Top Health Tips on Living with Spondylitis

Spondylitis is when you experience chronic back pain, especially in your upper back. What is annoying about this problem is that it not only causes you pain after you have exerted yourself, but it also leads to more pain when you have done no physical exertion at all. In addition, it stiffens your back as well as your neck. However, here are a few ways with which you can treat your spondylitis pain:

Stretching: Try to do some normal stretching exercises every day. If that does not work out for you, consult a physiotherapist. He/she can recommend exercises that best suit the kind of pain you have been having. Even a little bit of yoga and a regular backstretch can be very beneficial.
Maintaining a good posture: A good posture is usually hard to maintain, especially if you have been sitting in a slouchy manner from your very childhood. In order to correct your posture now, you might feel like it is causing you a lot of pain. However, over the long run, it is the best choice for you.
A good sleeping position: The position you sleep in makes a lot of difference to spondylitis. You need to have a firm bed and a pillow. For better results, try to avoid sleeping with a pillow. You need to keep your neck in alignment to your body. Try to lie down with your face inside the bed and your back towards the ceiling. Do not sleep on a soft mattress with a huge pillow or cushion.
Acupuncture: Acupuncture, like always, is the best remedy for many problems in your body. It helps regulate blood flow and also helps in relaxing the muscles that might be stiff. Spondylitis pain usually occurs when the muscles in your back are really stiff. Acupuncture helps unwind these muscles at the exact pressure points.
Massage: A warm massage can be very helpful. Like acupuncture, you can feel the tension go away later. However, you will feel a little bit of pain while the procedure takes place. This pain is very relaxing most of the times.
Yoga: Yoga is a natural pain reliever in every sense. However, do not be hyper flexible and opt for difficult poses. You need to start with the basic stretch poses and then advance further as you keep on getting flexible. Doing yoga on a daily basis will help you realize how far you have come and gotten rid of the pain caused by spondylitis.
There are many treatments like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and other kinds of medications that can help you with spondylitis. Even surgeries are performed in the worst case scenarios. However, the above-mentioned are some of the tried, tested and most effective methods to get rid of spondylitis pain.

Joint pain is considered to be one of the first few signs of aging. According to the science of Ayurveda, joint pain is triggered mainly by an accumulation of toxins in the body. These toxins can create an imbalance in the doshas which in turn can cause pain and inflammation on the joints. Along with joint pain, a person is likely to experience a loss of flexibility, weakness, tenderness and enlargement of the joints.

Unlike some popular forms of medication that focus on relieving the pain, Ayurveda addresses the root cause of the issue. Panchkarma aims at cleansing the body of toxins and clearing blockages in the body s digestive and circulatory system. This helps the vatta dosha flow easily through the body and reduces pain associated with arthritis etc. Panchkarma can be defined as a collection of five ayurvedic techniques. These are:

Vasti or Medicated Enema: Vasti aims at removing toxins and waste products from the body through the colon. In doing this, it cleanses the digestive channels and improves circulation of air or the vatta dosha in the body. With better circulation, joint pain is effectively reduced. An enema also nourishes the body and gives it the strength to rebuild tissues while boosting the immune system.
Abhyanga or Full Body Massage: This technique helps I the removal of toxins from deep tissues within the body. It pacifies the vatta and nourishes the body while simultaneously reducing stress and enabling better quality sleep. A full body massage also helps calm the body both physically and mentally.
Potli or Poultice Massage: As the name suggests, a potli involves massaging the body with medicated herbs tied together in a tiny bundle that has been warmed with medicated oils. This potli is then used to massage the entire body. This technique helps relax the muscles of the body and soothes the aggravated vatta dosha. It is very effective when it comes to providing relief from joint pains caused by arthritis, spondylitis, muscle cramps etc.
Pizhichil or Rich Oil Massage: A rich oil massage involves subjecting the body to streams of lukewarm oil that has medicinal properties while simultaneously softly massaging the body. This type of massage helps relieve tension and stress and is a very effective remedy against joint pains. It is highly recommended in the case of rheumatic diseases.
Svedana or Steam Bath: A steam bath helps cleanse the body both physically and mentally by aiding in the removal of toxins through sweat and calming the mind. It also helps soften the muscles and tissues and dilates the channels in the body.

