Acupuncture Therapy is the only treatment which gives cure to all patients suffering from Cervical Spondylosis The occupational strain resulting from intensity and duration of working hours is taking a toll on the health of youths. Cervical spondylosis is afflicting the working class in the age group of 18 to 40 years, especially those in the IT sector.
Percentage of such patients is increasing due to stress, pressure at work place and unhealthy food habits. With the rise in number of professionals like those at the call centre who remain confined to the desk or in front of computer for hours together in one posture, the number of people suffering from cervical spondylosis is on the rise.
Neck pain can be caused by an injury, muscular problem or by a trapped nerve between vertebrae. Besides, inappropriate working or sleeping posture may also be responsible. It is a clinical syndrome resulting from degeneration of the intervertebral disc and consequent pressure on the cervical nerve roots or the cervical cord. An x-ray reveals the formation of osteophytes and loss of normal lordosis or forwards curve. This is essentially an extension of degenerative changes in the body as a whole.
It is a degenerative disorder of the neck bones due to abnormal wear of the bone cartilage. This might lead to gradual compression of one or more than one nerve roots. It results in changes in sensation in arm, pain in neck and arm and weakness of upper limb muscles.
Causes:
Injury and muscular problem cause abnormal tear of joints, ligaments and the structures surrounding the joints.
Trapped nerve between vertebrae.
Long hour of reading or working on computer
Watching TV and driving for long hours
Bad posture
Poor skeletal setup in the neck predisposes abnormal tear of the neck joints.
Improper sleeping posture
Symptoms:
Headache
Pain, stiffness in the neck, which may spread to other body parts, like shoulder and arm.
Irritable, restless and fatigued, disturbed sleep and impaired work ability
Numbness & weakness may appear in arms, hands, fingers and legs
Pain at the back of the neck region, causing headache, altered sensation while combing hair
Precaution:
Do not bend neck for long duration while working in front of computer Avoid large thick pillow while sleeping
Avoid sudden twisting of the neck
Do neck-muscle building exercises
Professionals who spend hours doing desk work or in front off the computers should take small breaks in between.
Advice for patients:
Avoid violent massage with deep pressure
No manipulations by bone setters
Exercise daily
Drink milk and opt for calcium intake
Anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants
Neck collar
Physiotherapy, neck traction and diathermy.