Cervical osteochondrosis is a dystrophic dysfunction of the intervertebral discs in the neck of the spine. The disease manifests itself in the form of severe pain in the head, neck and upper back.
The risk of osteochondrosis is not only related to the deterioration of the quality of life, but also to the risk of disability.
Features of SOC course in women
Symptoms of the development of spinal diseases in men and women are practically the same, but there are still some differences. Cervical osteochondrosis is diagnosed more often in women. This is due to anatomical features.
Unlike women, men have well-developed shoulder girdle muscles that support the cervical spine.
ReferenceThe condition of the spine is negatively affected by pregnancy and the subsequent period of child care.
The reason for the development of female cervical osteochondrosis may be the hormonal changes that occur during the aging process. After menopause, there is a slowdown in metabolic and nutritional processes in the cartilage 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 the female body decreases significantly. As a result of these processes, the support of the spine weakens.Other causes include the following factors:
- circulatory problems;
- passive lifestyle;
- being overweight;
- great physical activity;
- weak immunity;
- heredity;
- spinal cord injury;
- hormonal problems;
- hypothermia.
The list of provoking factors is quite extensive. Women should be especially careful to monitor their health and support their immune system.
Symptoms
How the disease manifests itself in the early stages
It is important to recognize the signs of the development of the disease in time.Early symptoms include:
- feeling of stiffness in the neck;
- sudden snoring during sleep;
- frequent headache;
- discomfort in fingers and shoulders;
- periodic numbness of limbs;
- shooting pains spreading through the neck.
local signs
A number of local symptoms occur with cervical osteochondrosis.These include the following manifestations:
- stenosis;
- reflex-irritation syndrome;
- radicular syndrome;
- heart syndrome.
Stenosis involves impaired blood circulation in the affected area. The patient feels stiffness and pain. There may be numbness and tingling in the extremities.
Reflex-irritation syndrome can manifest itself in the form of a burning sensation.The pain may radiate to the shoulder joint or chest.
Radicular syndrome causes headaches. Sometimes there are problems with speech.
Cardiac syndrome by its nature is similar to an attack of angina pectoris. In some cases, blood pressure rises and arrhythmia appears.
Symptoms of an acute condition
In the acute stage, deformations of the vertebra compressing the vertebral artery are observed.Due to lack of blood flow to the brain, the following deviations are observed:
- speech disorder;
- dizziness;
- tinnitus;
- double vision.
The pain can spread to the stomach, heart and lungs. When the nerve endings of the cervical region are compressed, there is a pain that goes from the neck to the shoulder blades.
Stages of the disease and their different characteristics
SHOC proceeds in several stages. Each of them has its own symptoms.In general, there are 4 main stages in the development of osteochondrosis:
- At the initial stage, the disease appears as dehydration of the nuclear pulp. The patient develops cracks in the annulus fibrosus.
- The second stage is the loosening of muscles and ligaments. As a result, there is a motor imbalance of the vertebra. This stage of the development of the disease is characterized by displacement of the vertebra.
- The third stage of development is characterized by clearer symptoms. Patients develop protrusions of intervertebral discs and arthrosis.
- The fourth stage is the end. A distinctive feature is osteophytes. Bone growths are formed 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 consult a doctor to undergo an examination and prescribe the appropriate treatment.In addition to collecting anamnesis, the doctor prescribes a number of diagnostic studies.
Instrumental examination methods
Instrumental diagnostic methods will help to accurately diagnose and determine the patient's condition. The most commonly prescribed procedures:
- x-ray;
- myelographic study;
- ultrasound;
- MRI.
A plain X-ray is needed to get a picture of the whole spine or the affected part of it.With its help, the doctor will be able to determine the localization of the pathology. With osteochondrosis, you can see the presence of bone growth and narrowing of the intervertebral disc in the image of the spine.
A more complex type of diagnosis is a myelographic study. It consists of injecting a contrast liquid into the canal of the spinal cord.
Important.Such a procedure can be dangerous, as an allergic reaction or damage to the spinal cord is possible.
