Cervical Spondylosis: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Spondylolisthesis refers to the condition which affects your spinal bones or lower vertebrae. Due to this condition one of the lower vertebrae overlaps the bone directly beneath it. Although a painful condition, it can certainly be treated with both surgical and therapeutic methods.

People with spondylolisthesis often find it difficult to perform routine activities. They usually encounter symptoms such as- persistent pain in the pelvic region, lower back; stiffness in the legs, hamstrings and hip muscles.

What causes spondylolisthesis?
The causes of spondylolisthesis can vary with lifestyle, heredity and age. Children may develop this condition due to an injury or birth defect. Nevertheless, people belonging to all age groups are susceptible to spondylolisthesis if the condition is genetic.

Over exercise or strenuous physical activities can cause spondylolisthesis because over stretching and carrying heavy weight or strain puts too much stress on the lower back.

Participating in sports like football, gymnastics, weightlifting are likely to trigger spondylolisthesis.

Spondylolisthesis can also be triggered due to sondylolysis. The vertebrae safeguard the spinal cord and work with tendons, ligaments, joints and muscles to provide flexibility, structure and support to the neck. Any sort of damage or wear and tear in the protective cartilage and bones in the neck can lead to cervical spondylosis, which in turn leads to spondylolisthesis.

What is the treatment for spondylolisthesis?
Treatment of spondylolisthesis depends on the severity of the pain. While non-surgical methods help ease the pain, a surgery is recommended when the bone has slipped to such an extent that your spine doesn’t respond to medications.

Non-surgical treatment includes the following-

1. Taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen to ease pain.
2. Practicing a few physiotherapy exercises to reduce lower back pain.
3. Use of minimally invasive Epidural Steroid Injections (EPIs) to get relief from lower back pain and pelvic pain caused by inflamed spinal nerves. When over-the-counter medications fail to treat tSpondylolysthesishe condition or ease the symptoms, then a surgery is inevitable.
4. Discectomy- It is a surgical procedure that makes small incisions to remove a part of the damaged disc to relieve pressure from the surrounding spinal cord or nerve root.
5. Laminotomy- This refers to a minimally invasive procedure that removes a part of the lamina which is the upper surface of the vertebra. This process is used to create more space within the spinal canal.
6. Foraminotomy- With this method excess bone tissues are removed so that they don’t make the foramen narrow and compress the nerve root. Removing these extra tissues reduce back pain and ease symptoms triggered by nerve compression.

Medical attention is crucial for countering symptoms of spondylolisthesis. Although this condition may not seem life-threatening, if left untreated, it can lead to chronic, persistent pain and permanent nerve damage.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The difficulties associated with cervical spondylosis go far beyond spelling it correctly! The problem of cervical spondylosis can be extremely painful making it difficult to sit or walk. As if cervical spondylosis alone was not enough to put up with, it can often be accompanied by severe headaches. Bone spurs can be said to be a rather unusual phenomena but they can be one of the causes of cervical spondylosis is quite a few cases. This occurs when an extra bone grows to make the body stronger.

What causes cervical spondylosis?
While the causes of cervical spondylosis may vary, few causes are just as direct as injury is. A fall, or an accident can hasten the process of ageing and bring on cervical spondylosis sooner than what would have been usual. Sometimes, the nature of work can also lead to cervical spondylosis, as is the case with a lot of construction workers who suffer from it. Generally, as a person gets older, he or she can expect to suffer from cervical spondylosis. As a matter of fact, it affects about eighty five per cent of people over the age of sixty! One good thing though, is the fact that only in certain, chronic cases is the condition life altering, as most people are able to get on with their normal lives after taking some measures.

Cervical spondylosis is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in your neck. As the disks dehydrate and shrink, signs of osteoarthritis develop, including bony projections along the edges of bones (bone spurs).

Cervical spondylosis is very common and worsens with age. More than 85 percent of people older than age 60 are affected by cervical spondylosis. Symptoms for most people, cervical spondylosis causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they typically include pain and stiffness in the neck.

Sometimes, cervical spondylosis results in a narrowing of the space needed by the spinal cord and the nerve roots that pass through the spine to the rest of your body. If the spinal cord or nerve roots become pinched, you might experience:

• Tingling, numbness and weakness in your arms, hands, legs or feet
• Lack of coordination and difficulty walking
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

For its managment do regular exercise and take homoeopathic medicines with proper case taking for your complete cure.