The human body is so amazing yet sometimes, it is delicate. The condition of cervical spondylitis is one of the examples of this being the case. It is also known as cervical disc disease and is reputed to cause a pretty large amount of pain! That being said, it is not as if this pain cannot be reduced. After all, physiotherapy can make almost any situation better and this is pretty much the case with cervical spondylitis, as well!


Neck traction happens to be one of the popular methods prescribed by physiotherapy to help people who are suffering from cervical spondylitis pain. What is done in this process is that the neck is extended but at a very slow rate. While this may not seem like much itself, why this helps is that it goes a pretty long way in taking a lot of pressure off the discs of the spine. While it is true that neck traction is a thing which can be performed at home, it is very important to check with a professional physiotherapist to make sure that the technique that one is practicing is faultless so as to make sure that any painful accidents are not allowed to take place and make the situation worse than it already is!


Physiotherapy is all about engaging in activities which help make the condition better. So, when a person has cervical spondylitis pain, the therapist will spend some time with him or her so that the neck can be slowly adjusted and this will help the range of motion of the person s neck improve by quite a large margin.


There are quite a few other ways to go about relieving the pain caused by cervical spondylitis by making use of physiotherapy. For example, deep tissue massage does have a large number of fans who swear by it. This is also the case when it comes to electrical stimulation. As a matter of fact, both of these are quite popular as a means to get the patient in the right condition for healing exercises to have their full effect.


After all the effort which is put in by the person by the way of exercise, it can be said to be important that he or she makes use of a cervical pillow, which is more commonly known as a neck pillow and a cervical collar, which can help the process of realignment. With correct physiotherapy, cervical spondylitis pain will soon be history!

Hi, I am Dr. A.K Gupta, Homeopath, Director in AKGs OVIHAMS MEDICAL CENTER.

Aaj hum baat karenge spondylitis ki. It is a very common problem. Cervical and lumbar region mein spondylitis ki problem ho sakti hai. Iske causes hain sedentary lifestyle. Isme apki muscles stiff ho jaati hai. Isme pain, numbness and sensation rehta hai. Isme pain hip se legs mein bhi ja sakta hai. Isme backache kaafi common hai.

Is problem se bachne ke liye aapka body posture thik hona chaiye. Work station pe apka vision straight hona chaiye kaam karte time. Jab ye problem zyaada badh jati hai to aapko advice kiya jaata hai surgery ke liye. Homeopathy kaafi effective treatment hai. Kuch logon ko dizziness, nausea and vomiting feel hota hai. Iska diagnosis hum x-ray, CT scan and MRI se krte hain.

Isko treat karte time apka diabetes, blood pressure, calcium and vitamin D deficiency check kia jata hai. Homeopathy me apko medicines ke through treatment dia jata hai and isme apko surgery karane ki bhi zarurat nahi hoti hai. Jinhe osteoporosis hai ya calcium or vitamin D ka deficiency hai to unhe ye problem effect kr skti hai. Is problem k lia apko orthopedic or neurologist se consult krna pad skta hai. But apko homeopath har way me help krta hai.

Zarurat padne pe aapko physiotherapy bhi suggest kia jata hai. But apko exercise balance me hi karna hai. Aap mujhse bhi treatment le skte hain. Thank You.

