Cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed in women more often than in men. And this is due not only to the lower strength of the ligamentous tendon apparatus, to the weakness of the muscular corset. Throughout 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 methods of conservative and surgical treatment 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. The intervertebral discs lose their ability to retain moisture, they 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 faster. Already in the initial stage of development, there may be severe discomfort that limits mobility.
It should be noted the lower resistance to stress of women of any age. Having learned of the inability to completely cure osteochondrosis, they can bring themselves into a depressive state with the 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 the 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 estrogen, involved in the regulation of the biosynthesis of cartilage and bone tissues, gradually decreases. A decrease in estrogen levels in menopause leads to damage to the discs, provokes the development of osteoporosis (increased fragility of the bones).
Women control their weight, so they often refuse calcium-rich foods: sour cream, cheese, peas, soybeans, beans. And if you follow the diet, not only the body weight decreases, but also a deficiency of the most important trace elements and vitamins occurs, which causes premature destruction of the intervertebral discs.
Symptoms
In the first stage of X-rays, the signs of osteochondrosis are weakly expressed. Only the irregular surface of the intervertebral discs is noted. Therefore, a woman only feels a slight discomfort in the neck that occurs after physical exertion or a long stay in the position with the head down. But gradually the intensity of the pain increases. She appears not only when she turns and tilts her head, but also at rest. In the absence of medical intervention, the pathology is in constant progress. Due to the violation of osteophytes, displaced discs of the vertebral artery, the following clinical manifestations occur:
- jumps in blood pressure;
- headache (cervical migraine), dizziness, pre-fainting;
- decreased visual acuity and hearing, double vision of objects in front of the eyes, tinnitus;
- fatigue, apathy, sleep disturbances;
- sensation of tickling, "coma" in the throat.
Also, when she tilts or turns her head, a creak is heard and the mobility of the cervical region is limited.
Pathology Diagnosis
The primary diagnosis can be made on the basis of an external examination, patient complaints, and the results of a series of functional tests to assess range of motion, reflexes, and sensitivity. To confirm this, the x-ray is performed in 2 projections. The study is informative not only for the detection of osteochondrosis, but also to establish 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 are shown electrophysiological diagnostics:
- evoked potentials;
- electroneurography;
- electromyography.
CT and 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 carried out in order to differentiate cervical osteochondrosis from tuberculous spondylitis, osteomyelitis, benign and malignant neoplasms, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatism.
First aid for exacerbations
During a relapse of cervical osteochondrosis, there is such severe pain in the neck that the woman is afraid to turn or tilt her head. To reduce the intensity, lie down on a hard surface. It is necessary to assume a position of the body in which the pain subsides. If, on the advice of a doctor, a Shants collar or semi-rigid bandage has already been purchased, then it must be worn during the movement.
To stop a pain attack will allow you to take a tablet 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. Relapse often occurs due to a muscle spasm, and cold packs only increase the tension of the skeletal muscles. Dry warming 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 localization has not yet been fully cured. A neurologist or vertebrologist will surely explain to a woman the meaning and principles of the upcoming therapy. Treatment is aimed at achieving a stable remission stage. At this stage, painful sensations occur extremely rarely and the range of motion is fully preserved.
It is impossible to limit yourself only to taking drugs, since the means for restoring the discs and vertebrae have not yet been synthesized. It is necessary to follow all the prescriptions of the doctor: to participate in physiotherapy, massage activities, physical therapy and gymnastics.
From the first days of treatment, patients are recommended to wear Shants collars - orthopedic devices that stabilize the discs and vertebrae. They prevent the vertebral structures from moving, thus reducing the likelihood of relapse.
Overview of drugs for treatment
Sometimes during exacerbations of cervical osteochondrosis, burning and stabbing pain occur due to the violation of the spinal roots. They can only be eliminated by intramuscular administration of NSAID solutions. And if they are ineffective, then drug blockades with anesthetics and hormonal agents are used. Glucocorticosteroids are not often used due to their negative effects on internal organs, cartilage and bone tissues.
