Osteochondrosis occurs in women about twice as often as in men. The reasons for that lie in the properties 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 in men. But there are also special cases due to biological differences.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in young and mature women
It was previously believed that most cases of osteochondrosis occur in women older than 50 years. But in recent years, cervical osteochondrosis has suddenly “rejuvenated, ” its detection in a 30-year-old woman is no longer uncommon.
Manifestations of osteochondrosis in women and men are similar: pain during movement, crunch, headache, impaired vision and hearing, numbness of limbs, chin, part of the face. Less often than men, women have nausea. But the preconditions for the manifestation of the symptoms of the disease in representatives of different sexes are different. In men, it is more often caused by injuries and excessive stress.
In women, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis depend on other factors.
- Objectively, women have weaker muscles and bones - this is physiology. Therefore, a woman's spine is exposed to more stress. Than a man. Due to the lack of a muscular corset.
- Hormonal factor affects the condition of the spine. Therefore, the appearance and worsening of osteochondrosis in young women cause pregnancy and menstruation, and in mature women - the beginning of menopause.
- Women traditionally do many types of household chores that require a slight tilt of the head. That's bad for the neck. One of the signs of damage to the 7th cervical vertebra was even given a "female" name - "widow" or "housewife roller". In men, this symptom practically does not occur.
- Other types of work with a slightly tilted head lead to the same result. This position should be taken at a computer or desk, and among women there are many representatives of "sitting" professions (teachers, secretaries, cashiers, dispatchers).
- Older women who have reached retirement age, under the influence of an unreasonable tradition, “wave to themselves”. They stop tracking their weight and lead an inactive lifestyle. These are favorable conditions for osteochondrosis.
- Women are much more likely to suffer from diet addiction than men. Violation of nutritional balance leads to the appearance of osteochondrosis and its worsening.
These factors cannot be avoided. But you can detect the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women in time and its treatment will give a positive result.
Pain syndrome: what pains in cervical osteochondrosis can occur
Pain is one of the main symptoms of osteochondrosis. But it is important to know what pain can occur with cervical osteochondrosis. This is necessary in order not to treat ineffectively non-existent disease instead of osteochondrosis and not to miss the threatening symptoms disguised as osteochondrosis.
More often, with osteochondrosis, there are pains in the neck: sharp in motion or dull, long-lasting pains. But this pain immediately suggests a spinal lesion. It is worse when it gives completely to other organs. This is due to the compression of the deformed vertebrae and discs of the nerve roots and blood vessels.
- The head can ache in different areas (depending on which vertebrae are damaged). Such pain can be confused with migraine, neuritis, a manifestation of VSD.
- Sometimes shoulder pain occurs, especially when trying to raise your arm. There is no point in treating bursitis.
- Pain can radiate to the whole arm. Typically, this symptom only works on one side.
- 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 bother the cardiologist unnecessarily. It is even worse if the first signs of a heart attack are replaced with osteochondrosis.
Pain intensity may vary. In the initial stages, periodic lumbago and dull pain due to muscle tension appear. But with the development of the disease, the lumbago can become literally unbearable and deprive the patient of the ability to move his head at all.
Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome in women
If this phenomenon occurs in the lower back, it is usually called radiculitis. Its essence is the compression of the roots of the nerves that extend from the spinal cord with deformed vertebrae and intervertebral discs.
Radicular syndrome manifests as a severe severity of symptoms - severe pain and inflammation, dizziness, fainting, panic attacks. It occurs only if the disease has been poorly or not treated at all. This is an increased danger for women in our country - they tend to "endure", "do not pay attention to the little things" or are satisfied with folk remedies, and this is not always acceptable.
Osteochondrosis with radicular syndrome cannot be treated on its own. It is manifested when the altered discs are already protruding, forming hernias and forming growths on the vertebral bodies. Serious diagnosis and professional influence on the spine are needed to stop this process. And the pronounced symptoms cannot be removed by home methods.
Cervical osteochondrosis in acute women
Worsening of osteochondrosis occurs periodically in all patients. You can determine an attack of exacerbation by increasing the manifestation of symptoms and the appearance of new ones (pain intensifies, headaches or fainting appear, impaired vision, insomnia occurs . . . ). Snoring during sleep in women can also be a sign of worsening. But it is more important to know what reasons can cause deterioration. And avoid them or be prepared to fight disease.
Typical cases - a sharp change in lifestyle, intense physical activity, infectious diseases, stress, trauma. But women also have specific conditions in the body that can cause a deterioration in well-being.
- Concerned about being overweight, ladies are more likely to resort to exhausting diets. And no one cares how this will affect health. And a radical diet can seriously damage the spine.
- If there is osteochondrosis, women should wait for it to get worse during menstruation or pregnancy.
- The same can happen when hormonal contraceptives are used - osteochondrosis is sensitive to hormonal balance. Affects joint health.
- Menopause is a serious factor that affects the spine. Older ladies should be especially careful with 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 needed. You should not act alone, home treatment is used in remission.
Treatment of osteochondrosis of the neck in women: features
Strictly speaking, there are none. Women show the same medications as men:
- analgesics;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants for muscle relaxation;
- drugs to normalize blood pressure and relieve vascular cramps;
- vitamin complexes;
- chondroprotectors for cartilage tissue regeneration.
These medicines can be offered in the form of injections (in severe cases), tablets or topical medicines. They are prescribed by a doctor. He also recommends massage and physiotherapy procedures - without them, osteochondrosis cannot be treated. Rehabilitation gymnastics is mandatory, and the same is true for both women and men.
Sedatives are most often prescribed to women. 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 osteochondrosis of the neck
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women and its treatment are often associated with nervous reactions. Soothing teas are especially recommended for women. They can be made from lemon balm, chamomile, mint. Ready-made herbal preparations are on sale. This will improve overall health, sleep and adapt to the fight against disease.
You can use folk remedies to relieve pain - horseradish leaf or burdock, steamed celandine herb. Compresses should not be too hot - it is dangerous for the vessels of the brain. Homemade fats are also suitable as a warming 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.
During remission or for temporary pain relief, baths with pine needles (you can use the finished extract) or sea salt and oak leaves are well suited.
And of course, women need to exercise regularly and lead a moderately active lifestyle to strengthen the muscular corset around the spine.
It is not so difficult to recognize the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women, and its treatment is not impossible. It is more important for women to be more careful with themselves and lead a rational lifestyle.