor segment of the spine is in a kind of shell that interferes with activity.

Causes of the disease in women

There is an opinion that the occurrence of cervical osteochondrosis in women is associated with salt deposits, but this is not the case. It is osteochondrosis itself that is the main cause of salt deposits. Scientists, however, argue that there are many reasons for the appearance of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Let's consider the main ones:

• Climax. The fact is that the progesterone that enters the body becomes less and less, and the muscles of the cervical region also decrease. All this leads to a weakening of the spinal section;
• Weakening of the immune system, frequent illnesses;
• Overweight;
• Circulatory disorders;
• Vertebral artery abnormalities that have arisen in the context of birth trauma, infection, and heredity;
• Sedentary work, especially at the computer;
• Flat feet;
• Incorrect posture;
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption;
• Excessive exercise;
• Heavy load on the spine during pregnancy;
• Incorrect and unbalanced nutrition;
• Bad metabolism, metabolic problems;
• Any damage to the neck;
• Rheumatism or injury;
• Hormonal disorders in the body;
• Hypothermia;
• Inheritance.

Excess weight puts additional pressure on ligaments and joints, and also leads to problems with the cardiovascular system.

Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?

Lack of treatment can lead a woman to disability. If you do not start osteochondrosis treatment in time, there is a risk of complications, from the most insignificant to the most serious:

1. Constant pain in the head, dizziness.
2. Sudden loss of regular consciousness.
3. Hearing and vision problems.
4. Blood circulation in the brain region will be affected.
5. Frequent increase in blood pressure.
6. Problems can start in the central nervous system: speech, coordination and behavior disorders.
7. Radiculitis and other diseases of the back.
8. Vessels will be compressed in the brain section.
9. Displacement of the vertebrae.
10. Gait disorder due to spinal stenosis.
11. Hernias and intervertebral bulges.
12. Schmorl's hernia.

An increase in blood pressure in osteochondrosis may be associated with poor permeability of blood in the arteries on the way to the brain. Pinched arteries occur due to osteochondrosis.

Exam and Treatment

Cervical osteochondrosis has many symptoms common with other diseases, therefore, before treatment, the neuropathologist carefully listens to the patient and collects an anamnesis.

After that, the diagnostic tests are performed:

• Radiography. Using an X-ray of the cervical spine, the doctor determines the location of the disease. In the image, you will see a change in the shape of the vertebral segment, the presence of osteophytes, and a narrowing of the intervertebral discs.
• Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.Today, these are the most effective ways to find out what defects exist and where they are located in the spine.
• Myelography.For the test, a contrast liquid is injected into the canal of the spinal cord. The procedure is not safe: the patient may develop allergies and there is a risk of spinal cord injury if the puncture is not performed correctly. However, with cervical osteochondrosis, this study is rarely done unless you need to see the entire spine.

MRI will help to accurately diagnose and determine the degree of development of the pathology.

To cure cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes complex treatment. The goals of therapy are to relieve muscle spasms, relieve pain, and reduce intradiscal pressure. At different stages of the development of the disease, different types of therapy are used.

Normally, the treatment goes through stages:

1. Medication.Restoration of cartilage tissue using chondroprotectors. For the blood supply in the brain, vasodilator drugs are used. All of the above will eliminate inflammation, pain syndrome, and improve metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs in gel or tablet form are used as first aid. They may prescribe nootropics and medications with magnesium. With osteochondrosis, you can take sedatives, as a prolonged illness can cause stress and depression. Sometimes it is enough to drink a tincture of motherwort or valerian.
2. Physiotherapy.Intended to eliminate disorders in the affected areas of the spine, alleviate pain syndromes, improve blood circulation. A good massage from a competent specialist, electrophoresis with anesthetic solutions and laser therapy can help in the initial stages of the development of the disease. The procedures relieve muscle tension and stimulate blood circulation. In severe cases, magnetotherapy, diadynamic currents, ultrasound, electroanalgesia and ultraviolet light are used. Physiotherapy takes effect after the 3rd procedure, the general condition improves, insomnia, headaches and ringing in the ears disappear.
3. Manual therapy.The treatment has good efficacy and appreciated critics. A chiropractor will return the vertebrae to their place in several sessions, provide their correct mobility and posture.
4. Acupuncture.Also called reflexology. The goal is to influence the dystrophic transformations of muscle tissues, eliminate inflammation and pain, and normalize blood circulation. Women with a low pain score have a good chance of recovery, their lymph flow quickens, and blood flow normalizes.
5. Orthopedic treatment.The specialist will prescribe special pillows for sleeping to relieve the spine. Underwater spinal traction (traction) is also recommended to relax the muscles from the action of warm water. Traction involves the use of various devices to enlarge the disc space.

6. Proper and clean nutrition.By providing the body with healthy fats, carbohydrates and proteins, as well as minerals and vitamins, a woman can significantly speed up the healing process.
7. Physical activity.The doctor may prescribe both physical therapy exercises and special exercises for the cervical spine. Physical education aims to restore mobility to the neck area and blood supply. Corrects posture and strengthens the muscular corset. Also, regular exercise, for example, in the gym, will prevent cervical osteochondrosis from progressing.
8. Wearing a corset.There is a special device for the cervical spine called a collar. It is rigid and stable. Wearing a collar will eliminate pain syndromes, improve posture, and speed recovery.

When choosing a necklace, you must choose the correct height of the product. To do this, it is necessary to measure the distance from the clavicle to the angle of the lower jaw.

