Cervical osteochondrosis (CS) is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Every year, doctors diagnose this disease more and more frequently, and it progresses more and more serious. According to statistics, changes in upper spine degenerative dystrophy are more common among women, especially in postmenopausal patients. The main symptoms of female cervical osteochondrosis are pain, restricted activity, and insufficient cerebral circulation, which not only endangers health, but also life-threatening. To protect yourself from the dangerous consequences of pathology, you need to start treatment early. It is important to carry out complex treatments and lifestyle changes to prevent the destruction of spinal cord segments and prevent serious complications.
Disease development
The cervical spine is most susceptible to various injuries and degenerative changes. This is because this segment is the most flexible and the muscles here are weaker. The small cervical spine is under heavy pressure every day, which leads to the gradual destruction of the intervertebral discs. The vertebrae squeeze each other, which is why the cartilage pad between them loses a lot of fluid and begins to degenerate and deform.
In addition, due to insufficient nutrition of cartilage tissue, cervical osteochondrosis will develop. And the spinal canal in this area is stenosis, so it is often squeezed, causing neurological symptoms.
The pathological manifestations of early women include a heavy back of the head and tingling in the hands. Often, patients confuse the first signs of disease with overwork.
There are a large number of blood vessels and nerve roots in the neck, and nerve dysfunction can also occur when compressed. It is especially dangerous if deformed intervertebral discs or vertebrae compress the vertebral arteries that supply blood to important parts of the brain. When it is squeezed, motor coordination is disturbed, women lose balance, vision and hearing are reduced, and the risk of stroke increases.
reference. According to statistics, cervical osteochondrosis is most common in patients aged 25-40. This is due to the substantial reduction in physical activity and sedentary work. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with this disease than men because their vertebrae are weaker and bone tissue is thinner.
The doctor distinguishes the 4 stages of osteochondrosis SHOP:
- The first stage-the intervertebral disc loses some water, decreases in height, and cracks may appear on the annulus (shell). This is the stage of cervical spondylosis and it is difficult to recognize because it has no symptoms. The neck gets tired very quickly, and there is discomfort and heaviness in the damaged area, and sometimes it disappears quickly.
- Stage 2-The cracks on the surface of the intervertebral disc increase, and the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like content of the intervertebral disc) is displaced and can protrude from the damaged area. This is how the cartilage lining protrusions appear, which can compress the spinal cord and its roots. Periodically, severe pain, weakness, restricted mobility, numbness of the face, neck, shoulders, and arms may occur.
- Stage 3-The protrusion breaks through the shell of the intervertebral disc, thus forming a hernia. The pain becomes more pronounced and there is a neurological disease.
- Stage 4-The intervertebral disc is almost completely destroyed, the vertebrae rub against each other, and bone growth (osteophytes) appears on the edges of the vertebrae, which aims to stabilize the damaged segment. Damage to nerve endings, spinal cord, and blood vessels. The adjacent joints are beginning to be damaged. The clinical symptoms are obvious.
In the first two stages of SHOP's osteochondrosis, it is easiest to prevent the changes in degenerative dystrophy. In the third stage, complex treatments will help prevent further damage to the spinal segment. In the final stage, you cannot do without surgery.
the reason
Osteochondrosis SHOP is a complicated and long process, usually for many reasons. In most cases, pathology occurs due to a sedentary lifestyle, malnutrition, and metabolic disorders. Usually, the disease occurs due to injury or due to the body's natural aging and weakening of its defenses.
Doctors determine the main causes of osteochondrosis in women:
- Interruption of the metabolic process.
- Passive lifestyle.
- Genetic susceptibility.
- Chronic muscle tension around the neck.
- Curvature of posture.
- Lack of water and nutrients in the body.
- Maintain an uncomfortable posture for a long time (neck stretched forward, back arched).
- Overweight.
- Often wear high heels.
- The store hurts.
- Lift heavy objects.
- Autoimmune disease.
- Frequent stress, chronic fatigue.
- Low temperature.
- Infectious diseases.
- The neck is too long or too short, etc.
