Predominantly the age related wear of cervical joints, discs and vertebrae occurs due to loss of elasticity of the inter-vertebral discs, which results in inflammation and calcification. This health disorder has become very common in office workers and other people leading sedentary lifestyle. Calcium deposits or osteophytes can press the nerve roots or spinal cord, which will cause pain. However, this doesn’t mean all people over the age of 40-50 will experience pain in the cervical region due to the natural tear and wear of spinal structures. There should be a trigger like trauma, posture problems during activities or sleep, as well as certain food intake like that one with sour taste. One must distinguish cervical from anlkylosing spondylosis as the latter occurs due to inflammation and is classified as auto-immune disease.
Symptoms
- Painful neck and shoulders, sometimes with the pain spreading to the arm and fingers.
- Chronic pain in the neck followed by the stiff neck, coupled with arm pain and swelling.
- Movement in the neck is difficult and causes more pain.
- Headache, localized in the lower back region of the skull, which can spread to the neck and top of the head.
- Numbness and weakness in the arms, shoulders, fingers, legs due to the compression of the spinal nerves.
- Nausea, blurred vision, unstable gait, vomiting after certain spine movement.
- While very rare loss of control of one’s sphincter and difficulties in urine passing can occur due to the same compression.
- Weak muscles in the arm, coupled with the pain.
- In the worst case scenario one can experience loss of memory.
- Insomnia.
- Grinding feeling and sound when moving the neck.
Causes
We can always prevent any disease by avoiding practices and factors causing it. One of the main factors of cervical spondylosis is the sedentary lifestyle, incorrect posture, office work without breaks, wrong matress etc. This can be simply avoided. Age. This disorder can be diagnosed in most patients over 60 years old. And cannot be avoided. Injury of the spine will result in gradual development of spondylosis over time.
Intake of too much of sour food
There is some slight evidence that genetics can play a crucial role in acquiring such a problem, because human leucocyte antigen B has been found to be associated with cases of cervical spondylosis, but it is very rare. Herniated disc associated with dehydration of the disc. When inner disc protrudes through the outer fibrous layer it can cause same compression on the spinal nerve roots and result in pain. As we can see only age and injury cannot be avoided, otherwise this disorder is easily preventable.
Ayurvedic approach
Griva Sandhigata Vata in Ayurvedic texts Cervical spondylosis can be treated in the three step approach: purification from toxins (Shodhanam), pacifying (shamanam) and finally rejuvenation (Rasayanam). Since this disorder is caused by vitiated Vata, which can be due to imbalanced Pitta and Kappha or increased Vata itself. First stages of the cervical spondylosis can be eliminated by simply increasing movement of the neck. Sometimes the stress induced spasm can cause pain and stiffness of the neck, this can be treated by reducing the stress and eliminating stress inducing factors. When the pain and stiffness are present any strong pressure massage should be avoided while mild pressure and circular movements are preferable. Cervical traction such as in yoga exercises can help while keeping the spine erect. One should avoid cold weather. Hot applications of oil and salts can be recommended to ease the pain.Other types of Ayurvedic treatment like kizhi could be performed, however, it is very important to get rid of any constipation present. Since constipation will create gases and aggrevate Vata it can also increase the pain in the neck. Your ayurvedic doctor or vaidya can prescribe to you the most efficient and suitable medicine for constipation. Certain types of medicine used for treating arthritis and joint pains in Ayurveda can be used for spondylosis. They should be carefully selected for you based on the nadi pariksha (pulse diagnostics).
Cleansing therapy or Panchakarma should be undergone by a patient with cervical spondylosis with the duration up to 28 days (ideally). This includes abhyangam, swedana, nasyam, kizhi, shirodhara, shiro vasti, vasti, pizhichil, navarakizhi, greeva vasti etc.
