Cervical osteochondrosis is a dystrophic dysfunction of the intervertebral disc in the cervical spine. The disease manifests itself in the form of severe pain in the head, neck and upper back.
The danger of osteochondrosis lies not only in the deterioration of quality of life, but also in the risk of disability.
Characteristics of SOC courses in women
The symptoms of the development of spinal diseases in men and women can be said to be similar, but there are still some differences. In women, cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed more frequently. This is due to anatomical features.
Unlike women, men have well -developed shoulder girdle muscles, which support the cervical spine.
References.The condition of the spine is negatively affected by pregnancy and the subsequent period of childcare.
The reason for the development of female cervical osteochondrosis may be hormonal changes that occur during the aging process. After menopause, there is a slowdown in metabolic and nutritional processes in cartilaginous tissue.
Causes and factors
There are many reasons for the development of SOS in women. The most common are menopausal changes in the body. During this period, the amount of progesterone in a woman's body decreases significantly. As a result of this process, the spinal support becomes weaker.Other reasons include the following factors:
- circulatory problems;
- passive lifestyle;
- the presence of excess weight;
- great physical activity;
- weakened immunity;
- descent;
- spinal cord injuries;
- hormonal problems;
- hypothermia.
The list of provoking factors is quite extensive. Women need to be especially careful to monitor their health and support the immune system.
symptoms
How the disease manifests itself in its early stages
It is important to recognize the signs of disease progression in a timely manner.Early symptoms include:
- a feeling of stiffness in the neck;
- sudden onset of snoring during sleep;
- frequent headaches;
- discomfort in fingers and shoulders;
- periodic numbness of the limbs;
- a shooting pain that radiated to the neck.
local signs
With cervical osteochondrosis, several local symptoms occur.These include the following manifestations:
- stenosis;
- reflex-irritation syndrome;
- radicular syndrome;
- heart syndrome.
Stenosis involves a violation of blood circulation in the affected area. The patient feels stiffness and pain. There may be numbness and tingling in the legs.
Reflex-irritation syndrome can manifest in the form of a burning sensation of tingling. The pain can spread to the shoulder or chest joints.
Radicular syndrome causes headaches. Sometimes there are problems with speech.
Heart syndrome in nature resembles an angina pectoris attack. In some cases, blood pressure rises and arrhythmias appear.
Signs of an acute condition
During the acute stage, vertebral deformation is observed, which compresses the vertebral arteries.Since blood does not enter the brain, the following deviations are observed:
- speech disorders;
- dizziness;
- tinnitus;
- double vision.
The pain can spread to the stomach, heart, and lungs. When the nerve endings of the cervical region are pinched, there is a pain that pulls from the neck to the shoulder blades.
The stage of the disease and their special features
SHOC continues in several stages. Each of them has its own symptoms.In total, there are 4 main stages in the development of osteochondrosis:
- In the early stages, the disease looks like dehydration of the nucleus pulposus. The patient suffered a fracture of the fibrous annulus.
- The second stage involves sagging muscles and ligaments. As a result, there is a vertebral motor imbalance. The stage of development of the disease is characterized by displacement of the vertebrae.
- The third stage of development is characterized by more pronounced symptoms. The patient develops intervertebral disc protrusion and arthrosis.
- The fourth rank is the last rank. A distinctive feature is osteophytes. Bone growth forms on the surface of the vertebrae. There is an increase in fibrous tissue.
In the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment, the disease can lead to disability.
Diagnostics
If the first symptoms of the disease occur, you should see a doctor to undergo an examination and prescribe appropriate treatment.In addition to collecting anamnesis, doctors prescribe several diagnostic studies.
Instrumental examination methods
Instrumental diagnostic methods will help diagnose and determine the patient’s condition accurately. The most commonly prescribed procedures are:
- x-ray;
- myelographic studies;
- ultrasound;
- MRI.
Regular radiography is needed to get an overview of the spine or the affected part.With its help, the doctor will be able to establish the localization of the pathology. With osteochondrosis in the picture of the spine, you can see the presence of bone growth and narrowing of the intervertebral disc.
A more complex type of diagnosis is the myelographic study. It consists of the fact that contrast fluid is injected into the spinal canal.
important.Such procedures can be dangerous, as allergic reactions or damage to the spinal cord are possible.
