Osteochondrosis of the cervix in women is a common disease. Representatives of the fair sex over the age of 30 are more sensitive to this. 75% of women experience this unpleasant disease, while the consequences and severity of the disease can be completely different.
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women
The symptoms of female osteochondrosis can be detected at an early stage, as the cervical discs are close together and have a small height. Osteochondrosis of the cervix can cause serious consequences - complications and even death. After all, arteries pass through the neck area that supply the brain, nerve trunks, and roots that connect 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 must pay attention to the following points:
- During head turns, sore throats and unpleasant painful sensations appear.
- Frequent recurrent occipital and temporal headaches.
- Shots of pain radiating to the neck.
- Rapid fatigue, weakness and fatigue
- High temperature?
- Severe stiffness in the neck, difficult to turn the head
- Unpleasant shoulder pain occurs when the arm is slightly loaded or when you cough.
- Numbness and tingling of the limbs and tongue
- Dizziness, dark eyes
- Sleep snoring?
- Difficulty swallowing
- Unreasonable anxiety, fear.
- Cycle mood changes
- Sleep Disorders?
- Sudden deterioration of memory and attention?
- Blood pressure jumps (either increase or decrease).
- Pain in the heart area, hearing and sound in the ears, complications with vision are much less common.
- Nausea, vomiting
- The skin takes on a blue tint.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix can cause fever and poor health.
Important!Especially acute cervical osteochondrosis of the cervix is experienced by women during menopause.
Characteristics of female osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a disorder of the musculoskeletal system that can cause the intervertebral discs and joints to 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 area of men is wider, it supports the entire spine, helping not to overload the neck.The female cervical spine is characterized by high activity and the presence of a large number of nerve fibers that act as conduits between the brain and other organs. Deformation of the intervertebral discs causes rapid pressure on the nerve endings of the nerve endings. In general, women have more fragile vertebrae and thinner bone tissue.
Important!Pregnancy followed by baby care also exacerbates the problem. During pregnancy, the load on the spine increases and breastfeeding in an uncomfortable position and the constant transfer of the baby in your arms cause the disease to worsen.
There are several stages in the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Reduced position of the spine due to dehydration of the nucleus accumbens (the inside of the intervertebral disc, which normally has to be filled with semi-fluid and gelatinous tissues).
- Muscles and ligaments relax, which is the cause of the imbalance, ie the displacement of the vertebrae.
- Extrusion of the intervertebral discs (outside their contents) and arthropathy.
- The human body tries to help the spine return the "loose" vertebrae to their place, removing support and protective barriers. This is why osteophytes appear in the vertebrae - bone growth. Fibrous tissue also grows. As a result, the motor part of the spine is in a kind of shell that interferes with activity.
Causes of the disease in women
It is believed that the occurrence of cervical osteochondrosis in women is associated with salt deposits, but this is not the case. Osteochondrosis itself is the leading cause of salt deposits. Scientists claim that there are many reasons for the appearance of cervical osteochondrosis. Let's look at the main ones:
- Top. The fact is that the progesterone that enters the body becomes less and less, and the muscles in the neck area also shrink. All this leads to weakening of the spine.
- Weakness of the immune system, common diseases
- Overweight?
- Circulatory system disorders?
- Spinal artery abnormalities that have arisen in the context of birth trauma, infections and heredity.
- Sedentary work, especially on the computer.
- Flat feet?
- Wrong attitude?
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
- Excessive exercise?
- Heavy load on the spine during pregnancy.
- Wrong and unbalanced diet.
- Poor metabolism, metabolic problems?
- Any damage to the neck.
- Rheumatism or injuries?
- Hormonal disorders in the body?
- Hypothermia?
- Heredity.
Being overweight puts extra strain on joints and joints and also leads to problems with the cardiovascular system.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
Lack of treatment can lead a woman to a disability. If you do not start treatment for osteochondrosis in time, there is a risk of complications - from the smallest to the most serious:
- Constant pain in the head, dizziness.
- Regular sudden loss of consciousness.
- Hearing and vision problems.
- Blood circulation to the brain area will be reduced.
- Frequent increase in blood pressure.
- Problems can start in the central nervous system: decreased speech, coordination and behavioral disorders.
- Rhinitis and other back diseases.
- The vessels will be compressed in the part of the brain.
- Displacement of the vertebrae.
- Walking disorder due to spinal stenosis.