All these factors can cause malnutrition of the intervertebral disc and lead to its degeneration.
Cervical osteochondrosis in women can be caused by vertebral artery disease related to genetic susceptibility, intrauterine disease, and childbirth trauma. Rheumatism, endocrine disorders, cervical overload during pregnancy, and local overload can all cause this disease.
important. The main cause of female cervical osteochondrosis is menopause and related changes. At this stage, the concentration of progesterone, which is very important for bone tissue, decreases in the body. The possibility of degenerative changes is related to age-related weakening of the neck muscles and weakened vertebral support in the area.
symptom
For osteochondrosis, the wavy process is characteristic when the acute phase is replaced by the remission phase. Exacerbations can cause infections, injuries, hypothermia, and long-term pressure on the neck.
The first signs of cervical osteochondrosis in women are headache, discomfort, and a heavy neck. It is important to distinguish the pain of rickets from migraine or autonomic dysfunction in time.
The clinical manifestations of female osteochondrosis SHOP are caused by neurological syndrome:
- Cervical pain occurs when nerve endings are stimulated by fragments of the inner layer of damaged cartilage. Then the neck has a special tightness, pain, which becomes more obvious after moving the head and sleeping.
- Scalene syndrome is the result of damage to the blood vessels and nerves of the brachial plexus and subclavian arteries. This symptom complex is accompanied by pain from the inner surface of the shoulder to the hand on the injured side. The limbs are pale, cold, edema, and numb. When the patient turns his head, the pain in the neck extends to the back of the head.
- Shoulder-Shoulder Peripheral Syndrome-Changes in malnutrition affect the tendon fibers around the shoulder. The pain in the neck radiates to the shoulders and shoulder straps. There is a mandatory position for the neck-tilt to the affected side and slightly lower shoulders.
- Vertebral artery syndrome-blood vessels are compressed by damaged discs or osteophytes (depending on the stage of the disease). The patient has dizziness, headache, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. The pain is located in the occiput, crown and temple.
- Heart-the nerve bundles of the spinal cord are damaged. Heartache, irregular heartbeat. If C3 is damaged, half of the neck is painful, the tongue is swollen, and the patient cannot chew food normally. If C4 is injured, there will be discomfort in the shoulder strap, collarbone, and heart area. With the failure of C5, the pain response in the neck extends to the shoulder strap, the inner surface of the shoulder. Stimulus C6 manifests as pain from the neck and shoulder blades to the shoulder straps, and spreads to the entire arm to the thumb. If C7 is damaged, the pain syndrome can spread to the back of the shoulder girdle and the entire hand including the index and middle fingers. When squeezing C8, the pain will spread from the affected area to the elbow and little finger.
In addition, a woman's emotional realm may be disturbed, weaknesses appear, and she becomes anxious and sensitive. Insomnia often occurs. Due to frequent headaches, memory and concentration are weakened.
When a woman suddenly tilts her head back, tilts, or performs tasks that put loads on her arms and cervical spine (for example, when she digs, paints the ceiling, and carries weights), symptoms of a cerebrovascular accident occur.
Cerebral circulatory disorders are manifested as dizziness, unsteady gait, "flies" in front of them, tinnitus, weakness, and nausea. In some patients, the voice becomes hoarse, sometimes disappears, and a sore throat appears.
Menopausal osteochondrosis is accompanied by migraines and increased sweating in the area between the neck and shoulder straps. When the vertebral artery is compressed, the work of the cardiovascular system is interrupted.
If the disease persists for a long time, then the important center that performs neuroendocrine functions will experience circulatory failure. As the permeability of the blood vessel wall increases, atherosclerosis of the brain and heart arteries develops.
Establish a diagnosis
If you find symptoms of osteochondrosis, please see a therapist. After a visual inspection, the specialist will refer you to an orthopedic doctor, chiropractor or neurologist.
In order to diagnose cervical osteochondrosis, the following methods can be used:
- X-rays can allow you to find that the patient’s vertebrae have shifted, with osteophytes on the edges, and the distance between the vertebrae is reduced. For this reason, the research is carried out on different planes. In order to describe the characteristic changes in detail, the doctor will take photos of sightings.