Spondylitis includes swelling of the vertebra. It happens because of wear and tear of the ligament and bones found in your cervical spine, which is in your neck. While it is to a great extent because of age, it can be brought on by other reasons too. Side effects incorporate pain and stiffness starting from the neck to the lower back. The spine's bones (vertebrae) get fused, bringing about an unbending spine. These changes might be mellow or extreme, and may prompt a stooped-over posture. Some of the non-surgical methods to treat spondylitis are as follows-

Exercise based recovery/physiotherapy: Your specialist may send you to a physiotherapist for treatment. Non-intrusive treatment helps you extend your neck and shoulder muscles. This makes them more grounded and at last, relieves pain. You may neck traction, which includes using weights to build the space between the cervical joints and decreasing pressure on the cervical disc and nerve roots.
Medications: Your specialist may prescribe you certain medicines if over-the-counter medications do not work. These include:
Muscle relaxants, for example, cyclobenzaprine, to treat muscle fits
Opiates, for example, hydrocodone, for pain relief
Epileptic medications, for example, gabapentin, to ease pain created by nerve damage
Steroid infusions, for example, prednisone, to decrease tissue irritation and diminish pain
Home treatment: In case your condition is less severe, you can attempt a couple of things at home to treat it:
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, for example, acetaminophen or a calming medication, for example, Advil or Aleve.
Use a warming cushion or an ice pack on your neck to give pain alleviation to sore muscles.
Exercise routinely to help you recover quickly.
Wear a delicate neck prop or neckline to get transitory help. In any case, you shouldn't wear a neck brace for temporary pain relief.
Interventional Pain Management: It is a highly effective treatment for back and neck pain.
Bed Rest: Severe instances of spondylitis may require bed rest for close to 1-3 days. Long-term bed rest must be avoided as it puts the patient at danger for profound vein thrombosis (DVT, blood clots in the legs).
Support/brace use: Temporary bracing (1 week) may help get rid of the symptoms, however, long-term use is not encouraged. Supports worn for a long time weaken the spinal muscles and can increase pain if not continually worn. Exercise based recovery is more beneficial as it reinforces the muscles.
Lifestyle: Losing weight and eating nutritious food with consistent workouts can help. Quitting smoking is essential healthy habits to help the spine function properly at any age.

Namaskar doston,

Main Santosh Kumar Pandey, Acupuncturist, Mumbai. Today I have chosen a topic for the cervical spondylosis kyon hota hai cervical spondylosis, what is the reason behind that aur kis tarah ki takleefen aap sahan karte hain, kya-kya aapko mahsus hota hai jab aapko cervical spondylosis hota hai. Since we are into pain management also and we do everything with a combination of acupuncture and naturopathy. So in naturopathy yoga also comes, it means normally we do lots of exercise, lots of mental, emotional, physical, spiritual all the exercise we try to do with cervical spondylosis patients.

So kyon hota hai? Kyon ke piche bohot saare karan hote hain, bohot saari cheezen ho sakti hai, 1 is your lifestyle, your work, your postural unawareness ya kabhi jerky movements, sometimes you carry weight ya fir aap bohot jyada tanav mein rahte hain, bohot jyada chinta karte hain, bohot jyada fikramand hote hain cheezon ko lekar ke, unnecessary anxiety or stress lekar ke ghoom rahe hote hain so ghoom rahe hote hain in the sense I am not meaning anything wrong but kya hota hai kabhi-kabhi bimariyon se bachne ke liye aapke pass raste bohot hai lekin aap kisi bhi ek sahi raste per nahi chal pa rahe hote hain kyunki clarity of the thoughts are not there.

So doston since we are into naturopathy, we are into acupuncture and we do follow all the modern technology to make you aware, to make you fit. So maine jo sikha hai ab tak, jo main jaanta hoon ya jis tarah say hamne result dekhe hain we are very much successful into any type of pain, aches right from cervical to everywhere but today I am going to talk to you, especially about the cervical, usse kya-kya cheezen hoti hai, usse aap kis tarah se apne aap ko bacha sakte hain, kis tarah se apne aap ko strong bana sakte hain, aapka jo pain jis tarah se ho raha hai, kya movement aap karen ya na karen aur kis tarike ka khana pina rakhen It's very effective for you and going to help you a lot.

