Cervical Spondylosis

November 30, 2020Articles 1

Cervical Spondylosis is a disease of age related wear and tear affecting the parts of spine in your neck. Cartilages wear out overtime , ligaments may thicken and bone spurs may form where bones rub against each other in areas that are no longer covered with cartilage. All of these changes are defined as spondylosis .

As cervical spondylosis is a normal part of ageing ,this wearing down process sometimes start in your 30s and by the age of 60 , almost 9 out of 10 people have cervical spondylosis.It is also called as cervical osteoarthritis or neck arthritis.

Symptoms –

Most people don’t have significant symptoms.

• Most common symptom – pain around the shoulder blade.

• Pain along the arm and in the fingers.

• Muscle weakness which makes it hard to lift the arms or grasp objects firmly.

• Stiffness of neck.

• Headache mostly in the back of head.

• Tingling or numbness of shoulders and arms.

Some warning symptoms to pay immediate attention –

• Loss of balance.

• Loss of bladder or bowel control.

Causes –

• Dehydrated discs –

By the age of 40 , most people’s spinal discs begin drying out and shrinking ,which allows more bone on bone contact between the vertebrae.

• Herniated discs –

When due to ageing cracks appear on spinal discs ,they can bulge out – which sometimes can press on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

• Bone spurs –

Due to disc degeneration spine produce extra amount of bone .These bone spurs then sometimes pinch the spinal cord and nerve roots.

• Overuse –

Some occupation involve repeatitive movements or heavy lifting such as in construction work. This can put extra pressure on the spine resulting in early wear and tear.

• Stiff ligaments –

Spinal ligaments can stiffen with age , making your neck less flexible.

Risk Factors –

• Age

• Occupation

• Neck Injuries

• Genetic factors

• Smoking

Diagnosis –

• Physical examination for reflexes , muscle weakness and range of motion of your neck.

• Imaging tests like X-ray ,CT – scan ,MRI -scan

• Nerve function test like Electromyography ,Nerve conduction study

Treatment –

1) Physiotherapy –

In physiotherapy ,the therapist teaches you exercise to help stretch and strengthen the muscles in your neck and shoulders.

2) Lifestyle changes –

• Maintain a good posture.

• Perform gentle stretching exercises.

• Include swimming in your regular activities.

• Expose yourself to adequate sunlight.

• Avoid carrying heavy weights on head and shoulder region.

• Too much of AC to be avoided.

3) Medications –

• NSAIDs like Ibuprofen , naproxen

• Corticosteroids like Prednisone

• Muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine

• Antidepressants

4) Surgery –

If medications and exercises fail then surgery need to be done for removing a herniated discs or bone spurs , removing part of vertebrae.

Ayurvedic Perspective –

Cervical Spondylosis is known as grivastambha in Ayurveda Perspective which is one of 80 types of vata vyadhi characterized by stiffness in the neck region. Grivagata vata is triggered by aggravated Vata and ama. Ama not only effects the stomach but also creates multiple blockages in the micro channels in your body likewise accumulation of vata dosha and ama in the neck ,block the energy channels in the neck region and becomes reason of grivastambha.

Line of treatment –

Some effective procedures –

• Grivavasti –