- Cervical CT can provide detailed information about the pathological changes of the vertebrae. This method allows you to obtain volumetric images for more detailed studies, and it is used in severe diagnostic cases.
- MRI is used to accurately assess the condition of the soft tissues (nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles) in the affected area.
- An EMG allows you to check the conduction of nerve fibers.
In addition, the doctor may prescribe Doppler ultrasound (Doppler ultrasound of the cerebral arteries) to determine the blood flow status in the area.
Conservative treatment
In the early stages, treatment of women's SHOP osteochondrosis can be done at home. However, the doctor should develop a treatment plan. It is important to understand that this is a long process, and a complete cure is unlikely (especially for older women).
Complex treatments include:
- take medicine.
- Use orthopedic equipment.
- physiotherapy.
- Physical therapy procedures.
- Massage, manual shock.
- Alternative treatment.
Conservative techniques will help stop pain, inflammation, normalize muscle tension, improve metabolic processes, and provide nutrition for damaged parts of the spine. Through timely treatment, pathological changes can be prevented.
Medications to treat cervical osteochondrosis will help eliminate inflammation and pain.
The treatment of cervical osteochondrosis in women is carried out by using drugs that help improve the metabolism of the cartilage lining between the vertebrae and stop inflammation and pain. For this, the following drugs are used:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. May help relieve mild to moderate inflammation and pain.
- Analgesics. The pain is relieved.
- Prepare to improve cerebral circulation.
- Muscle relaxants help relieve muscle spasms.
- Cartilage protective agent. They help prevent the destruction of intervertebral discs, improve metabolic processes and accelerate recovery.
- Magnesium-based drugs.
- Nootropics. They stimulate the work of the brain by normalizing blood circulation and have a mild sedative effect.
reference. For severe pain that cannot be relieved by oral medications, therapeutic blockers can be used, for example, solutions of novocaine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Treatment can be supplemented with anti-inflammatory and analgesics in the form of gels, creams, and ointments. They will be effective in the remission phase or when used in combination with oral medications.
The choice of drug combination is determined by the doctor. The expert will formulate a plan for taking the drug and determine its dosage. It is important to follow his advice, because many of the above drugs have dangerous complications.
In the acute phase of SHOP osteochondrosis, women must give up heavy physical activity. To remove the cervical spine segment, you need to wear a special corset (Shants collar), which fixes the vertebrae in the correct position. It is recommended to use the device during long periods of sedentary or hard physical work.
Physical therapy procedures will help relieve pain and improve blood circulation in the damaged area:
- Dynamic therapy.
- Magnetic therapy.
- Electrophoresis.
- Electrical analgesia.
- Ultraviolet radiation, etc.
The curative effect appeared about the third time, headache, hearing impairment, visual impairment, dizziness, sleep normal or disappeared, and the general condition improved.
With the help of underwater traction of cervical vertebrae segments, the distance between the vertebrae can be enlarged, the compressed nerves or blood vessels can be released, and the normal position of the vertebrae can be restored.
Massage will normalize muscle tone and reduce the flow of lymph that causes swelling. After several treatments, the blood circulation in the damaged area is improved.
Therapeutic gymnastics is one of the most effective methods for SHOP to treat osteochondrosis. Exercise therapy allows you to strengthen the weak muscles of the neck, thereby reducing some of the burden on the spine, and helps prevent or slow down changes in degenerative malnutrition. In the classroom, the blood circulation is improved, the metabolic process, and the nutrition of the intervertebral disc is accelerated, which has a positive effect on their condition.
Women should train every day. They consist of simple and effective exercises. The complex includes rotation, tilting of the head in different directions, and neck movements, during which the hands are used. These elements can be done at home, but the doctor's permission must be obtained. Physical therapy exercises are only performed during the remission phase.
