Cervical osteochondrosis in women: symptoms and methods of treatment

Cervical osteochondrosis is a common occurrence in young women

Cervical osteochondrosis is a rapidly rejuvenating disease. If earlier it happened mainly after 40 years, now people aged 25-26 are at risk.

Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men. This is due to the structural characteristics of the body. In the case of the stronger sex, this part of the body is better developed, which supports the entire structure of the vertebrae, preventing its deformation and overload.

Types of osteochondrosis and the dangers that the disease carries

There are different types of osteochondrosis, which differ in the degree of danger of the consequences.

  • Thoracic. It is considered the safest type of disease. This type of osteochondrosis almost never leads to such unpleasant consequences as protrusions or hernias. This is explained by the weak mobility of the thoracic region. Therefore, its deformation does not cause severe discomfort to the patient.
  • Lumbar. It most often occurs due to the high mobility of this part of the body. In addition, the main load falls on the spine. Without timely treatment, this disease can have serious complications: disc herniation and protrusion, as well as radicular syndrome, which is often the main cause of paralysis. The main danger of this type of osteochondrosis is late manifestation, which is why time for intensive treatment is often missed.
  • Cervical. It occurs predominantly in the female half. This prevalence is associated with the high activity of the cervical spine, the presence in this part of the body of a significant number of nerve fibers that serve as a conductor between the brain and other organs. The consequences of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine are the most severe - from dangerous complications to death. Therefore, the treatment of this disease must be timely and effective.

Factors affecting the development of the disease

Scientists identify many reasons that lead to the appearance of osteochondrosis in women. The main one is menopause and the changes that occur in this phase. The amount of progesterone entering the body decreases, which is extremely important for women. In addition, the size of the muscles in this part of the body decreases with age, which leads to a weakening of the support of the spine.

There are other causes of osteochondrosis in women that are not related to age:

  • circulatory disorders;
  • weakening of the immune system;
  • hormonal imbalance;
  • heredity;
  • any spinal injuries;
  • excessive physical activity;
  • hypothermia;
  • passive lifestyle;
  • excess weight.

Such a number of factors that cause the disease contributes to the rapid increase in the number of women suffering from cervical osteochondrosis.

Pain and stiffness in the neck - symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis

Signs of illness

In order not to miss the beginning of the development of the disease, you should know the main symptoms of osteochondrosis in women:

  • pain in the cervical region;
  • recurring headaches;
  • feeling of stiffness in the neck area;
  • shooting pains radiating to the cervical region;
  • finger and shoulder discomfort;
  • feeling of numbness of the limbs or tongue;
  • sudden onset of snoring during sleep.

Depending on the level of sensitivity of the body, other signs of cervical osteochondrosis may appear in women:

  • nausea, which sometimes leads to vomiting;
  • sudden increase or decrease in pressure;
  • bluish skin tone.

It is important to consider that these signs of osteochondrosis are quite serious, although at first glance they are not related to the development of the disease. Therefore, if you have these symptoms, immediately contact a specialist to rule out the development of the disease.

Due to the fact that the discs of this spine are located close enough to each other and do not differ in height, the symptoms of cervicothoracic osteochondrosis in women can be determined already at the initial stage of the disease.

The deterioration of general well-being is explained by the fact that the deformation of the intervertebral discs causes immediate pressure on the roots of the fibers of the nerve endings. It depends on the degree of their defeat, how painful the sensation will be, how long the attack can last.

  • If the pain is of a short-term nature, which is replaced by a short rest, it is back pain.
  • If you experience pain, you will need to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • Headache occurs due to excessive pressure on the occipital nerve, as well as on the vertebrae of the highest order.
  • Unpleasant sensations in the hands, elbows and forearms are characteristic of the deformation of the middle vertebra.

Also, the patient may feel weakness of the hands and loss of skin sensitivity. This happens when the spinal cord is compressed. This symptom is typical for women after 40 years. They also often feel a lack of energy when walking.

If the disease is not treated in time, it can cause the following complications:

  • compression of blood vessels in the brain;
  • problems in the functioning of the central nervous system, characterized by disorders of behavior, coordination, speech;
  • violation of the blood circulation process in the brain.

In the latter case, accompanying symptoms may appear, such as:

  • unreasonable anxiety and fear;
  • sharp deterioration of memory;
  • frequent mood swings.

Also, disturbances in blood circulation in the brain can cause a sudden loss of consciousness, regular headaches and a feeling of dizziness. All these problems are quite serious and require immediate hospitalization. Also, cervical osteochondrosis can cause difficulty in swallowing, problems with hearing and vision, as well as a feeling of regular tinnitus.

Principles of therapy

Treatment of this disease is complex. Different forms of therapy are used in different stages of disease development.

Cervical osteochondrosis in an elderly woman
  • In the initial phase, vasodilator drugs are very effective. They contribute to normal blood circulation in the brain. Cartilage tissue is restored with the help of chondroprotectors.
  • Manual treatment has a high level of efficiency. A specialist with good experience will easily return the vertebrae to their place.
  • Physiotherapy is another effective treatment option. It consists of a course of massage, laser therapy and electrophoresis.
  • Acupuncture is very popular among women. This method has a high percentage of efficiency with a low pain rate.
  • Sports activities are of great importance in proper treatment. Depending on the type of disease and its severity, the specialist prescribes a complex of physiotherapy exercises or a filling scheme for the cervical region.
  • A change in lifestyle is of particular importance. If you start exercising and eating right, you will significantly speed up the recovery process. It is very important to provide the organism with the intake of useful and nutritious substances in sufficient quantities.

It is believed that women pay more attention to their health, which means that the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, which increases the chances of a full recovery.

Folk methods

Folk recipes are very effective in the treatment of this disease.

  • Fresh horseradish leaves should be carefully washed and applied to the cervical area. The compress should be fixed with a soft bandage and left overnight. As a rule, by the morning there is a significant improvement in the condition. To consolidate the effect, the procedure should be repeated at least 3 days in a row.
  • Potatoes need to be peeled and grated on the small side of ribež. Add a little honey to the resulting mass and mix well. You will receive a mushy medicine that should be applied to the painful area. You can make such a compress no more than once a week.

Such methods will ease your condition without the use of drugs. In addition, it is extremely useful to perform special therapeutic exercises. It will noticeably strengthen the muscles, due to which the mobility of the spinal region will be restored. When choosing exercises, you should take into account your level of physical fitness and general state of health. To achieve the effect, gymnastics should be performed regularly.

Disease prevention

Considering the mass spread of the disease, special attention should be paid to the prevention of osteochondrosis. First of all, you need to rethink your lifestyle. If you spend most of your time in a sitting position, this needs to be corrected. There are special exercises for office workers that are performed at the desk during work. With high efficiency, they do not require much time or special training conditions.

In addition, a lot of walking is required. If there is no free time, try to walk any part of the way to work. The more you increase it, the more noticeable your efforts will be.

It is also useful to periodically undergo a preventive course of massage. In addition to general strengthening of the organism, this will allow you to catch the disease at the very beginning and receive effective treatment.

Therefore, every woman should carefully monitor her health and, at the slightest sign of the development of osteochondrosis, immediately take therapeutic measures. If it is done in time, you can achieve a full recovery without any complications.