Cervical osteochondrosis is a disease that develops in adults after the age of 25 due to changes in cartilage tissue structure. In fairer sex, the disease is more likely to develop due to the specific hormonal background. We all need to know the symptoms of cervical osteochondrosis in order to diagnose the disease in time and start comprehensive treatment immediately.
An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor. An experienced neurologist is involved in the treatment. He allocated more research to not only determine the stage of development of the disease, but also determine the cause of its development. Then, it is much easier to choose the best treatment plan so that the patient is protected from the main manifestations of the disease.
When the disease has been actively developed in the body, women will have obvious signs of cervical osteochondrosis. The slightest sense of happiness is the reason to see the doctor. If you encounter a problem, then over time, the osteochondrosis will become a protrusion or hernia and the patient will be on the operating table. The consequences of this disease will live forever. In the early stages of disease development, its symptoms can be completely eliminated. You have the ability to improve your health and ensure that your future is full of vitality without injury, tissue malnutrition and constant pain.
What is osteochondrosis
Osteochondrosis is a common disease characterized by changes in the structure of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral disc. This disease can affect any joint, but most commonly it affects the spine. Women have obvious signs of osteochondrosis, but only after a comprehensive diagnosis can a final conclusion about the development of the disease be reached.
The cervical spine is considered the easiest to move. Since this area is the least protected, it is often prone to various dystrophic lesions. There are no large muscles to protect and support the spine. The section consists of seven independent vertebrae. They are based on bone tissue. There is a soft "layer" between each vertebrae-intervertebral disc, which provides flexibility and mobility of the neck. Hormones have a great effect on the structure of tissues. Therefore, men and women develop different ways of osteochondrosis.
According to statistics, 60-70% of adults on the earth suffer from this disease. In 30% of cases, the cause of frequent headaches is that migraine is precisely the osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
To know when to see a doctor, you need to study the list of symptoms of the disease.
Why is osteochondrosis harmful to women
The main symptoms of osteochondrosis in women are considered more carefully because weaker sexes are more likely to develop the disease.
This is due to the structure of the female body:
- Women are more likely to work in the office and spend a lot of time sitting in a position on the computer.
- The hormone background in women is completely different from that in men; during menopause, the dystrophic changes in cartilage tissue thickness are more obvious.
The muscle tissue of women is not as developed and extracted as men. This is the worsening of disease development.
In adulthood, women gradually deteriorate bone tissue. This is due to the development of osteoporosis. Calcium is flushed out of the bones, and calcium reserves are not replenished. Women’s bodies no longer produce special hormones that promote the absorption of trace elements. If cartilage and bone are destroyed at the same time, the consequences can be terrible.
For this reason, it is recommended that women between 40-45 years old have an annual blood calcium level check to check the condition of bones and cartilage. Certain preventive measures will help get rid of the manifestations of the disease and restore the integrity of the cervical spine in time.
With the occurrence of osteochondrosis, the structure of cartilage tissue changes, becoming denser and harder. Loss of flexibility and mobility of the vertebrae. If this disease enters the intervertebral weight, the contents of the intervertebral disc will protrude beyond the annulus. Getting rid of this complication without surgery is problematic. It is not worth it to enter this state. Try to monitor your health.
The main manifestations of the early disease
The signs of female cervical osteochondrosis are different in the early and late stages of development. At first, the disease is hardly annoying, but it is still worth paying attention to minor symptoms.
This list includes:
- neck discomfort, especially in the morning;
- The head is bent when moving in a circular motion, and bends to the side;
- I often have headaches;
- Dizziness to one side, slight dizziness.
The nerve roots are squeezed due to changes in the structure of the tissue, which can cause headaches.
The neck is no longer flexible. In women, it is usually observed to move forward.
It is getting more and more difficult to maintain the posture, and sometimes even a slight hump appears at the transition from the neck to the shoulder strap. All this clearly shows the development of osteochondrosis.
The women did not make an appointment with a neurologist, but went through many massage courses. This impact has short-term effects. If you do not massage correctly, it will cause more damage to the body over time.
Specificity of the course of cervical chondropathy
Women's cervical osteochondrosis has been asymptomatic for a long time. The limitation of neck movement is due to fatigue, muscle blockage, and headaches that have not caused much discomfort. If it does happen, then stress and poor sleep are called the culprits. The cause of the change from latent to acute form of the disease may be rapid hypothermia and mild injury. Usually, the disease progresses at a reaction rate. Yesterday, the woman still felt good, but today, due to the severe pain, she can't remove her head from the pillow. Don't expect this state to go away on its own. Hurry up to see a doctor. Even at this stage, you can completely get rid of the manifestations of osteochondrosis, thereby stimulating its factors.