So doston pahle to aap koshish kariye apna posture sudharne ki agar aapane apna posture sahi rakha, you are sitting straight, you are maintaining your posture to main batana chahunga 50 % percent aapne apni jung jeet li 50% you are going to win with your posture. Second you must do some forms of exercise for your cervical region. All the exercises you can learn from any guru, learn from any physiotherapy doctor, learn from any yoga teacher and you can learn it your own, you can do everyday exercises like this, like this, ear touching the shoulder, this side and little exercises you can even find out from the net also, but sabse jaruri kya hai? kuch bhi karne se pahle dhyan se dekhiye ki jo bhi exercise aap kar rahe hain uske liye aapko ek chhota sa consultation jaruri hai kisi yoga teacher ke sath, physiotherapy ke sath, kyon? Kyunki kabhi aapane wrong kiya hoga, pehle se aapko koi problem ho raha hoto uske naam per aapko ek acche teacher ki jarurat hoti hai, ek guru ki jarurat hoti hai, doctor ki jarurat hoti hai so just find out aur sabse jyada jo guru hai bada wala wo aapke andar hai, Kyon? Kyunki aapko har dam aware rahane ki jarurat hai everytime you need to take care of your posture.

So kya karna chahiye? Sabse pahle to kabhi bhi aapko lage ki main kuch work kar raha hoon, computer per baitha hoon to aapka jo table hai ya aap kahin aisi jagah per baithe hain to jo level hai aapke table ka wo aap dhyan se dekhen, dhyan rakhen ki bohot jyada aapko jhukna na pade, bohot jyada aapka posture aisa na ho, bohot jyada aapko is tarah se baar-baar karna na pade, twisting bohot jyada na karna pade. So jab aap in exercise ko karenge regular life mein with the work you will be very much successful plus aap ko dhyan rakhna hai ki jab aap technically bohot sari cheezen kar rahe hote hain to physically, mentally, emotionally also you become technical, kyon? Kaise? Aapko regular breathing ke upar dhyan dena hai. Kam kar rahe hain is tarah se aap ka posture ho jata hai since you are not aware while you are very busy, very much indulge in your work, so you need to work upon that while you are in long sitting position and if something is very much stressful we are not breathing, so if you are not breathing you are going to make all of your muscles stiff and since lots of lactic acid is going to collect into your body and posture and cervical, your upper back so it is going to hurt you later.

So kya karna chahiye jab aapko lage ki mujhe 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 ghante baithna hain to us darmiyaan aapko beech mein 2 minute, 5 minute ke liye uthna chahiye do little exercises, do Little stretches, do some this type of movement of your wrist and shoulders so kya hoga jo stiffness hai, jo lactic acid collect ho rahi hai aapki body mein wo vahan se release ho jaati hai aur thoda smile karen, thoda breathing exercise karen, beech mein uthe thoda paani pee lein aur agar sachmuch bohot pain hai to go see any natural doctor, don't take sos medicines and don't take anything like injections like maine dekha hai log pain killer ke injections lete hain aur maine yah bhi dekha hai ki because of cervical pain, because cervical stiffness you get headaches also so us darmiyaan simply thoda exercise karen, thodi breathing exercise karen, paani piye aur stretching exercises karen aur iske alava agar fir bhi lagta hai ki theek nahin ho raha hai to you see any acupressure doctor (acupuncturist) aur physiotherapy also.

So be aware and be careful while you are sitting longer hour positions and anything, sometimes you feel you need any help so you can visit me on lybrate.com, I am always there to help out.

Thank you

Cervical osteoarthritis is also known as cervical spondylosis. It is a medical condition which involves changes in the joints of neck, bones and discs. This is generally caused due to the deterioration of the muscles owing to old age. With age, the cervical spine breaks down and loses all its fluids. This leads to stiffness in the spine. It occurs usually in middle aged and old aged people. This causes stiffness and severe neck pain. Corrective surgery is helpful to cure Cervical Osteoarthritis.