Comprehensive treatment can be supplemented by reflexology (acupuncture), leech therapy (leech therapy), swimming, etc.
surgery
The operation was performed in the final stage of SHOP osteochondrosis, which was accompanied by severe destruction of the osteochondral structure. In addition, if conservative techniques are ineffective or the spinal canal is significantly narrowed, surgical intervention is essential.
Under the above circumstances, perform anterior cervical discectomy. During the operation, the doctor will fix the damaged spinal segment and remove the hernia that is compressing the spinal nerve. Then, the vertebrae from which the disc was removed fuse together. If necessary, the space between the vertebrae is filled with synthetic inserts (cages).
After 3-5 days, the patient was discharged home. The recovery period is approximately 12 weeks. To speed up your recovery, you need to take medication, wear a corset, live a healthy lifestyle, perform physical therapy procedures, and finally exercise therapy.
Lifestyle recommendation
In order to quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptoms of osteochondrosis and stop the degenerative changes in cervical spine segments, you need to adjust your lifestyle. For this, patients must follow the following recommendations:
- Take a walk every day and avoid running, jumping and other explosive activities.
- No heavy objects are allowed.
- You cannot sit for long periods of time. In extreme cases, wear a corset and regularly adopt a horizontal posture.
- Perform specific physical exercises for the back muscles at home.
- Sleep on orthopedic mattresses and special pillows.
- Follow a diet and supplement the diet with foods rich in magnesium, calcium (nuts, dairy products, seafood, beans), plant fiber, and chondroitin (aspic, jelly). Reject greasy, fried, salty food, and alcohol. The doctor will advise you on nutrition rules in more detail. But in any case, it must be correct.
Hypothermia should not be allowed, and warming up will be beneficial in the absence of an inflammatory process.
complication
Without timely treatment of cervical osteochondrosis, women may have the following pathological consequences:
- The possibility of protruding will become a hernia after a period of time. The bulge compresses the spinal cord and its nerves, causing nerve damage.
- Osteophytes appear when the intervertebral disc is severely damaged; they can irritate spinal nerves and blood vessels.
- In advanced cases, the neck muscles may be severely weakened or incompletely paralyzed, and then the head will involuntarily hang to the side or forward.
- The vertebral artery is compressed and blood circulation in the affected area is impaired. This condition can cause neuralgia (pain along the nerve path), hearing and vision impairment.
- Hand numbness (incomplete or complete).
- Stroke.
If a woman deals with this problem in the early stages of osteochondrosis SHOP, then she will be able to prevent the above situation.
Precaution
Ideally, even during intrauterine development, it is necessary to participate in the prevention of SHOP osteochondrosis. Expectant mothers should exclude factors that have a negative impact on fetal development: infection, hypoxia, and poisoning. If a birth injury occurs, the newborn should be treated.
In order to reduce the possibility of developing osteochondrosis, women should follow the following recommendations:
- Load the spine evenly, such as carrying weight with both hands or taking turns from left to right.
- Don't lift too much weight yourself.
- Try to avoid neck injuries and hypothermia.
- When working in the field, take a break every 1. 5 hours and take a break of 20 minutes.
- Choose shoes with cushioned soles to cushion the impact when running or jumping.
- When sitting for a long time, use a high-back chair with a headrest or wear a corset.
It is also important to eat correctly, control weight, avoid stress, take vitamin preparations for medical reasons, and treat conditions that may cause osteochondrosis in time. In the remission stage, it is recommended to receive a course of treatment in a nursing home.
the most important
As you can see, the incidence of cervical osteochondrosis is higher in women than in men because the vertebrae are weaker and the bone tissue is thinner. The patient's pathology is particularly susceptible during menopause. The disease manifests as dangerous symptoms of pain, neurological diseases and cerebrovascular accidents. It is recommended to start treatment early to avoid the dangerous complications of osteochondrosis. To this end, women must take medicine, adjust their lifestyle, participate in physical therapy procedures, massage, and perform physical therapy. Surgical treatment is only suitable for advanced cases. In order to prevent pathology, you need to observe moderate physical activity and treat the injuries and diseases that may cause osteochondrosis in time.