Symptoms of female osteochondrosis can be detected already in the initial stage, as the cervical spine discs are located close to each other and have a small height. Osteochondrosis of the cervix can cause serious consequences - complications and even death. Above all, arteries pass through the neck region that nourish the brain, nerve trunks and roots that have a connection to the lungs, arms and heart, as well as the spinal cord. Therefore, you should not delay treatment with a good doctor.
For a woman to be able to recognize cervical osteochondrosis, she must pay attention to the following signs:
- During head turns, neck chewing and unpleasant painful sensations occur;
- Frequent and temporary occipital headaches;
- Shooting pains radiating to the neck;
- Rapid fatigue, weakness and fatigue;
- High temperature;
- Severe stiffness in the neck, difficult to turn the head;
- With a light load on the arm or when coughing, unpleasant pain appears in the shoulder;
- Numbness and tingling sensation in limbs and tongue;
- Dizziness, darkening of the eyes;
- Snoring in sleep;
- Difficulty swallowing;
- Anxiety, unreasonable fear;
- Cycle-independent mood swings;
- Sleep Disorders;
- Acute deterioration of memory and attention;
- Leaps in blood pressure (either increase or decrease);
- Pain in the heart region, hearing loss and tinnitus, complications with vision are much less common.
- Nausea, vomiting;
- The skin takes on a bluish tinge.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix can cause fever and poor health.
Important!Especially acute osteochondrosis of the cervix is experienced by women in the climatic period.
Characteristics of female osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a disorder of the musculoskeletal system that can cause disks and intervertebral joints to collapse. Due to the structural characteristics of the body, the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in women are more pronounced than in men. The fact is that the men's shoulder region is wider, supporting the entire spine, helping not to overload the neck.The cervical spine of the female cervix is characterized by high activity and the presence of a large number of nerve fibers that act as conductors between the brain and other organs. Deformation of the intervertebral discs causes rapid pressure on the roots of the nerve endings fibers. Roughly speaking, women have more fragile beads and thinner bone tissue.
Important!Pregnancy followed by childcare also exacerbates the problem. During pregnancy, the load on the spine increases and breastfeeding in an uncomfortable position and the constant holding of the baby in your arms causes an exacerbation of the disease.
There are several stages in the development of cervical osteochondrosis:
- Reduction of the position of the spine due to dehydration of the pulposus nucleus (the inner part of the intervertebral disc, which, normally, should be filled with semi-liquid and gelatinous tissue).
- Muscles and ligaments fall off, which is the cause of the imbalance, i. e. the displacement of the vertebrae.
- Intervertebral disc protrusion (outside their contents) and osteoarthritis.
- The human body is trying to help the spine return the "loose" vertebrae into place, removing supporting and protective barriers. For this, osteophytes appear in the vertebrae - bone growths. Fibrous tissue also grows. As a result, the motor segment of the spine is in a kind of shell that interferes with activity.
Causes of the disease in women
There is an opinion 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, however, argue that there are many reasons for the occurrence of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Let's examine the main ones:
- High point. The fact is that the progesterone that enters the body becomes less and less, and the muscles in the cervical region also shrink. All this leads to a weakening of the spinal section;
- Weakening of the immune system, frequent diseases;
- Mbipesha;
- Circulatory disorders;
- Abnormalities of the vertebral artery that have arisen against the background of birth trauma, infections and heredity;
- Sedentary work, especially on the computer;
- Flat feet;
- Incorrect posture;
- Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption;
- Excessive exercise;
- Heavy spine load during pregnancy;
- Improper and unbalanced diet;
- Poor metabolism, metabolic problems;
- Any neck injury;
- Rheumatism or injury;
- Hormonal disorders in the body;
- Hypothermia;
- Inheritance.
Excess weight puts extra stress on ligaments and joints, and also leads to problems with the cardiovascular system.
Why is cervical osteochondrosis dangerous?
Lack of treatment can lead a woman to disability. If you do not start treatment for osteochondrosis in time, then there is a risk of complications - from minor to severe:
- Constant headache, dizziness.