Best Homeopathic Treatment  for Cervical Spondylosis and Neck Pain
Homeopathic medicines can work wonders in cervical spondylosis cases. Homeopathic medicines provide symptomatic relief in cervical spondylosis. The medicines are selected as per individual symptom presentation and manage symptoms of pain, stiffness in neck, numbness/tingling in upper limbs and vertigo with excellence. These medicines also halt further progression of the degenerative process in the spine from cervical spondylosis. On the huge list of Homeopathic medicines for cervical spondylosis, the more effective ones include Rhus Tox, Bryonia Alba, Paris Quadrifolia, Kalmia Latifolia and Cimicifuga Racemosa.

Homeopathic Medicines for Cervical Spondylosis and Neck Pain
Rhus Tox – Top grade Homeopathic medicine for cervical spondylosis
Rhus Tox is one of the top grade Homeopathic medicines for cervical spondylosis. The indicating features for using Rhus Tox are pain and excessive stiffness in the neck. A person in need of Rhus Tox may get relief from warm applications on the neck. Neck massage may provide relief in some cases. Rhus Tox is also one of the well indicated Homeopathic medicines for cervical spondylosis complaint arising after injury to the neck. Neck pain from over straining or overuse also makes a strong case for use of Rhus Tox.​
Bryonia Alba – Homeopathic medicine for cervical spondylosis that worsens with movement
Bryonia Alba is another majorly indicated Homeopathic medicine for cervical spondylosis. The person needing Bryonia Alba experiences pain and stiffness in the neck that worsen with motion. Taking rest relieves the symptoms.​

Cervical spondylosis a special type of arthritis. The region of its occurrence is in the cervical vertebrae and the problem is more prevalent in men who belong to the middle age groups. In the language of Ayurveda, this problem is known as Greeva graham. The condition falls under the category of Vata condition.

What are the causes of cervical spondylosis?
The several factors that cause cervical spondylosis are as follows:

• When the Vata Dosha increases in magnitude, the tissues start degenerating even in the neck joints.
• Intake of food that leads to the formation of gas in the body is also one of the reasons of cervical spondylosis.
• When people take too many gaps during two consecutive meals, then it leads to the formation of gas as well which causes cervical spondylosis.
• Those who have night shifts frequently have a tendency to develop cervical spondylosis.
• Overindulgence in activities of mental, physical and sexual nature can also cause cervical spondylosis.

What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis?
The main symptoms of cervical spondylosis are listed below.

1. A persistent headache is one of the most common symptoms.
2. People often complain of feeling a stiffness in the neck region in case of cervical spondylosis.
3. A numbness or tingling feeling in arms is also one of the symptoms of this condition.
4. The posterior region of your back and shoulders will also pain in case you develop cervical spondylosis.
5. People also find it difficult to walk at times and face a lack of coordination as well.

What are the Ayurvedic treatment measures for cervical spondylosis?
The main treatment measures in Ayurveda for cervical spondylosis are:

• Mridu Shodhana – This procedure is also known as mild purgation. In this procedure, a mixture is made with milk or the fruit pulp of Cassia fistula and castor oil.
• Greeva Basti – A black gram paste is applied to the back of the neck and this will aid in retaining the medicaments in that region. Several medicated oils like Ksheerbala oil are heated and then the compound helps in retaining this oil within it for a time. The reason for this is that when the heated oil is applied to that area, it helps in giving relief from disc herniation. The disc cartilage nourishment is improved and thus, the degeneration process of the tissues is reversed.
• Secondary Ayurvedic procedures are also effective against cervical spondylosis. Some of these procedures are Patrapinda Sweda, Shirodhara, Abhyanga, and Pizhichil.
• Pacifying Herbs – Some of the Ayurvedic herbs act as a pacifier in cervical spondylosis. These are Bala or Sida cordifolia, castor root or Ricinus communis, Amalaki or Emblica officinalis, Shunthi or ginger and Gambhari or Gmelina arborea.
• Medicines – Some of the effective Ayurvedic medicines include Rasnairandadi kashaya, Yogaraja Guggulu and Sahacharadi Kashaya.

Above ayurvedic treatments not only give you relief from cervical spondylosis but also stop further degeneration of the affected tissues.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!