Cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed in women more often than in men. And this is due not only to the lower strength of the tendon ligament apparatus, to the weakness of the muscular corset. Throughout her life, a woman's body is subject to fluctuations in hormone levels, which can adversely affect the condition of cartilage and bone tissues. But the conservative and surgical treatment methods of cervical osteochondrosis in both sexes practically do not differ.
Features of female osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine in women develops and proceeds according to the same scenario as in men. Intervertebral discs lose the ability to retain moisture, begin to slowly collapse, involving bone structures, ligaments, tendons in the destructive process. But due to weak neck muscles, more fragile vertebral segments, the first symptoms of the disease in women appear more quickly. Already at the early stage of development, there may be pronounced discomfort that limits mobility.
It should be noted that women of any age are less resistant to stress. Having learned about the impossibility of completely curing osteochondrosis, they can bring themselves to a depressive state with experiences. Therefore, antidepressants, antipsychotics, tranquilizers and sedatives are often included in therapeutic regimens.
Causes of the disease in women
The main reason for more frequent damage to intervertebral discs in women is a decrease or increase in the level of hormones in the body. After the onset of natural menopause, the production of estrogens, which are involved in regulating the biosynthesis of cartilage and bone tissues, gradually decreases. A decrease in estrogen levels at menopause leads to disc damage, causes the development of osteoporosis (increased fragility of bones).
Women monitor their weight, so they often refuse calcium-rich foods - sour cream, cheeses, peas, soy, beans. And if the diet is followed, not only does the body weight decrease, but also a deficiency of the most important trace elements and vitamins occurs, which causes the premature destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms
In the first radiographic stage, signs of osteochondrosis are weakly expressed. Only the irregular surface of the intervertebral discs is noted. Therefore, a woman experiences only mild neck discomfort that occurs after physical exertion or a long stay in a head-down position. But gradually the intensity of pain increases. It appears not only when turning and tilting the head, but also at rest. In the absence of medical intervention, the pathology is constantly progressing. As a result of violation by osteophytes, discs displaced from the vertebral artery, the following clinical manifestations occur:
- jumps in blood pressure;
- headaches (cervical migraines), dizziness, pre-fainting;
- decreased visual and hearing acuity, double vision of objects in front of the eyes, tinnitus;
- fatigue, apathy, sleep disturbances;
- tickling sensation, "coma" in the throat.
In addition, when tilting or turning the head, a crunch is heard and the mobility of the cervical region is limited.
pathology diagnosis
The primary diagnosis can be made based on an external examination, the patient's complaints, and the results of various functional tests to assess range of motion, reflexes, and sensation. To confirm this, radiography is performed in 2 projections. The study is informative not only for the detection of osteochondrosis, but also for establishing its stage, the degree of damage to the discs and vertebrae. Discography allows you to accurately examine the affected intervertebral discs, and if damage to the nerve pathways is suspected, patients receive electrophysiological diagnoses:
- evoked potentials;
- electroneurography;
- electromyography.
CT, MRI serve as additional diagnostic methods, often used to assess the condition of the spinal cord, detect complications - intervertebral protrusions or hernias. These studies are performed to differentiate cervical osteochondrosis from tuberculous spondylitis, osteomyelitis, benign and malignant neoplasms, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatism.
First aid for exacerbations
During recurrence of cervical osteochondrosis, there is such intense pain in the neck that the woman is afraid to turn or tilt her head. To reduce its intensity, lie down on a hard surface. It is necessary to take a position of the body in which the pain subsides. If, on the recommendation of a doctor, a Shants collar or semi-rigid bandage has already been purchased, it should be worn when moving.
To stop an attack of pain will allow taking a pill of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ointments and gels with NSAIDs have a pronounced analgesic effect.
When providing first aid, the use of cold or heat is undesirable. Often, a relapse due to muscle spasm occurs, and cold compresses only increase the tension of the skeletal muscles. Dry heating is an effective way to eliminate symptoms, but only in the absence of an inflammatory process in the soft tissues of the neck.
How to treat cervical osteochondrosis in women
Osteochondrosis of any location has not yet been completely cured. A neurologist or vertebrologist will definitely explain to a woman the meaning and principles of the upcoming therapy. Treatment is aimed at achieving a stage of stable remission. At this stage, any painful sensations occur extremely rarely and range of motion is completely preserved.
It is impossible to limit yourself only to taking drugs, as the means that restore discs and vertebrae have not yet been synthesized. It is necessary to follow all the doctor's prescriptions - attend physical therapy, massage activities, exercise therapy and gymnastics.
From the first days of treatment, it is recommended to use Shants collars - orthopedic devices that stabilize discs and vertebrae. They prevent displacement of vertebral structures, thus reducing the likelihood of relapses.
Overview of treatment drugs
Sometimes during exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis, burning and stabbing pains occur due to violation of spinal roots. They can be eliminated only by intramuscular administration of NSAID solutions. And if they are ineffective, drug blocks with anesthetics and hormonal agents are used. Glucocorticosteroids are not often used because of their negative effects on internal organs, cartilage, and bone tissues.
