CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Description

  • Cervical spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear in the cervical spine that can lead to neck pain, neck stiffness and radicular symptoms
  • It occurs most commonly in the lowest three cervical intervertebral joints (commonest is at C5-C6)
  • This degenerative condition of the cervical spine is usually found in persons over 50 years of age
  • Intervertebral disc loses hydration and elasticity with age leading to cracks and fissures. This causes increased mechanical stress at cartilaginous end plates at the vertebral body lip. Sub periosteal bone formation occurs and this causes spinal canal diameter reduction resulting in radiculopathy

Etiology

  • Age related degeneration
  • Occupation -weight loading
  • Neck injuries
  • Genetic factors
  • Bone spurs - Overgrowth of bone
  • Dehydrated spinal discs
  • Herniated discs
  • Ligament stiffness

Types

  • Neck pain, may radiates to arms/ shoulder
  • Retro orbital/temporal pain
  • Weakness in arms
  • Numbness

The pain might increase on :

  • standing
  • sitting
  • sneezing
  • coughing
  • Tilting the neck backward
  • Neck stiffness
  • Trouble in keeping balance

Common presentation

  • Non-specific neck pain
  • Cervical radiculopathy - numbness, pain, loss of sensation
  • Cervical myelopathy- numbness, affects co-ordination and gait

Investigation

  • Elicit tenderness over cervical spine
  • Decreased range of movement in cervical spine
  • Spurling sign positive

X ray cervical spine (AP and lateral)

  • Narrowing of intervertebral disc
  • Osteophytes at the vertebral margin
  • Narrowing of the inter vertebral foramen

MRI cervical spine

Treatments

  • Proper neck posture
  • Neck muscle exercise
  • Rest to the neck in a cervical collar
  • NSAIDs
  • Corticosteroids
  • Traction to the neck if there is stiffness
  • If neurological signs persist, do surgical management

Ayurvedic treatment

Internal medicines

  • Maharasnadi kashaya
  • Dhanwantara kashaya
  • Rasnasapthaka kashaya
  • Prasaranyadi kashaya
  • Lasuna ksheera kashaya (in numbness)
  • Yogaraja guggulu
  • Laksha guggulu
  • Balarishta
  • Ashwagandharishta
  • Snehapana with tiktha rasa dravya siddha gritha
  • Vidaryadi gritha
  • Gandha taila
  • Pinyaka taila

Procedure

  • Rooksha sweda
  • Upanaha sweda
  • Nadi sweda
  • Ext application – Pancha sneha
  • Lepa - Nagaradi choorna, Kottamchukkadi choorna
  • Thala - Rasnajambeera
  • Nasya – Anu taila, Sahacharadi taila , Ksheerabala, Dhanwantara taila
  • Patrapotala sweda
  • Shashtikapinda sweda
  • Greeva vasti

Department

Salya Tantra

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