- Intervertebral hernias and protrusions. Schmorl's hernia.
Increased blood pressure in osteochondrosis may be associated with poor blood flow in the arteries on the way to the brain. Artery holes appear due to osteochondrosis.
Examination and treatment
Osteochondrosis of the cervix has many symptoms in common with other diseases, so before treatment, the neurologist listens carefully to the patient and collects a memory.After that, diagnostics are performed:
- X-ray. Using an X-ray of the cervical spine, the doctor determines the location of the disease. In the picture, you will see a change in the shape of the vertebral segment, the presence of osteophytes and the narrowing of the intervertebral discs.
- Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.Today, these are the most effective ways to find out what defects are and where they are located in the spine.
- Myelography.For testing, a contrast fluid is injected into the spinal canal. The procedure is not safe: the patient may develop allergies and there is a risk of spinal cord injury if the puncture is unsuccessful. However, with cervical osteochondrosis, such a study is rarely performed unless you need to see the entire spine.
For the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes a complex treatment. The goals of treatment are to relieve muscle spasms, relieve pain and reduce intra-disc pressure. At different stages of the disease, different types of treatment are used.
Usually, treatment goes through stages:
- Drugs.Cartilage tissue repair using chondroprotectors. Vasodilators are used to supply blood to the brain. All of the above will eliminate inflammation, pain syndrome and improve metabolic processes in the intervertebral discs. Sedatives and anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of gels or tablets are used as first aid. They can prescribe nootropics and magnesium drugs. With osteochondrosis, you can take sedatives, as long-term illness can cause anxiety and depression. Sometimes it is enough to drink a tincture of mother or valerian.
- Physiotherapy.With the aim of eliminating disorders in the affected areas of the spine, relieving pain syndromes, improving blood circulation. A good massage by a qualified specialist, electrophoresis with anesthetic solutions, as well as laser treatment can help in the early stages of the disease. The procedures relieve muscle tension and stimulate blood circulation. In severe cases, magnetotherapy, currents, ultrasound, electroanalgesia and ultraviolet light are used. Physiotherapy gives a result after the 3rd procedure, the general condition improves, insomnia, headaches and ringing in the ears disappear.
- Manual therapy.The treatment has a good performance and grateful reviews. A chiropractor will return the vertebrae to their position in several sessions, providing them with mobility and proper posture.
- Acupuncture.Also called reflexology. The goal is to affect the dystrophic transformations in the muscle tissues, to get rid of inflammation and pain and to normalize blood circulation. Women with low pain scores have a better chance of recovery, their lymph flow is accelerated and blood flow is normalized.
- Orthopedic treatment.The specialist will prescribe special sleeping pillows to relieve the spine. Underwater traction of the spine (traction) is also recommended to relax the muscles from the action of hot water. Adhesion involves the use of various devices to enlarge the intervertebral space.
- Proper and clean diet. 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.
- Physical activity.Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy exercises and special exercises for the cervical spine. Physical therapy aims to restore the mobility of the neck area and the blood supply. Corrects posture and strengthens the muscular corset. In addition, regular exercise, for example in the gym, will prevent the progression of cervical osteochondrosis.
- Wearing a corset.There is a special device for the cervical spine called the collar. It is rigid and stable. Wearing a collar will eliminate pain syndromes, improve posture and speed up recovery
When choosing a collar, you need to choose the right height of the product. To do this, it is necessary to measure the distance from the key to the corner of the lower jaw.
Home treatment
In order for the disease not to manifest or be diagnosed at an early stage, a woman should closely monitor her health, diet and lifestyle.
To ease the situation at home, you can use folk recipes:
- Grate the peeled potatoes on a fine grater, add a small amount of honey and stir. The resulting mixture should be applied to the cervical spine, where it hurts the most. Repeat the treatment once a week.
- Rinse the horseradish leaves and apply to the affected area. Secure the compression with a bandage and sleep with it overnight. Usually in the morning you can feel relief and improvement. For best results, the procedure should be repeated for 3 days or more.
Cervical exercise should be done to strengthen the neck muscles and restore mobility in the spine. Exercises can be done as a precaution, but you should practice smoothly and without sudden movements, so that muscle spasm does not occur:
- Tilt forward.Sit down, place one palm on your forehead and tilt your head forward while resisting with your palm. One tilt - 10 seconds. After a short rest, repeat the exercise again.