Such a study allows you to study the internal structure of the spinal canal.
CT and MRI are among the most effective diagnostic methods. According to their results, osteochondrosis can be distinguished from other diseases with similar symptoms.
Treatment
Medical therapy
Treatment of cervical osteochondrosis should be comprehensive. An important part is drug therapy.In most cases, the following groups of drugs are prescribed:
- analgesic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- chondroprotector;
- muscle relaxants;
- vitamin.
Analgesics include nonsteroidal drugs that relieve pain. Most of these drugs irritate the lining of the digestive tract.
To relieve the inflammatory process, hormone medications are prescribed.Effective steroid medications include ointments and tablets based on glucocorticosteroids.
Chondroprotectors contain in the composition of substances that replace the components of cartilage tissue - hyaluronic acid and chondroitin. To get a lasting effect from taking the drug, a relatively long therapeutic course is prescribed.
To relax muscle tone, it is recommended to take a muscle relaxer.This is an additional medication for pain relief. Muscle relaxation is administered parenterally and only under specialist supervision. For the treatment of osteochondrosis, agents based on benzimidazole and glycerin are used. They have a large number of contraindications.
To maintain the function of the immune system, vitamin complexes are prescribed. They have a positive effect on the peripheral nervous system. The composition must contain fat -soluble vitamins E, D, C, E and vitamin B.
Quite effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis ointment for external use.They help relieve inflammation, warm and relieve pain. Before using it, you should consult an expert.
Are the medications effective?
Drug treatment for cervical osteochondrosis is quite effective. It allows you to eliminate the inflammatory process and relieve pain. To obtain maximum therapeutic effect, medication intake should be combined with therapeutic exercises and massage.
Gymnastics
Before starting gymnastics, you should consult a specialist. During exacerbations, it is better to refuse physical activity. It is important that gymnastics does not cause more severe pain.
References.All exercises are as simple as possible and involve head movements and isometric muscle tension.
Such gymnastics can be done at home and at work. The starting position for almost all exercises is the sitting posture.
Exercise set budget:
- The head turns to the right, then to the left. It is important not to make loud screams. When turning, the voltage must be maintained for 5 seconds.
- Tilt your head to your shoulders. You should try to touch your shoulders with your ears, while you should not raise your own hands. Exercise should be done with a painless amplitude.
- Circular movement of the head counterclockwise and clockwise. Rotation should be done as slowly as possible.
Such a light charge will help stretch the muscles. In order for it to bring good results, such gymnastics must be carried out regularly. In this case, the increase in load should be gradual and painless.
massage
Massage can only be done by a professional. It is necessary to work on the cervical area, back and collar zone.The following techniques can be used:
- rubbing;
- blush;
- trituration;
- kneading.
Massage should not cause pain. Procedures performed by non -professionals can only worsen the situation.
Treatment of people at home
Alternative therapy methods can be used as additional methods.It can compress from fresh horseradish leaves. They are applied to the cervical area and must be stored overnight.
Compressed grated potatoes and honey are quite effective. This procedure should be performed no more than 1 time a week. Folk remedies will help alleviate the patient’s condition, but not cure the disease.
Is it possible to cure SHX completely?
Cervical osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured.Therapy aims to improve the patient's condition and stop the progression of the disease. Periodic relapses are possible, so the patient should monitor his condition closely. The sooner treatment is started, the better the results.
Prevention
Proper nutrition
An important place in the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is proper nutrition. The diet should contain products that contain substances synthesized for cartilage tissue. It can be jelly, jelly or gelatin.
important.The body must have enough protein.
It is found in fish, eggplant and meat. It is important to monitor the water balance. Lack of water can cause dehydration of the intervertebral disc.
The diet should include foods rich in vitamins and minerals. For example, fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, pork and beef.
Active lifestyle
An active lifestyle will minimize the risk of getting the disease.Women are not encouraged to lift more than 10 kg. If there are problems with the spine, it is recommended to wear a special corset.
To get quality and long sleep, it is best to buy special orthopedic mattresses and pillows. Experts recommend swimming, but better refrain from running and jumping. During periods of exacerbation, you should not visit the baths.
Cervical osteochondrosis is more frequently diagnosed in women.It is important to see the first signs of abnormality in time and begin treatment. The sooner therapy is started, the more effective it is.