CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS
Cervical spondylosis is a normal part of aging.It is the Osteoarthritis of the cervical spine may produce neck pain.
CAUSES
- Dehydrated disks.Disks act like cushions between the vertebrae of your spine. By the age of 40, most people’s spinal disks begin drying out and shrinking, which allows more bone-on-bone contact between the vertebrae.
- Herniated disks.Age also affects the exterior of your spinal disks. Cracks often appear, leading to bulging (herniated) disks — which sometimes can press on the spinal cord and nerve roots.
- Bone spurs.Disk degeneration often results in the spine producing extra amounts of bone in a misguided effort to strengthen the spine. These bone spurs can sometimes pinch the spinal cord and nerve roots.
- Stiff ligaments.Ligaments are cords of tissue that connect bone to bone. Spinal ligaments can stiffen with age, making your neck less flexible.
- Smoking
- Sleeping in awkward position
- Prolonged siting
- Heavy work
- Alcohol
- Injury to neck
- Strain
- Holding the mobile in neck for prolonged time
- Obese
- Lack of physical excersise
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Stress
- Depression
PATHOGENSIS
Osteophytes, disk protrusions, or hypertrophic facet or uncovertebral joints may alone or in combination compress one or several nerve roots at the intervertebral foramina.
The roots most commonly affected are C7 and C6. Narrowing of the spinal canal by osteophytes, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), or a large central disk may compress the cervical spinal cord and produce signs of myelopathy alone or radiculopathy with myelopathy (myeloradiculopathy).
SYMPTOMS
- Neck pain that radiates into the back of the head, shoulders, or arms, or may be the source of headaches in the posterior occipital region.
- Vertigo
- Tingling, numbness and weakness in your arms, hands, legs or feet
- Lack of coordination and difficulty walking
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Headache
- Irritable
PREVENTION
- Reduce your weight
- Regular exercise
- Dusk and dawn sun exposure for vitamin D
- Don’t drink alcohol
- Quit smoking
- Avoid prolong standing,sitting
- Avoid using mobile phone,pc,laptop for prolonged time
- Avoid heavy work
- Reduce your stress
DAIGNOSIS
Neck X-ray. An X-ray can show abnormalities, such as bone spurs, that indicate cervical spondylosis
CT scan.
MRI Scan
TREATMENT
HOMEOPATHY