To get rid of pain of mild severity, a woman can take NSAIDs in pill or capsule form. Non-steroidal agents in the form of gels and ointments are prescribed for mild pain, as well as for reducing systemic drug doses.
| A group of drugs for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis | therapeutic action |
|---|---|
| chondroprotectors | Partially restore the cartilaginous tissues of the intervertebral discs |
| Means that improve blood circulation | Eliminate the lack of oxygen and nutrients, stimulating regeneration |
| B vitamins | Normalize the transmission of impulses to the central and peripheral nervous system |
| muscle relaxants | Relax skeletal muscles, eliminate muscle spasms |
| heating ointments | Accelerate blood circulation, have an analgesic and anti-exudative effect |
| Antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives | Relieve increased anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbances |
Therapeutic exercise, gymnastics, exercises
The most effective way to treat osteochondrosis is daily exercise therapy. With the help of dosed loads on the cervical spine, the muscular corset is strengthened, the blood supply of tissues with nutrients improves, and the risk of exacerbations is reduced. It is necessary to start gymnastics immediately after stopping sharp pain. The exercise therapy physician designs a set of exercises individually for a woman, taking into account her physical fitness and the severity of the pathology. All movements are performed smoothly, with small amplitude. This will strengthen the muscles without damaging the cartilage tissue. What exercises do physical therapy doctors recommend:
- sit up straight, place your hand under your chin. Try tilting your head, resisting with a brush;
- in a sitting position, place your hand on your cheek. Tilt your head to the side, resisting with a brush;
- get up, put your hands on the belt. Turn your head first in one direction, then the other, without pulling it too far back.
With osteochondrosis, patients are recommended swimming, yoga, Pilates, water aerobics, Nordic walking. Cycling, running, lifting weights are prohibited.
nutrition and diet
With cervical osteochondrosis, nutritionists recommend limiting the use of alcohol, coffee and strong tea. These drinks interfere with the absorption of calcium, quickly eliminating it from the body. Preference should be given to lightly salted mineral waters, fruit jams and jellies, vegetable juices, wild fruit drinks. The ideal amount of liquid to drink is 2 to 2. 5 liters per day.
It is necessary to abandon fast food, semi-finished products, smoked meats, fatty meats. The daily diet menu should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, white or dry rye bread, and fermented dairy products. Useful turkey, chicken breast, rabbit meat, lamb. 2-3 times a week you need to eat some oily fish like salmon or Norwegian herring.
It is better to completely abandon fried foods. The most useful products are baked in foil, boiled in water or steamed.
Physiotherapy
In the rehabilitation phase, patients receive 5-10 physical therapy sessions. Electrophoresis or ultraphonophoresis with chondroprotectors, solutions of calcium salts, vitamins of group B is performed to restore cartilage tissues, improve innervation and increase the strength of the ligamentous tendon apparatus. The same procedures, but only with glucocorticosteroids, analgesics, anesthetics in the subacute period, are intended to relieve pain and inflammation.
The following physical therapy procedures can also improve a woman's well-being:
- UHF therapy;
- magnetotherapy;
- galvanic currents;
- laser therapy;
- shock wave therapy.
Applications with ozokerite, bischofite, paraffin are used. The use of therapeutic mud and mineral waters, fixation of medical leeches has proven itself well in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
massages
During massage, a mechanical effect is made on the muscles of the entire back region, not just the cervical region. But it is on them that the specialist focuses special attention. As a result of kneading, smoothing, pressing and cutting movements, spasmodic skeletal muscles relax, ligaments strengthen, and blood circulation improves. In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the following types of manual and hardware massage are used:
- classic;
- Score;
- vacuum;
- Swedish;
- segment.
Pharmacies and medical equipment stores sell handheld electric massagers. They are equipped with special nozzles, speed controllers. And the devices' long and comfortable handle allows you to independently massage the back of the neck.
Folk remedies
In folk medicine, for the treatment of osteochondrosis, homemade ointments, rubbing with alcohol and oil, compresses, decoctions and tinctures are used. Representatives of official medicine are skeptical about such methods of therapy for degenerative-dystrophic pathology due to their low clinical effectiveness. Exceptions are herbal teas of chamomile, St. John's wort, rosehip infusion.
Features of treatment of older women
Therapy of elderly patients is carried out using the same techniques as the treatment of young women. But when determining the dosage regimen, the neurologist takes into account the presence of chronic pathologies in the elderly, decreased functional activity of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. The doctor chooses drugs, the use of which has a slight effect on internal organs, and the risk of adverse reactions is reduced.
What is dangerous cervical osteochondrosis
The main signs of cervical osteochondrosis are similar in both sexes. But the neurological symptoms are more pronounced in women. They are most often diagnosed with violation of the spinal roots and vertebral artery, which supplies the brain with nutrients.
With 2nd and 3rd severity cervical osteochondrosis, often the spinal roots are infringed, which leads to the onset of sharp pain, loss of reflexes and decreased sensitivity. Serious complications of the pathology are intervertebral hernia, radicular syndrome, discogenic myelopathy.
Preventive actions
In women who prefer narrow shoes with high heels, cervical osteochondrosis is often detected. When using it, the load on the spine is unevenly distributed, which leads to microtraumas of cartilaginous tissues. Women also often suffer from hypothermia, are acutely experiencing common domestic conflicts. And these factors are prerequisites for the development of pathology. Therefore, its exclusion from the usual way of life becomes an excellent prevention of osteochondrosis of any location and its consequences.