Cervical Spondylosis Treatment

Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative disease that affects the spine. It is primarily caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc and the resultant pressure on the cervical nerve roots or cervical spinal cord. It is primarily an arthritic process affecting the vertebra and is associated with osteoarthritis present in the rest of the skeleton. Spine is the most important part of the body’s back and is known as life of the body. Back is a complex structure of muscles, bones and elastic tissues. Spine consists of 24 blocks of bone, piled one on top of the other. In between these bony blocks are the cushions of cartilage and elastic tissues, called intervertebral discs. They work as shock absorbers for the back and help in movement. When the space between the cervical vertebrae narrows, the nerves are compressed giving rise to cervical spondylosis.

Drugs give only a temporary relief from pain to the muscles and relaxes, but it be addictive and can aggravate the condition. People in sedentary occupation need to be very careful. Exercise is the best way to prevent spondylosis; it supplies nutrients to the spinal discs, delaying the process of deterioration. The safest exercises are swimming, walking and bicycling with back upright.

Joint movements like folding and unfolding of fingers, moving wrists up and down, rotating them in both clockwise and anticlockwise direction, folding and unfolding of forearms and rotating shoulder clockwise and anticlockwise, nodding neck clockwise and anticlockwise are beneficial. Shoulders exercises like lifting the shoulders up and down, moving the shoulder in clockwise and anticlockwise direction are also very beneficial. Do these exercises three times a day.

Diet should consist of salad, raw vegetables like tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce and at least two steamed or lightly cooked vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach and lots of fruits. Take four meals daily. Breakfast should consist of fruits and milk; lunch should consist of steamed vegetables, whole wheat chapattis. Take fresh fruit juice in the evening and a bowl of raw salad and sprouts in dinner.

Avoid fatty, spicy and dried foods, sour curd, sweets, sugar, condiments, tea and coffee. Do not smoke and take tobacco in any form. Develop bone matrix by eating proteins and vitamin C.  Take vitamin D, phosphorus, calcium and the essential minerals for healthy bones. Avoid processed foods since storage destroys most of the essential nutrients in the foods.

Garlic is very effective for treating spondylosis. Take two to three capsules of garlic in the morning to get good results. Rub garlic oil on the affected part to get immediate relief. To prepare garlic oil fry10 cloves of garlic in 60 grams of oil in a frying pan. Fry slowly till they are brown. Once it cools, apply it vigorously on the affected part. Have a warm bath latter on. Continue this treatment for at least 15 days.

Take lemon juice mixed with common sat twice or thrice a day. Take a piece of chebulic myrobalan or harad or haritaki after your main meals.  Mild oil massage to the neck, shoulders and hands, hot fomentation for 5 to 10 minutes twice a day, 5 to 10 minutes of exposure to the infrared rays is beneficial. Some yogic asanas like bhujangasana, shalabhasana, vakrasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana are recommended.

Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis

• Nagging and severe pain spreading over to both the sides of the shoulders, back of the neck, the collar bone and head. Paining of arms and fingers. At times, chest and throat too could be affected.
• Acute or chronic stiffness, leading to partial or complete loss of movement.
• Numbness and tingling or complete loss of sensation on the affected side.
• Headache
• Giddiness
• Weakness of muscles of the arm or hand.

Causes of Spondylosis

• Injury if met with an accident a long time ago and left untreated.
• Faulty posture due to slouching or sitting incorrectly on soft chairs and coaches or  sleeping on soft mattress resulting in an improper back and neck posture giving rise to tension, headaches and pain in the upper and lower back.
• Incorrect nutrition due to wrong diet,
• Psychological strain leading to muscle spasm
• Lack of exercise. Muscles remain weak and increase the risk of injury if not exercised.
• Stress and strain due to sitting for a long time
• Improper way of lifting weights
• Emotional problems leading to muscle cramping.