- Tilt to the side.Sit down, place a palm on your head in the temple area. Tilt your head sideways while pushing down with your palm, vice versa. Continue for 10 seconds. After resting, repeat the exercise.
- Turns to the side.Sitting in a chair or standing, lower your arms along your torso. Turn your head smoothly to the extreme right and then to the left. Repeat 10 times.
- Raise your shoulders.Sitting or standing, arms lowered along the body, lift your shoulders as far as possible and hold them in this position for 10 seconds. Then lower your shoulders, take a deep breath, relax for 15 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
- Lean on your chest.Sitting or standing, arms lowered along the body. Slowly lower your head down, trying to press your chin to your chest as much as possible. With good mobility of the cervical vertebrae, you can feel the thoracic notch with the chin. Repeat about 10 times.
- Touching the ear to the shoulder.Tilt your head back. Try to touch your left ear to your left shoulder, repeat 5 times. Do the same with the right side.
- Tilt down.Leave your chin on your neck. Turn your head 7 times to the left and then 7 times to the right.
- Strength in the neck muscles.Throw your head back, but not completely. Slowly press your chin to your chest, overcoming the resistance of the muscles of the cervical region. Do it 5-7 times.
- Rotate your arms.It is necessary to make circular movements with both hands in one direction and then in the other.
- Massage.While sitting or lying down, massage the area between the fibrous bone and its soft part, the area of the conditional connection of the head and neck, alone or with the help of someone else. The impact must be strong enough to run within 4 minutes.
Important!In case of osteochondrosis of the cervix, under no circumstances should you make circular movements with your head, as this can lead to injury.
Prevention
- Doctors say that the prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should take place even in the uterus, during the development of the fetus. The expectant mother is obliged to rule out risk factors related to future fetal disease, to monitor her health in order to prevent intrauterine infections, hypoxia and poisoning. Both the mother and the father should monitor the child's injuries and consult a doctor in time for a diagnosis, in order to rule out possible complications in the future.
- It is very important for girls and adult women to pay attention to the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis, so it is worth changing your lifestyle. You need to start walking a lot, take at least 10 thousand steps a day, gradually increasing the time you spend walking. If work activity is related to a sedentary lifestyle, you should do simple exercises for office workers right at the table, as well as get up, warm up and walk every hour. Sit in an armchair with a headrest. It is also important to avoid overly soft furniture, as the body must be supported by the sciatic tubes.
- When driving a car, it is important that your back has good support, you can place a roller between the lower back and the seat. Try to keep your head straight and relax.
- 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 position so that the muscles flex.
- For those with cervical osteochondrosis, it is best, if possible, to do household chores such as ironing or cooking while sitting.
- To prevent osteochondrosis, it is essential to avoid excessive stress on the spine and neck. Bags and packages should be carried in both hands or alternatively. When working in the garden and vegetable garden, every 1. 5 hours you should take a break for 20 minutes and rest, preferably in a horizontal position.
- To alleviate the shock when you walk, you should choose comfortable or orthopedic shoes with elastic soles.
- In the cold season, a woman should protect her neck-collar from hypothermia with a scarf and a hat.
- The sleeping mattress should be firm and you can also place a pillow under the lower back, knee joint or under the abdomen, depending on the position.
- To prevent osteochondrosis, it is worth following a general series of strengthening massages. It will help prevent the onset of the disease, as well as treat it in the early stages.
- It is important for a woman to deal with stress and monitor her mental stability, because a nervous shock can cause damage to the cervical spine.
- To prevent the disease, it is important to eat foods that are good for the spine, to synthesize cartilage tissue. Proteins, mucopolysaccharides, minerals, vitamins can be obtained from meat, legumes, nuts, vegetables, gelatin, fish, eggs, cottage cheese.
When choosing a mattress that suits you, you need to consider many factors, for example - skin, height, weight, filler and, most importantly, the degree of development of osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is a disease of all women, whose problem is a sedentary lifestyle. These are many professions: accountants, cashiers, seamstresses, musicians, writers and others. During the remission of the disease, it will be useful for women to visit sanatoriums and resorts, where they can strengthen the muscles of the neck, vascular system and improve the body. A timely visit to a doctor is the key to a successful recovery.Important!Swimming in a pool or pool will be a very useful activity for women with cervical osteochondrosis. But it is better to refuse bathing and sauna during a deterioration.