Symptoms of Cervical Osteoarthritis:

Pain and stiffness in the neck.
Headache which usually emerges from the neck.
Severe pain in the arms and shoulder.
Not being able to turn the head or neck fully while driving.
Muscle spasm and abnormal reflexes.
Grinding sensation or noise caused while bending the neck.
Cervical Osteoarthritis can be cured by physiotherapy in the following ways:



Heat modalities- In this method the pain and stiffness is reduced by putting heat on the affected area. This type of therapy is called heat therapy.
Neck exercise- Regular stretching and bending exercises for the neck can reduce pain and stiffness
Manipulating therapy- This form of therapy is used by massage therapists. They massage and manipulate the joints so that the muscles can function smoothly.
Hydrotherapy- This therapy involves exercising in a pool. Hydrotherapy is extremely beneficial for people having severe joint pain and stiffness.
Cervical traction- This is a common non-surgical treatment which cures pain in the neck by opening the cervical foramen (hole or passage).
Physiotherapy is the most natural and safe way of curing cervical osteoarthritis. If you are diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, you should start physiotherapy as soon as possible.

The backbone (spine) has smooth movement with smooth intervertebral disks. However, this fluid movement can be limited due to arthritis, which can happen due to many reasons genetic to age to injury to infection to tumors. The lower back has two sets of spinal disks sacral and iliac. This sacroiliac region has an elastic vertebral tissue. This could be gradually replaced with hard bone, which can cause fusion between the disks. Such a condition is known as ankylosing spondylitis (fusing disk spaces), which is a type of arthritis.

The typical symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are morning pain and stiffness in the low back and upper buttocks, which gradually decrease as the day goes by. The symptoms usually start and continue to gradually worsen over a period of 3 to 6 months. In severe cases, there could be spinal fractures, but in most cases, pain, stiffness and reduced movement are the main complaints.

Why homeopathy for AS (Ankylosing spondylitis)?

Major benefits of homeopathy could be summarized as under:

It addresses altered immune system, treating the roots of this autoimmune disease.

It helps in pain control without side effects.

It aims at disease control.

It is absolutely safe even if used for a long time.

Homeopathic medicines are prescribed on the basis of individual case evaluation by taking into account patient s genetic, immunological and psychological parameters. It is safe and effective as a long-term therapy. It reduces pain, improves mobility and most importantly, controls the disease. It has no adverse effects.

Homeopathy helps AS patients by acting on the immune system, which is usually overactive in these people. Depending on the presenting symptoms, the doctor will prescribe a customized regimen for the patient.

Rhus Tox: This is the first medicine of choice when the patient experiences sacral/lumbar area pain that is worse at rest, with sitting, or after a period of inactivity. The pain radiates down the legs to the foot. Walking or any other activity/motion provides relief from the pain.

Aesculus: This is indicated in patients who have extremely painful and stiff low back and hips. The pain is a constant ache and there is discomfort with trying to rise from a seat, stooping, and walking, where greater effort is required. There is a feeling that the legs would give way, adding to resistance while walking.

Kalmia: This is used in patients where the back pain and stiffness are accompanied by a warm, numb, and prickly sensation. Low back pain and neck pain is associated with a burning sensation. The pain appears in sudden bursts in the early parts of the night and travels down the arm or up into the scapula.

Kali Carb: This is indicated where there is extreme weakness along with AS symptoms of pain and stiffness in the lumbosacral back area. The patient feels like he is going through a paralytic attack and must lie down to rest. This is a feeling similar to a broken back, and can extend up into the neck or down to the legs. The symptoms are more severe in the early morning hours. Changing positions in the bed worsens the pain.

If you or someone else is suffering from AS symptoms, give homeopathy a try.