To eliminate minor pain, a woman may take NSAIDs in the form of tablets or capsules. Non-steroidal agents in the form of gels and ointments are prescribed for mild pain and to reduce the doses of systemic drugs.
| A group of drugs for the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis | Therapeutic action |
|---|---|
| Chondroprotectors | Partially restore the cartilage tissues of the intervertebral discs |
| Means that improve blood circulation | Eliminates the lack of oxygen and nutrients, stimulating regeneration |
| Vitamins of group B | Normalize the transmission of impulses to the central and peripheral nervous system |
| Muscle relaxants | Relax the skeletal muscles, eliminate muscle spasms |
| Warming ointments | Accelerates blood circulation, has an analgesic and anti-exudative effect |
| Antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives | Relieves increased anxiety, restlessness, sleep disturbances |
Therapeutic exercise, gymnastics, exercises
The most effective way to treat osteochondrosis is daily physical therapy. With the help of dosed loads on the cervical spine, the muscular corset is strengthened, the blood supply to the tissues with nutrients improves, and the risk of exacerbations is reduced. It is necessary to start gymnastics immediately after stopping acute pain. The physical therapy doctor works out 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 a small amplitude. This will strengthen the muscles without damaging the cartilage tissue. What exercises do physiotherapy doctors recommend:
- sit up straight, put your hand under your chin. Try tilting your head, resisting with a brush;
- in a sitting position, put your hand on your cheek. Tilt your head to the side, resisting with a brush;
- get up, put your hands on the belt. He turns his head first in one direction, then in the other, without pushing it too far back.
With osteochondrosis, patients are recommended swimming, yoga, pilates, water aerobics, Nordic walking. It is forbidden to ride a bicycle, run, lift weights.
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, rapidly eliminating it from the body. Slightly salted mineral waters, compotes and fruit jellies, vegetable juices, soft fruit drinks are to be preferred. The optimal amount of fluids to drink is 2-2. 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, dried white or rye bread, and fermented milk products. Useful turkey, chicken breast, rabbit meat, lamb. 2-3 times a week it is necessary to eat fatty fish, such as salmon or Norwegian herring.
It is better to completely abandon fried foods. The most useful products are baked in foil, stewed in water or steamed.
Physiotherapy
At the rehabilitation stage, patients are assigned 5-10 physiotherapy 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 aimed at relieving pain and inflammation.
The following physiotherapy 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 muds and mineral waters, the setting of medical leeches has proved effective in the treatment of cervical osteochondrosis.
Massages
During the massage, a mechanical effect is exerted on the muscles of the whole back and not only on 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 are strengthened and blood circulation improves. In the treatment of osteochondrosis, the following types of manual and hardware massage are used:
- classic;
- point;
- empty;
- Swedish;
- segmental.
Pharmacies and medical equipment stores sell hand-held electric massagers. They are equipped with special nozzles, speed regulators. And the comfortable long handle of the devices allows you to independently massage the back of the neck.
Folk remedies
In folk medicine, for the treatment of osteochondrosis, homemade ointments, rubbing alcohol and oil, compresses, decoctions and tinctures are used. Representatives of mainstream medicine are skeptical of such methods of therapy for degenerative-dystrophic pathology due to their low clinical efficacy. Chamomile teas, St. John's wort, rosehip infusion are exceptions.
Features of the treatment of older women
Treatment of elderly patients is carried out using the same techniques as for treatment of young women. But when determining the dosage regimen, the neurologist takes into account the presence of chronic pathologies in the elderly, a decrease in the functional activity of the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. The doctor chooses drugs, the use of which has a mild 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 neurological symptoms are more pronounced in women. Violation of the spinal roots and vertebral artery, which supplies nutrients to the brain, is most often diagnosed.
With cervical osteochondrosis of 2nd and 3rd severity, often the spinal roots are violated, which leads to the appearance of acute 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 wearing it, the load on the spine is unevenly distributed, which leads to microtrauma of the cartilage tissues. Women also often suffer from hypothermia, they are acutely experiencing ordinary domestic conflicts. And these factors are prerequisites for the development of pathology. Therefore, their exclusion from the usual way of life becomes an excellent prevention of osteochondrosis of any localization and its consequences.