- Regular immediate loss of consciousness.
- Hearing and sight problems.
- Blood circulation to the brain region will be impaired.
- Frequent increase in blood pressure.
- Problems can start in the central nervous system: impaired speech, coordination and behavioral disorders.
- Sciatica and other diseases of the spine.
- The vessels will be squeezed into the part of the brain.
- Displacement of beads.
- Gait disorder due to spinal stenosis.
- Hernias and intervertebral extensions.
- Hernia and Schmorl.
An increase in blood pressure in osteochondrosis may be associated with poor blood permeability to arteries on the way to the brain. Implanted arteries occur due to osteochondrosis.
Examination and treatment
Cervical osteochondrosis has many common symptoms with other diseases, therefore, before treatment, the neuropathologist listens carefully to the patient and collects a medical history.
After that, diagnostic tests are performed:
- Radiography.Using an X-ray of the cervical spine, the doctor determines the location of the disease. In the picture, he will see a change in the shape of the vertebral segment, the presence of osteophytes, and a narrowing of the intervertebral discs.
- Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.Today, these are the most effective ways to find out what defects exist and where they are located in the spine.
- Myelography.For examination, 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.
MRI will help in accurately establishing the diagnosis and determining the degree of development of the pathology.
To cure cervical osteochondrosis, the doctor prescribes complex treatment. The goals of therapy are to relieve muscle spasms, relieve pain, and reduce intradiscal pressure. At different stages of the disease, different types of therapy are used.
Typically, treatment goes through stages:
- Medication.Restoration of cartilage tissue 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. Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of gels or tablets are used as first aid. They may prescribe nootropics and magnesium medicines. With osteochondrosis, you can take sedatives, as long-term illness can cause stress and depression. Sometimes it is enough to drink a tincture of mother or valerian.
- Physiotherapy.Aims to eliminate disorders in the affected areas of the spine, relieve pain syndromes, improve blood circulation. A good massage by a competent specialist, electrophoresis with anesthetic solutions, as well as laser therapy can help in the initial stages of disease development. The procedures relieve muscle tension and stimulate blood circulation. In severe cases, magnetotherapy, diadynamic currents, ultrasound, electroanalgesia and ultraviolet light are used. Physiotherapy gives an effect after the 3rd procedure, the general condition improves, insomnia, headaches and tinnitus disappear.
- Manual therapy.The treatment has good efficacy and appreciative evaluations. A chiropractor will return the beads to their place in a few sessions, ensuring their movement and correct posture.
- Acupuncture.Also called reflexology. The goal is to influence dystrophic transformations in muscle tissue, get rid of inflammation and pain, and normalize blood circulation. Women with a low pain score have a good chance of recovering, their lymphatic flow is accelerated and blood flow is normalized.
- Orthopedic treatment.The specialist prescribes special sleeping pillows to lighten the spine. Underwater pulling of the spine (pulling) is also recommended to relax the muscles from the action of warm water. Attraction involves the use of various devices in order to enlarge the intervertebral space.
- Proper and clean food. 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 both physiotherapy exercises and special exercises for the cervical spine. Physical education aims to restore mobility of the neck collar area and blood supply. Corrects behavior and strengthens muscle corsets. 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 solid and durable. Wearing a collar will eliminate pain syndromes, improve posture, and speed healing.
When choosing a collar, you need to choose the right product height. To do this, you need to measure the distance from the clavicle to the corner of the lower jaw.
Home treatment
In order for the disease not to show up, or to 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 popular recipes:
- Grate the peeled potatoes on a fine grater, add a small amount of honey to it and mix. The resulting mixture should be applied to the cervical region, where it hurts the most. Repeat the treatment once a week.
- Rinse horseradish leaves and place on the affected area. Secure the compress with a bandage and sleep with it overnight. Usually in the morning you can feel relief and improvement. For maximum effect, the procedure should be repeated for 3 days or more.
