3 Spinal Conditions That Primarily Affect Women
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
Men and women are different in many ways, and that includes their spines and their likelihood of developing certain health conditions. Men are more likely to suffer from certain back disorders, while women are more likely to be plagued by other spinal conditions. Today, we take a look at three of the most common spinal conditions that are more likely to develop in females.
Spinal Osteoarthritis
Spinal osteoarthritis is a condition categorized by injury and inflammation in the facet joints of your spine. The condition is actually more common in men until the age of 45, at which point it becomes more common in women, but since osteoarthritis doesn’t usually develop until we’ve experienced some spinal degeneration, it is much more common in older populations and in women. It’s not exactly clear why women are more likely to develop the condition, but it could be tied to diet and exercise habits. Osteoarthritis is treated with medications to control inflammation, physical therapy, exercise and weight loss.
Coccydynia
Coccydynia is the fancy way to say pain in your tailbone. The condition is typically brought on from acute trauma, or by pregnancy or giving birth, so it’s easy to see why this condition is more common in women. Unfortunately, since it is often diagnosed as lumbar spine pain or even as cramps, many women don’t seek treatment for coccydynia right away. It’s not life-threatening, but you shouldn’t have to deal with regular pain especially when treatment options are available. 90 percent of cases heal without surgery, and treatment centers around lifestyle modifications to avoid putting pressure on your tailbone, as well as over-the-counter medications. Surgery to remove part of the bone is only recommended if conservative treatments fail and if there’s severe pain.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Your sacroiliac joint is the area where the sacrum at the bottom of your spine meets the ilium, or the upper part of the hip bone. SI joint dysfunction is more common in women for a number of reasons. Aside from the fact that roughly half of pregnant women will deal with SI joint pain at some point during their pregnancy, women also naturally have wider hips than men, which increases torque across the SI joint when you’re walking or running. This excess pressure can lead to dysfunction or compression, which can result in pain, numbness, muscle weakness or inhibited gait. Treatment is focused on strengthening the joint and returning it to normal function. Common treatment options include rest, ice, chiropractic manipulation, exercise, physical therapy and joint injections.
Dr. Sinicropi has successfully treated all the above conditions numerous times for both men and women, so if you are dealing with one of these problems, or you just want to get to the bottom of your spine pain, reach out to his office today.
