Such damage to the spine, or rather, to the intervertebral discs, like osteochondrosis, is becoming more and more common in our time. This is one of the diseases from which absolutely no one is immune. The risk increases with age, however, young people can also suffer from osteochondrosis.
Particularly unpleasant is the fact that in the absence of adequate treatment, osteochondrosis actively provokes the development of a wide range of concomitant diseases. Among them are arterial hypertension, neuralgia, increased intracranial pressure, metabolic disorders, limited mobility of the head and back, and many others. Sometimes the condition of patients becomes critical, there is a serious risk to life.
In representatives of different sexes, the course of osteochondrosis has its own characteristics. Of the five patients with osteochondrosis, three are women. The weaker sex at the same time suffers from more pronounced symptoms, and is also much more likely to experience the side effects of the disease. This trend is explained by the details of the work of the female body.
Characteristics of the disease.
According to statistics, osteochondrosis in women mainly affects the cervical region. This is because the cervical vertebrae are much more fragile than others. Also in the neck area there are extremely fragile muscles and a rather thin bone structure. Due to this, the constant pressure, the load on the spine has a faster and stronger effect on this area.
Women often perform jobs that are considered risky in terms of osteochondrosis of the neck: cashier, seamstress, computer operator, accountant. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to notice the initial stages of the development of the disease, since the patient may not feel any severe pain or special discomfort. Meanwhile, when symptoms are detected, osteochondrosis can already lead to significant degenerative processes, disrupt the functioning of the nervous system and blood flow, and this is fraught with deterioration in the nutrition of brain tissues.
It is extremely dangerous if, in addition, a woman comes across one or more of the following manifestations.
- menopause and related problems of cell metabolism in cartilage and bone tissues;
- genetic predisposition to osteochondrosis, other similar diseases;
- hematopoietic problems;
- hormonal disturbances;
- metabolic disease;
- scoliosis, postural curvature;
- over weight.
The reasons
There are a number of factors that, with prolonged exposure, will inevitably lead to disease. In view of the characteristics of the organism, quite specific causes of the development of osteochondrosis in women can be distinguished separately. They are based on three stages of disease development in ascending order.
- First stage. It is caused by regular overexertion of the muscle fibers of the neck due to being in an awkward position.
- Second stage. It is caused by the onset of tissue degeneration in the intervertebral discs, as well as in the vertebrae themselves. There is a feeling of numbness, impaired sensitivity of the limbs, limited mobility of the spine.
- Third stage. Associated with the development of intervertebral hernia. Motor activity is blocked, the fibrous rings are broken. Pain covers the neck, head, thoracic region, vertebral artery syndrome develops.
main factors
The main provocateurs of female osteochondrosis include the following:
- strong emotional and physical stress;
- forced regular and prolonged stay in a position where the neck is pinched or there is a need to tilt the head forward;
- spinal injury;
- increased pressure on the spine (for example, during pregnancy, being overweight);
- abnormal changes in the structure of the skeleton;
- scoliosis.
secondary factors
This is a group of general causes that contribute to the development of the disease, but without the first group of factors they are not capable of provoking it.
- hormonal disorders;
- age-related degenerative changes;
- autoimmune, vegetative problems;
- menopause;
- prostration;
- frequent hypothermia of the body;
- overweight;
- diabetes.
disease symptoms
Symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis appear in women in the same way as in men. The main ones are shown below.
- The main alarm is pain. Cervical osteochondrosis is characterized by frequent pain or paroxysmal acute pain in the neck (less often - in the back of the head and on the face). The sensation intensifies if you try to move your head.
- There is often limited mobility, spasms of the neck, thoracic region.
- After the age of 50, many patients experience tinnitus, vision and hearing problems, and severe snoring.
- Sometimes the disease causes a loud cracking sound when turning the neck.
- Another common symptom is dizziness, a gradual loss of coordinated movements.
The first signs of the disease should lead the woman to understand the need to act urgently. A set of diagnostic and therapeutic methods can only be selected by a doctor, therefore the listed symptoms are a reason for urgent medical attention.
The condition is considered especially dangerous if a constant state of shortness of breath, a feeling of coma in the throat, stuffy ears, cloudiness in the eyes are added to these manifestations.
Treatment
The elimination of the disease or its main symptoms is necessarily preceded by a complete diagnosis. For this, computed tomography, ultrasound and doppler, and sometimes x-ray machines are involved. A prerequisite is preventive diagnosis of osteochondrosis in older women, the rest should be resorted to if a disease is suspected.
Effective therapeutic measures are based on an integrated approach, in addition to taking into account the individual characteristics of a particular clinical case. Depending on the stage of development of osteochondrosis, certain approaches may be effective.
When dealing with women, the following points must be taken into account:
- years;
- the presence of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
- the quality of the endocrine system.
medicines
Classic drug therapy is the standard, simplest, but at the same time very effective approach. However, drug treatment of cervical osteochondrosis is carried out in women only if more benign options have proven ineffective.
Before resorting to medical preparations, a woman is invited to resort to herbal infusions (chamomile, dandelion roots, celandine), natural compresses (from wax, burdock or horseradish leaves, garlic cloves, cottage cheese with vinegar, honey). They also resort to aroma baths, lifestyle and nutrition correction, stress relief.
They cover the lack of efficacy of these drugs with classical medicine. These are pain relievers as well as non-steroidal drugs. The intake of both groups of drugs is always carried out taking into account the phase of the menstrual cycle.
At the end of the cycle, with an increased sensitivity to pain, a decrease in the body's defenses, the dose of painkillers increases. For menopausal women, pain relievers are consistently recommended at higher doses. At the same time, for pregnant women, as well as at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, painkillers are reduced to a minimum.
The specificity of the treatment of female osteochondrosis is the regular intake of sedatives. Mood swings, irritability, as well as stress greatly interfere with the progress of any therapeutic or preventive technique, if we are talking about a weaker field.
The most difficult cases include the additional intake of chondroprotectors, as well as corticosteroids.
exercise therapy
Properly selected gymnastic complexes are an integral component of balanced therapy. Treatment of the consequences of cervical osteochondrosis in women is focused, among other things, on returning mobility to this part of the body, and here the complex of exercise therapy is the main help.
Specific exercises are always selected by the doctor. In this case, both classic (tilts and turns of the head, rotation of the shoulders) and specific movements may be involved. Yoga postures are often used to eliminate pain. Such treatment is also allowed at home, if the complex is carried out regularly and clearly according to the doctors' prescriptions.
Along with exercise therapy, cervical massage, manual therapy and a special diet work well against osteochondrosis. These exercise methods can give an additional effect. The mode of massage sessions for women is selected taking into account the cycle. Also, with special care, a massage technique for women during menopause is determined.
After recovery, it is extremely important to follow preventive measures as clearly as possible. This will help avoid relapses, and they are common with osteochondrosis, mainly due to the repeated influence of causative factors.