CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Cervical Spondylosis:

Cervical spondylosis is usually an age-related condition that affects the joints in neck. It develops as a result of the wear and tear of the cartilage and bones are of the cervical spine. While it is largely due to age, it can be caused by other factors as well. Alternative names for it include cervical osteoarthritis and neck arthritis.
The condition is present in more than 90 percent of people over the age of 65, although some have it in such small degrees that they never experience symptoms.
For some, it can cause chronic pain, although many people who have it are still able to conduct normal, daily activities.
Cervical Spondylosis Causes and Risk Factors:
Aging
Cervical spondylosis often develops as a result of changes in neck joints as age. Spinal disks can become dry and begin shrinking around the time to turn 40, reducing the cushioning between the bones in neck.
Disks might also develop cracks as get older. This causes them to bulge or become herniated. It might also develop bone spurs, or extra bony growths. Herniated disks and bone spurs can put extra pressure on spinal cord and nerve roots, causing joint pain.
The ligaments in spine, which are strands of tissue that connect vertebral bones, might also become stiffer as age. This makes it more difficult or painful to move neck.

Other Factors:
Cervical spondylosis can develop due to factors other than aging. These include:
• neck injuries
• work-related activities that put extra strain on your neck from heavy lifting,
• holding your neck in an uncomfortable position for prolonged periods of time, or repeating the same neck movements throughout the day (repetitive stress)
• genetic factors (family history of cervical spondylosis)
• smoking
• being overweight and inactive

Symptoms:
Most people with cervical spondylosis don’t have noticeable symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can range from mild to severe and may develop gradually or occur suddenly.
One common symptom is pain around the shoulder blade. Patients will complain of pain along the arm and in the fingers. The pain might increase on standing sitting, sneezing, coughing, or backward tilting of the neck.
Another common symptom is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness makes it hard to lift the arms or hold objects firmly.

Other common signs include:
• a stiff neck that becomes worse
• headaches that mostly occur in the back of the head
• tingling or numbness that mainly affects shoulders and arms, although it can also occur in the legs
Symptoms that occur less frequently often include a loss of balance and a loss of bladder or bowel control.
If you have the sudden onset onumbness or tingling in the shoulder, arms or legs or if you lose bowel or bladder control, talk to your doctor and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Testing and Diagnosing Cervical Spondylosis:
Physical Exam:
Your doctor will start by asking you several questions regarding your symptoms. Then, he or she will run through a set of tests. Typical exams include testing your reflexes, checking for muscle weakness, and testing the range of motion of your neck. Your doctor might also want to watch how you walk. All of this helps your doctor determine if your nerves and spinal cord are under too much pressure.
If your doctor suspects cervical spondylosis, he or she will then order imaging tests and nerve function tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Imaging Tests:
• X-rays can be used to check for bone spurs and other abnormalities.
• A computerized tomography scan (CT scan) can provide more detailed images of your neck.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which produces images using radio waves and a magnetic field, helps locate pinched nerves.
• A myelogram uses a dye injection to highlight certain areas of the spine; CT scans or X-rays are then used to provide more detailed images of these areas.
Nerve Function Tests
• An electromyogram (EMG) is used to check if your nerves are functioning normally when sending signals to your muscles; it measures your nerves’ electrical activity.
• A nerve conduction study is used to check the speed and strength of the signals your nerves send; this is done by placing electrodes on your skin where the nerve is located.

Treatment Options for Cervical Spondylosis:
Treatments for cervical spondylosis focus on providing pain relief, lowering the risk of permanent damage, and helping you lead a normal life. Non-surgical methods are usually very effective.
Physical Therapy:
Your doctor might send you to a physical therapist for treatment. Physical therapy helps you stretch your neck and shoulder muscles and makes them stronger, which helps relieve pain. You might also have neck traction, which involves using weights to increase the space between the cervical joints and relieve the pressure on the cervical discs and nerve roots.
Medications
Your doctor might prescribe certain medications if over-the-counter drugs don’t work.

These include:
• muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine, to treat muscle spasms
• narcotics, such as hydrocodone, for pain relief
• anti-seizure drugs, such as gabapentin, to relieve pain caused by nerve damage
• steroid injections, such as prednisone, for pain relief.
Surgery:
If your condition is severe and doesn’t respond to other forms of treatment, you might need surgery. This can involve getting rid of bone spurs, parts of your neck bones, or herniated disks to give your spinal cord and nerves more room. Surgery is rarely necessary for cervical spondylosis.
Making Lifestyle Changes to Address Mild Pain
If your condition is mild, you can try a few things at home to treat it. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, Using a heating pad or a cold pack on your neck can also provide pain relief for sore muscles. Getting regular exercise can help you recover faster. Wearing a soft neck brace or collar can give you temporary relief. You should not wear a neck brace or collar for long periods of time as it could make your muscles weaker.

THOSE ABOVE ARE COLLECTED FROM SOME WEBSITES.
THANK YOU,

SRIKUMARAN PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC & FITNESS CENTER

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முதுகு வலி மற்றும் முதுகு தண்டுவட வலி உள்ளவர்களுக்கு கடைபிடிக்க வேண்டிய சில வழிமுறைகள்....

முதுகு வலி மற்றும் முதுகு தண்டுவட வலி உள்ளவர்களுக்கு கடைபிடிக்க வேண்டிய சில வழிமுறைகள் .... பொதுவாக முதுகு வலி என்பது இன்றைய காலகட்டத்தில் பல பேருக்கு மிக அதிகமாகவே காணப்படுகிறது. இவ்வாறு வலி இருக்கும் பொழுது என்ன மாதிரியான வழிமுறைகளை கடைப்பிடிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதை கீழே விரிவாக பார்க்கலாம். பொதுவாக முதுகு வலி ஆரம்பிக்கும் பொழுது அவற்றை உதாசீனப்படுத்தாமல் அருகில் உள்ள மருத்துவரை அணுகி ஆலோசனை பெறுவது மிகவும் முக்கியம். மேலும் முதுகு வலி ஏற்படும் பொழுது அவற்றுக்கு தேவையான மருத்துவம்(medical management), இயன்முறை மருத்துவம்(physiotherapy treatment), பயிற்சிகள்(exercises) அல்லது அறுவை சிகிச்சை(surgery) மற்றும் புனர்வாழ்வு சிகிச்சைகள்(Rehabilitation) போன்றவை தேவைப்படலாம். மேலே கண்ட மருத்துவத்தில் ஏதாவது ஒன்றை எடுத்துக் கொள்ளும் பட்சத்தில் மேலும் முதுகு வலி வராமல் பாதுகாத்துக் கொள்ளவும், நமது அன்றாட வேலைகளை தொடர்ந்து செய்யவும், மருத்துவ உபகரணங்களை பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளவும்...

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SRIKUMARAN PHYSIOTHERAPY & FITNESS CENTRE ( ஶ்ரீகுமரன் ‌‌‌‌பிசியோதெரபி & உடற்பயிற்சி மையம் )

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