Such a study allows to study the internal structure of the spinal canal.
CT and MRI are one of 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 treatment.In most cases, the following drug groups are prescribed:
- analgesics;
- anti-inflammatory;
- chondroprotectors;
- muscle relaxant;
- vitamins.
Analgesics include non-steroid pain relievers. Most of these drugs irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive system.
Hormonal drugs are prescribed to eliminate the inflammatory process.Effective steroid drugs include ointments and tablets based on glucocorticosteroids.
Chondroprotectors contain substances that replace cartilage tissue components - hyaluronic acid and chondroitin. A sufficiently long therapeutic course is prescribed to obtain a lasting effect from taking such drugs.
It is recommended to take muscle relaxants to relax the muscle tone.These are auxiliary drugs to relieve pain. The muscle relaxant is administered parenterally and only under the supervision of a specialist. Agents based on benzimidazole and glycerin are used for the treatment of osteochondrosis. They have many contraindications.
Vitamin complexes are prescribed to maintain the activity of the immune system. They have a positive effect on the peripheral nervous system. It should contain fat-soluble vitamins E, D, C, E and B vitamins.
Ointments for external use are very effective in the treatment of osteochondrosis.They help to relieve inflammation, heat and relieve pain. You should consult a specialist before using them.
Are the drugs effective?
Drug treatment for cervical osteochondrosis is quite effective. This allows you to get rid of the inflammatory process and relieves pain. To obtain the maximum therapeutic effect, taking the drug should be combined with therapeutic exercises and massage.
Gymnastics
Before starting gymnastics, you should consult a specialist. It is better to refrain from physical activity during an exacerbation. It is important that gymnastics does not cause aggravation of pain.
ReferenceAll exercises are as simple as possible and involve head movement and isometric muscle tension.
Such gymnastics can be done both at home and at work. The starting position for almost all exercises is a sitting position.
Approximate set of exercises:
- The head turns to the right, then to the left. It is important not to do strong shaking. When turning, the tension should be maintained for 5 seconds.
- He leans his head on his shoulder. You should try to touch your shoulder with your ear, do not raise your hand. The exercise should be performed with a pain-free amplitude.
- Counter-clockwise and circular movements of the head. Rotations should be done as slowly as possible.
Such a light load will help stretch the muscles. Such gymnastics should be done regularly to give good results. In this case, the increase in load should be gradual and painless.
Massage
Massage should only be performed by a specialist. It is necessary to work the cervical region, the back and the collar zone.The following techniques can be applied:
- caress
- compression;
- trituration;
- knead.
Massage should not cause pain. The procedure carried out by non-professionals can only aggravate the situation.
Folk remedies at home
Alternative therapy methods can be used in addition.There can be compresses from fresh horseradish leaves. They are applied to the cervical region and should be kept overnight.
A fairly effective compress from fried potatoes and honey. This procedure should be done no more than once a week. Folk remedies will help alleviate the patient's condition, but will not cure the disease.
Is it possible to completely cure SHX?
Cervical osteochondrosis cannot be completely cured.Therapy is aimed at improving the patient's condition and stopping the progression of the disease. Periodic relapses are possible, so the patient should carefully monitor his condition. The earlier the treatment starts, the better the result.
Prevention
Proper nutrition
An important place in the prevention of cervical osteochondrosis is proper nutrition. The diet should contain products containing synthesized substances for cartilage tissue. It can be jelly, jelly or gelatin.
Important.The body should 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 discs.
The diet should contain 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 developing the disease.Women are not recommended to lift more than 10 kg. It is recommended to wear a special corset in case of spinal problems.
In order to have a quality and long sleep, it is better to buy a special orthopedic mattress and pillow. Experts recommend swimming, but it is better to refuse to run and jump. You can not visit the bath during the period of exacerbation.
Cervical osteochondrosis is more often diagnosed in women.It is important to see the first signs of deviation in time and start treatment. The earlier the treatment starts, the more effective it is.