CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS AND ITS AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Spondylosis is a term meaning to degenerative Osteo Arthritis of the

joints between the centre of the spinal vertebrae and or neural foramina
resulting pain paraesthesia etc. If it is occurs on cervical vertebrae it is called Cervical spondylosis. So this is a diseases of elderly (more than 40 years) where there is degeneration of the apophyseal joints and inter-vertebral disc joints with osteophyte formation and associated with or without neurological signs.

PATHOLOGY:

With the progressing of age in the spine disc gradually breakdown and degeneration occurs. As the age advances disc begins to loses its water content, elasticity begins to weakens and age related wear and tear affecting the cervical vertebrae, cause settling and collapse of the disc space and loss of the disc space height.

As the facet joint experiences increased pressure they also begins to degenerate and develops arthritis. Resulting in bone rubbing. for this mechanism body develops some preventing measures as a result growing new bones in facet joins to help support, further result as spur. It may narrow space between the vertebrae (stenosis). Due to age and some other factors brings down the calcification leading to extra bone formation known as osteophytes.
Due to trauma, pressure etc some factors like intra vertebral disc herniation may also result to cause this disease.

INTRA VERTEBRAL DISC HERNIATION:

The disc are made up of two concentric layers, The inner gel like annulus pulposes and outer annulus fibroses. As a result of advancing age and other precipitating causes the nucleus loses fluid volume and resulting the entire disc structure become more susceptible to trauma compression (dehydration of the disc). The disc is then highly vulnerable to tears and wears. As a results inner annulus pulposes protrudes thereby fibrosis layer produce bulges in the disc (herniated disc) cause compression to the spinal cord and nerve root. When space narrows compression of nerve root emerging from spinal nerve may result radiculopathy (sensory and motor disturbances), direct pressure on the spinal cord may result myelopathy, weakness,  gait disturbances, loss of bowel and bladder control. May experience phenomena of numbness or burning sensation on hand and legs.

CAUSES and  AGGRAVATING FACTORS:

• Trauma
• Incorrect posture while sleeping and working.
• Excess intake of sour and spicy food- cause to early degeneration.
• Genetically
• Smoking- tends to increase the disease and other symptoms.
• Occupational- reduced physical activity, sedentary habit, stress,
• Repetitive strain injury (RSI)- caused due to lifestyle without ergonomic care (while working in front of  computer), travelling, etc.
• Age. 
• Cold food, direct exposure of wind, heavy meal at night time, heavy exercise, use of improper pillow, lack of sleep at night and sleeping during day time, etc may aggravate the condition.