Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment

Osteochondrosis occurs in women about twice as often as in men. The reasons for this lie in the features 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 found in men. But there are also special cases due to biological changes.

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 been “rejuvenated” severely, its discovery in a 30-year-old woman is no longer a rarity.

The manifestations of osteochondrosis in women and men are similar: pain during movement, pressure, headache, impaired vision and hearing, numbness of limbs, chin, face. Less than men, women experience nausea. But the preconditions for the appearance of symptoms of the disease in representatives of different genders are different. In men, this is most 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 is physiology. Therefore, a woman’s spine is subjected to more severe stress. Than of a man. Due to the lack of a muscular corset.
2. Hormonal factor affects the condition of the spine. Therefore, the appearance and worsening of osteochondrosis in young women provoke pregnancy and menstruation, in mature women - the onset of menopause.
3. Women traditionally do many types of household chores 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 even got a name "female" - "widow's lump" or "housewife roller". In men, this symptom practically does not occur.
4. Other types of work with the head slightly tilted forward lead to the same result. This position should be taken on a computer or desk, and among women there are many representatives of "sitting" professions (teachers, secretaries, cashiers, distributors).
5. Older women who have reached retirement age, under the influence of unreasonable traditions, "shake themselves". They stop monitoring their weight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. These are favorable conditions for osteochondrosis.
6. Women suffer from dietomania 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 time in women, and its treatment will give a positive result.

Pain Syndrome: What Pain Cervical Osteochondrosis Can Have

Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. But it is important to know what pain can appear in cervical osteochondrosis. This is necessary in order not to treat an ineffective disease ineffectively instead of osteochondrosis and not to miss the threatening symptoms disguised as osteochondrosis.

Most often, with osteochondrosis, neck pain occurs: sharp when moving or dull, aching for a long time. But this pain immediately suggests a spinal lesion. Worst is worse when it gives completely different organs. This is due to the compression of deformed vertebrae and discs of 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, manifestation of VSD.
2. Sometimes shoulder pain occurs, especially when you try to raise your arm. There is no point in treating the scholarship.
3. Pain can radiate all over the arm. This symptom usually only works on one side.
4. The most dangerous option is pain in the chest or under the shoulder blade. It can be confused with signs of heart disease, even myocardial infarction. It's okay if osteochondrosis forces you to unnecessarily bother the cardiologist. Worst worse if the first signs of a heart attack are mistaken as osteochondrosis.

Pain intensity may vary. In the initial stages, there is periodic lumbago and dull pain from muscle strain. But as the disease progresses, the lumbago can become literally unbearable and deprive the patient of the opportunity to move the head completely.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome in women

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

Radicular syndrome is manifested by a sharp severity of symptoms - severe pain and inflammation, dizziness, fainting, panic attacks. Occurs only if the disease is poorly treated or not at all. This is an added risk for women in our country - they tend to "endure", "not pay attention to the little things" or be content with folk remedies and this is not always acceptable.

Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome cannot be treated on its own. Manifested when altered discs are already prominent, forming hernias and growths are formed in the vertebral bodies. Serious diagnosis and professional impact on the spine are needed to stop this process. And pronounced symptoms can not be removed with home methods.

Osteochondrosis of the cervix in women in the acute phase

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

Typical cases - a sharp change in lifestyle, strenuous physical activity, infectious diseases, stress, trauma. But women also have specific body conditions that can cause a deterioration in well-being.

1. Concerned about being overweight, ladies are more likely to use grueling diets. And no one is interested in how this will affect health. And a radical diet can cause serious damage to the spine.
2. If there is osteochondrosis, women should expect it to worsen during menstruation or pregnancy.
3. The same thing can happen when you use hormonal contraceptives - osteochondrosis is sensitive to hormonal balance. Affects joint health.
4. Menopause is a serious factor affecting the spine. Older ladies need to be especially careful about themselves. However, most patients with osteochondrosis are their age.

Cervical osteochondrosis in women in the acute phase is treated in the same way as in men. In some cases, hormone therapy (or withdrawal) may be required. You do not have to act on your own, home treatment is used during the remission period.

Treatment of neck osteochondrosis in women: features

Strictly speaking, there is none. Women are shown the same medicines as men:

• analgesics;
• non-steroidal 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 can be given in the form of injections (in severe cases), tablets or topical treatments. They are prescribed by a doctor. He also recommends massage and physiotherapy procedures - without them, treating osteochondrosis can not do. Healing gymnastics is a must, and it is also the same for women and men.

What women are most often described for are sedatives. Although women (contrary to popular belief) are more resistant to stress, their nervous reactions are more pronounced. Hot temper, depression, panic can negatively affect treatment.

Folk remedies for neck osteochondrosis

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

You can use folk remedies to relieve pain - horseradish or burdock leaves, celandine herb in steam. Compresses should not be too hot - this is dangerous for the brain vessels. Household ointments are also suitable as a heating agent. You can prepare a mixture of mummy and butter (1: 1) or Vaseline with the addition of 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 suitable during the remission period or for temporary pain relief.

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

It is not so difficult to identify the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment is not impossible. More importantly, women themselves need to be more attentive to themselves and lead a rational lifestyle.