-Dr.Manoj Kuriakose
B.H.M.S

Cervical Spondylosis
With the increase in number of professionals who sit for hours together doing desk work or sitting for hours in front of the computer and call center jobs which requires continuous sitting in one posture the number of people suffering with cervical spondylosis is on the rise .Cervical spondylosis is a 'wear and tear' of the vertebrae and discs in the neck. It is a common cause of neck pain

The most common symptoms with which these patients approach the doctor are
Pain and stiffness in the neck.
The pain and stiffness could be confined to the neck alone
There could be radiation of the pain from the neck to the right hand
There could be radiation of the pain from the neck to the left hand
There could be radiation of the pain from the neck to the back of the head
There could be giddiness associated with pain and stiffness
There could be only pain in the upper arm
There could be numbness in the tips of the fingers
These above symptoms could all suggest that you could be suffering from a condition known as cervical spondylosis


What is the cervical spine?
The cervical (neck) spine is made up of small circular bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other. Between each vertebrae is an intervertebral disc which acts like a shock absorber and allows flexibility of the spine. Muscles and ligaments run between, and are attached to, the vertebrae. Nerves from the spinal cord pass between the vertebrae going to the shoulder, neck, arm, and upper chest.

What is cervical spondylosis?
To an extent, we all develop a degree of degeneration in the vertebrae and discs as we become older. However, cervical spondylosis is a term used if the degree of degeneration is more severe, and causes more symptoms, than is expected for a given age.

As the 'discs' degenerate, over many years they become thinner. Sometimes the adjacent vertebrae develop small, rough areas of bone on their edges. The nearby muscles, ligaments, and nerves may become irritated by these degenerative changes which can cause troublesome symptoms.

What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis
Pain in the neck. This may spread to the base of the skull and shoulders. Movement of the neck may make the pain worse. The pain sometimes spreads down an arm to a hand or fingers. This is caused by irritation of a nerve which goes to the arm from the spinal cord in the neck..
Some develop neck stiffness, particularly after a night's rest.
Headaches from time to time. They often start at the back of the head just above the neck and travel over the top to the forehead.
Some numbness or pins and needles may occur in part of the arm or hand. It is best to tell a doctor if these symptoms occur as they may indicate a problem with a 'trapped nerve' in the neck.

TREATMENT FOR CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS
Exercise your neck and keep active
Aim to keep your neck moving as normally as possible. As far as possible, continue with normal activities. In the past, some people have worn a neck collar for long periods when a flare-up of neck pain developed. It is now known that if you wear a collar for long periods it may cause the neck to 'stiffen up'. So, try to keep your neck as active as possible.
Professionals who spend hours doing desk work or in front off the computers should take small breaks in between and try and do simple neck exercises

Some of those neck pains and stiffness which does not improve inspite of exercise and medication are most certainly due to stress. When a person is in constant stress the muscles in the neck goes into spasm and causes pain and stiffness in the neck so it is very important for the doctor to identify the cause and treat it accordingly

The most commonly used medicines used for the treatment of cervical spondylosis are..
Rhus Tox ..Pain and stiffness in the nape of the neck,pain between the shoulders,
Kalmia..pain from the neck down the arms,pain extending to the shoulder blades
Conium..cervical spondylosis with giddiness
Other commonly used medicines are
causticum,calcarea phos,calcarea flour,nux,hypericum,

Note .Although I am giving the most commonly used medicines used for a particular complaint in my column it is advised that you consult a qualified homeopathic doctor nearby to you and take his advise about the treatment of the problem.