Strictly prohibit contact with bone installers and bone repairers. There is no concept of "reducing vertebrae" in official medicine. Such an expert will only hurt others. Due to excessive mechanical stress, the thickness of cartilage and bone tissue may crack. During the first osteoplastic surgery, you will indeed feel better, but over time, all his actions will only lead to the fact that osteochondrosis becomes a big hernia.
Traditional treatment consists of several stages, and it is performed consistently and without pain. No activities are allowed during the acute phase. In order to get rid of restricted movement and severe pain, you only need to listen to the main advice of your doctor. Neurologist and vertebral surgeon can observe at the same time. These highly educated and highly qualified doctors use complex treatment methods.
Acute symptoms
When the disease becomes acute, the symptoms of cervical chondropathy in women will change.
At this stage, the overgrown cartilage tissue presses on the nerve endings and squeezes the large arteries that extend along the spine to the brain to provide food for the brain. Frequent fainting manifests as hypoxia. Possible short-term memory loss and spatial disorientation.
The sensitivity of the limbs is lost due to the compression of nerve endings. The shoulder straps were numb, and the numbness of the fingers was shocking.
If you are not in a hurry to start treatment at this stage, you may experience partial paralysis. The patient no longer feels his upper limbs at all.
If you consult a doctor at this stage, first of all his efforts will be aimed at stabilizing the patient's condition.
After exiting from the acute phase of the disease, various treatments were prescribed, including taking medication and going through various physical therapy procedures.
Exercise therapy will be very effective if the course is conducted by a certified instructor who has sufficient experience in the rehabilitation of patients with spinal injuries.
Diagnostic methods
The diagnosis of cervical osteochondrosis is comprehensive. When you go to the doctor for the first time, you will describe all the disturbing symptoms in detail. Based on this information, doctors can already draw certain conclusions about the development of the disease. The final diagnosis can only be made after other studies. In medical practice, more and more innovative methods of functional diagnosis are used. These include computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. With special equipment, spine tissue can be inspected in real time. This technology allows you to make three-dimensional images with different projection methods, thoroughly studying organs, systems or departments. Provide patients with pictures and CDs with examination records. The diagnosing doctor will give a detailed explanation, but your doctor is responsible for the final decoding.
Based on these examinations, it has been possible to determine the extent of the disease, that is, the affected part of the intervertebral disc. A control check is performed every six months to assess the motivation of treatment.
Sometimes additional biochemical blood tests are needed. They help to understand whether inflammatory processes are occurring in the body.
MRI or X-ray
Some patients complain that MRI or CT is too expensive. In most cases, this inspection is paid for, because high-power and high-quality equipment is expensive and used in private diagnostic centers. Among patients, a question naturally arises, that is, whether conventional X-rays can be taken.
Only panoramic X-rays can provide certain information about the development of the disease
The cost of this procedure will not be much lower than MRI or CT scan. Bone tissue is clearly visible here, but it is problematic to draw reasonable conclusions about the state of cartilage and connective tissue. This is why experts prescribe more modern diagnostic methods. You should not refuse them, because MRI is also safer. Since harmful radiation can not be used in the research, it can be performed several times in a short time.
Is it possible to get rid of osteochondrosis forever
After understanding the main symptoms and manifestations of female cervical osteochondrosis, it will become easier to get rid of the disease. The sooner the patient seeks medical attention, the greater the chance of a quick cure.
An anti-inflammatory and anti-congestive compound, mainly using natural collagen-based drugs, which can increase the elasticity of connective tissue, nutritional correction, moderate physical exercise, and exercise therapy are the main treatment areas.
Only by correcting your habitual lifestyle and changing your attitude towards physical exercise can you achieve positive results.
Prevention
Knowing that women often suffer from cervical osteochondrosis, it is recommended to take preventive measures to prevent the aggravation of this complex disease. If you engage in sports, eat the right food, walk a lot in fresh air, and monitor all the systems and functions of the body, then the disease will never surpass you.
If you are training in the gym, please do it under the guidance of an experienced and qualified coach who will always make sure to follow the basic exercises.
Yoga and Pilates classes help prevent osteochondrosis.
The signs of osteochondrosis are already visible in the initial stages of disease development. It is important not to miss them and to start treatment in time to ensure the health of the musculoskeletal system.