Q. What is cervical spondylosis?
A. The cervical spondylosis is defined as the wear and tear in the vertebrae and intervertebral disk of the neck resulting in degeneration of the cervical spine.
The degeneration of the spine causes reduced elasticity of intervertebral disk resulting in more risk of injury and tear.
It is prevalent and a natural consequence of growing older. As we age, our spines start to change and wear out.
This usually happens when people are in their 30s. By age 60, about 9 in 10 people have cervical spondylosis.
Q. Is this condition treatable by homeopathy?
A. Homoeopathy has proven effective in managing symptoms of cervical spondylosis. It aims to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and improve overall well being.
Q. How long will the treatment lasts?
A. The course of the treatment depends on various factors such as:
- The condition of the patient
- Severity of the disease
- Susceptibility of the patient
- History of previous treatment taken
- Lifestyle habits of the patient
Q. What are the signs and symptoms of this condition?
A. COMMON SIGNS/SYMPTOMS INCLUDES:
- Sensation of dizziness
- Intermittent neck and shoulder pain.
- Tingling and numbness in arms and hands.
- Radiating pain in arm shoulder, back.
- Pain from sub-occipital region radiates to the neck or head.
- Stiffness in the neck region.
- Weakness in hands with numbness.
- Restriction of neck movement.
- Pain gets worse with bending, coughing, sneezing.
- Swelling and tenderness in the neck.
Q. What are risk factors for cervical spondylosis?
A. Risk factors for this condition include:
- Age : more common among middle aged people
- Occupation: Jobs which put constant pressure on the spine. For e.g. Coal miners, Construction workers, typist etc
- Neck injuries: History of neck or spine injuries
- Genetic factors: History of bone diseases in family.
- Smoking: it can lead to cervical intervertebral disc degeneration.
Q. Which occupation increases the chances of cervical spondylosis?
A. Some of the following occupations have found to induce certain symptoms of this condition. Such as:
- IT employee
- Drivers
- Coal miners
- Typist
- Construction workers.
Q. Can lifestyle habits influence the progress of cervical spondylosis?
A. Certain habits that cause continuous and gradual strain on the muscles and ligaments of the neck leading to pain and stiffness include:
- Standing for long periods of time
- Sitting in a bad posture
- Sleeping in awkward position with many pillows under neck
- Frequent driving for long hours
- Prolonged disk work
- Wrong forms/postures during weight training exercise
Q. What are the do's and dont's for a patient suffering from this condition?
A
DO’S · Use firm collars while travelling. · Exercise regularly · Use firm mattress, thin pillows. · Turn to one side while getting up from bed · Avoid sudden jerks and movements · Simple and gentle exercise. · Maintaining a straight neck posture. | DONT’S · Do not sit for prolonged period in stressful postures · Do not lift heavy objects on head and back · Avoid lying flat on your stomach · Avoid sleeping on soft mattress. · Avoid extreme cold baths · Avoid smoking |
Q. How can we diagnose this condition?
A. Some of the diagnostics tests you can opt for:
- Physical examination shows stiffness in the head making it difficult to rotate.
- X-ray spine: shows development of spurs on vertebra
- CT scan spine: demonstrate osteophytes and calcific opacities.
- MRI spine: helps to rule out any possible nerve damage
- EMG (electromyography): can help to diagnose cervical radiculopathy
- Nerve conduction velocity test
Q. Can dietary management help in this condition?
A. Yes, it can help you to a certain extent. Some of the dietary modifications include:
- Plenty of fresh fruits containing vitamin C.
- Avoid fatty, spicy and fried food.
- Diet rich in: Vitamin D, Calcium, Phosphorus, Proteins, Zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Avoid consumption cream based liquors, canned soups, alcohol, carbonated drinks, palm oil and excessive salt.
- Include nuts like almonds, walnuts in your diet