Spondylitis, or cervical spondylitis, is a common condition that affects a large section of the adult population. This most common disorder of the cervical spine is a degenerative condition. There are soft disks between the vertebral bones which shrink with age and gets stiff. This leads to formation of small bone spurs. This reduces the space available for the disk to move, causing nerve pinching.

Causes: Ageing is the most common cause for spondylitis. Injury, incorrect sleeping posture, and heavy weight-lifting can also cause spondylitis. While earlier it was common in people who were 60-plus, with more people spending more time at their computers and workstations, the onset happens much earlier in 30s and sometimes even in 20s.

Symptoms: Most symptoms related to spondylitis are centered on the neck and shoulder regions. There is pain and stiffness in the neck that can extend to the shoulders, nape of the neck, arms, and sometimes even the fingers. In rare cases, the pain can extend into the forehead and back of the head too. Associated symptoms include numbness, weakness, and a pricking sensation in the hands, arms, and sometimes fingers.

Homeopathy in cervical spondylitis:

Homeopathy treats the root of the issue after taking into account all symptoms. Listed below are some common homeopathic remedies for spondylitis.

Conium: There is neck pain along with vertigo when lying down or turning in bed. There is constant mild pain in the back of the head and a tight sensation in the forehead region.
Rhus Tox: When the neck pain is worse in the morning and with rest, Rhus is a good option. Moving the neck helps relieve this pain, which is often as a result of some injury.
Kalmia Latifolia: When there is pain extending from the neck to the arm and hand and fingers, Kalmia works wonders. There may also be pain from the nape of the neck to the shoulder blades. The pain is increased with leaning forwards or looking down. The patient may also have nausea with the pain.
Gelsemium: When there is pain extending from the neck to the back of the head, centering in the occipital region. The patient also feels weak, dull, and dizzy. The pain is triggered by emotional excitement.
Silicea: When there is pain extending from the neck to the eyes and forehead, Silicea provides good relief. The patient will have intolerance to cold and feels chilly. The pain is improved by heat pads and lying down.
Calcarea Phos: If the radiographs show bony changes in the cervical spine with the spondylitis, this is very useful. The bony spurs that form can be painful and cause nerve pinching leading to vertigo.
If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a homeopathy and ask a free question.

Treating Cervical Spondylosis (Osteoarthritis):

Cervical osteoarthritis is also known as cervical spondylosis. It is a medical condition which involves changes in the joints, bones and discs of neck area. This is generally caused due to the degenerative changes in the bones and muscles owing to old age. With age, the discs present between the vertebrae tend to breaks down and loses all its fluids. This leads to stiffness in the spine. It occurs usually in middle-aged and old aged people. It may sometime also be caused due to abnormal loading or wrong postures of the spine. This causes stiffness and severe neck pain. Physiotherapy is the safest way of reducing pain and stiffness associated with cervical osteoarthritis.

Symptoms of Cervical Osteoarthritis:

1. Pain and stiffness in the neck.

2. Headache which usually emerges from the neck.

3. Severe pain in the arms and shoulder.

4. Not being able to turn the head or neck fully while driving.

5. Muscle spasm.

6. Grinding sensation or noise caused while bending the neck.

Cervical Osteoarthritis can be cured in the following ways:

1. Heat modalities - In this method, the pain and stiffness are reduced by putting heat on the affected area. This type of therapy is called heat therapy.

2. Electro modalities like IFT, TENS can also help in pain reduction and muscle relaxation.

3. Neck exercise - Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for the neck can reduce pain and stiffness.

4. Manipulating therapy - A physiotherapist may identify and manipulate the joints so that the muscles can function smoothly.

5. Hydrotherapy - This therapy involves exercising in a pool. Hydrotherapy is extremely beneficial for people having severe joint pain and stiffness.

6. Cervical traction - This is a common non-surgical treatment which cures pain in the neck by opening the cervical foramen (hole or passage).

Physiotherapy is the most natural and safe way of treating cervical osteoarthritis. If you are diagnosed with cervical spondylosis, you should start physiotherapy as soon as possible.