Cervical gymnastics should be done to strengthen the neck muscles and restore movement in the spine. Exercises can be performed for prophylaxis, but you should practice without problems and without sudden movements so that muscle spasms do not occur:
- Bend forward.Sitting down, place one palm on your forehead and tilt your head forward as you resist with your palm. One tilt - 10 seconds. After a short break, repeat the exercise again.
- Anoni anash.Sitting down, place a palm on your head in the temple area. Tilt your head sideways as you press down with your palm, resisting. Continue for 10 seconds. After the break, repeat the exercise.
- Turns sideways.Sitting in a chair, or standing, lower your arms along your torso. Slightly turn the head to the extreme right position, then to the extreme left. Repeat 10 times.
- Lift your shoulders.Sitting or standing, arms lowered along the body, raise the shoulders as much as possible and hold in this position for 10 seconds. Next, lower your shoulders, take a deep breath, relax for 15 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
- Anoni in the chest.Sitting or standing, the arms are lowered along the body. Slightly 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 chest incision 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 it down.Release the chin to the neck. Turn your head 7 times to the left, then 7 times to the right.
- Neck muscle resistance.Throw your head back, but not completely. Slowly press the chin to the chest, overcoming the resistance of the muscles of the cervical region. Do 5-7 times.
- Shake your arms.it is also necessary to make circular motions with both hands in one direction, then in the other.
- Massage.Sitting or lying down, massage the area between the occipital bone and its soft part, in the area of the conditional junction of the head and neck, by yourself or with the help of someone else. The impact should be strong enough, to be carried out within 4 minutes.
Important!In case of cervical osteochondrosis, under no circumstances should you make circular movements with your head, as this may lead to injury.
Prevention
- Doctors say that the prevention of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine should also be done in the uterus, during the development of the embryo. The expectant mother is obliged to exclude risk factors associated with future fetal disease, to monitor her health in order to prevent intrauterine infections, hypoxia and poisoning.
- Both mother and father should monitor the child's injuries and consult a doctor in time for diagnosis in order to rule out possible complications in the future.
- It is very important that adult girls and women pay attention to the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis, so it is worth changing your lifestyle. You need to start walking a lot, do at least 10 thousand steps a day, gradually increasing the amount of time spent walking. If work activity is associated with 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 a high-backed chair with a headrest. It is also important to avoid overly soft furniture as the body needs to be supported by sciatic tubers.
- 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 stay relaxed.
- 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 can bend.
- For those with cervical osteochondrosis, it is best if it is possible to do household chores such as ironing or cooking while sitting.
- To prevent osteochondrosis, it is necessary to prevent excessive stress on the spine and cervical spine. Bags and packages should be carried in both hands, or alternately. 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 soothe the shock when walking, you should choose comfortable or orthopedic shoes with elastic heels.
- In the cold season, a woman should protect the neck collar area from hypothermia with a scarf and a hat.
- The sleeping mattress should be firm, and you can also place a pillow under your lower back, knee joint or under your stomach, depending on your position.
- To prevent osteochondrosis, it is worth taking a general strengthening massage course. This will help prevent the onset of the disease as well as cure it in the initial stage.
- It is important for a woman to deal with stress and monitor psychological resilience, because a nerve shock can cause cervical spine damage.
- To prevent the disease, it is important to eat food that will be good for the spine, to synthesize its cartilage tissue. Proteins, mucopolysaccharides, minerals, vitamins can be obtained from meat, legumes, nuts, vegetables, gelatin, fish, eggs, cottage cheese.
When choosing a mattress that is right for you, you need to consider many factors, for example - complexion, height, weight, filler and, most importantly, the degree of development of osteochondrosis.
Osteochondrosis of the cervix is a disease of all women, the problem of which is a sedentary lifestyle. These are many professions: accountants, cashiers, tailors, musicians, writers and others. In the period of 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 heal the body. A timely visit to a doctor is the key to a successful recovery.Important! Swimming in a pool or pond will be a very rewarding activity for women with cervical osteochondrosis. But it is better to refuse a bath and a sauna during a deterioration.