Home Treatment

In order for the disease not to manifest itself or to be diagnosed in the initial stage, the woman must closely monitor her health, diet and lifestyle.

To alleviate the condition, at home, you can use folk recipes:

1. Grate the peeled potatoes on a fine grater, add a small amount of honey and mix. The resulting mixture should be applied to the cervical spine, where it hurts the most. Repeat the treatment once a week.
2. Rinse the horseradish leaves and apply to the affected area. Secure the compress with a bandage and sleep with it overnight. Usually in the morning you can feel relief and improvement. For maximum effect, the procedure should be repeated for 3 days or more.

Cervical gymnastics should be done to strengthen the neck muscles and restore spinal mobility. Prophylaxis exercises can be performed, but you should practice gently and without sudden movements so that muscle spasms do not occur:

1. Lean forward.Sitting, place one palm on your forehead and tilt your head forward while resisting with your palm. One incline: 10 seconds. After a short rest, repeat the exercise again.
2. Lean to the side.Sitting, place a palm on your head in the temple area. Tilt your head to the side while pressing it with the palm of your hand, resisting. Continue for 10 seconds. After the break, repeat the exercise.
3. It turns to the side.Sitting in a chair or standing, lower your arms along your torso. Gently turn your head to the extreme right position and then to the extreme left. Repeat 10 times.
4. Lift your shoulders.Sitting or standing, the arms go down the length of the body, raise the shoulders as much as possible and hold them in this position for 10 seconds. Next, lower your shoulders, take a deep breath, and relax for 15 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
5. Lean toward the chest.Sitting or standing, the arms are lowered along the body. Gently lower your head down, trying to press your chin against your chest as much as possible. With good mobility of the cervical vertebrae, you can feel the thoracic notch with your chin. Repeat about 10 times.
6. Touching the shoulder with the ear.Tilt your head back. Try to touch your left shoulder with your left ear, repeat 5 times. Do the same with the right side.
7. Bend down.Drop your chin towards your neck. Turn your head 7 times to the left and then 7 times to the right.
8. Resistance of the neck muscles.Tilt your head back, but not quite. Slowly press your chin against your chest, overcoming the resistance of the muscles in your cervical region. Do it 5-7 times.
9. Swing your arms.It is necessary to make circular movements with both hands in one direction and then in the other.
10. Massage.Sitting or lying down, massage the area between the occiput bone and its soft part, in the area of ​​the conditional junction of the head and neck, alone or with the help of another person. The impact must be strong enough, perform in 4 minutes.

Important!In the case of cervical osteochondrosis, under no circumstances should you make circular movements with your head, as this can cause injury.

Prevention

1. Doctors say that the prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should be done even in the uterus, during the development of the embryo. The expectant mother is obliged to exclude risk factors associated with future fetal disease, monitor her health to prevent intrauterine infections, hypoxia and poisoning.
2. Both the mother and the father should monitor the child's injuries and consult a doctor in time for the diagnosis to rule out possible complications in the future.
3. It is very important that girls and adult women pay attention to the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis, for this it is worth changing your lifestyle. You need to start walking a lot, taking at least 10, 000 steps a day, gradually increasing the amount of time spent walking. If the work activity is related to a sedentary lifestyle, you should do simple exercises for office workers directly at the table, as well as get up, warm up and walk every hour. Sit in a high-back chair with a headrest. It is also important to avoid furniture that is too soft, as the body must be supported by the ischial tubercles.
4. When driving a car, it is important that your back has good support, you can place a roller between your lower back and the seat. Try to keep your head straight and sit relaxed.
5. It is harmful to be in the same position in front of a computer screen and a TV screen. From time to time, you need to change positions so that the muscles can flex.
6. For those with cervical osteochondrosis, it is best if it is possible to do household chores such as ironing or cooking while sitting.
7. To prevent osteochondrosis, it is necessary to prevent excessive stress on the spine and cervical spine. Bags and packages must be carried with both hands or alternately. When working in the garden and orchard, every 1. 5 hours you should take a 20-minute break and rest, preferably in a horizontal position.
8. To soften the impact when walking, you should choose comfortable or orthopedic shoes with elastic soles.

9. In the cold season, a woman should protect the neck area of ​​the neck from hypothermia with a scarf and hat.
10. The sleeping mattress should be firm, and you can also place a cushion under the lower back, the knee joint or under the stomach, depending on the position.
11. For the prevention of osteochondrosis, it is worth taking a general strengthening massage course. It will help prevent the occurrence of the disease, as well as cure it in the initial stage.
12. It is important for a woman to cope with stress and control psychostability, because nervous shock can damage the cervical spine.
13. To prevent the disease, it is important to eat foods that are good for the spine, to synthesize its cartilage tissue. Proteins, mucopolysaccharides, minerals and vitamins can be obtained from meat, legumes, nuts, vegetables, gelatin, fish, eggs, cottage cheese.

When choosing a mattress that is suitable for you, you need to take into account many factors, for example, complexion, height, weight, padding, and most importantly, the degree of development of osteochondrosis.

Important!Swimming in a pool or pond will be a very useful activity for women with cervical osteochondrosis. But it is better to refuse a bath and sauna during an exacerbation.

Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease of all women, whose problem is a sedentary lifestyle. There are many professions: accountants, cashiers, seamstresses, musicians, writers and others. In the period of remission of the disease, it will be useful for women to visit sanatoriums and resorts, where they can strengthen the neck muscles, vascular system, and heal the body. A timely visit to a doctor is the key to a successful recovery.