Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis of the Neck) Homoeopathic Treatment

Spondylosis is a term referring to degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the center of the spinal vertebrae and/or neural foramina. If this condition occurs in the zygapophysial joints, it can be considered facet syndrome If severe, it may cause pressure on nerve roots with subsequent sensory and/or motor disturbances, such as pain, paresthesia, or muscle weakness in the limbs.
When the space between two adjacent vertebrae narrows, compression of a nerve root emerging from the spinal cord may result in radiculopathy (sensory and motor disturbances, such as severe pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, back, and/or leg, accompanied by muscle weakness). Less commonly, direct pressure on the spinal cord (typically in the cervical spine) may result in myelopathy, characterized by global weakness, gait dysfunction, loss of balance, and loss of bowel and/or bladder control.
The patient may experience a phenomenon of shocks (paresthesia) in hands and legs because of nerve compression and lack of blood flow. If vertebrae of the neck are involved it is labelled cervical spondylosis.
Lower back spondylosis is labeled lumbar spondylosis.
Causes
Spondylosis can affect a person at any age; however, older people are more susceptible
Disk Degeneration and Bone Spurs
In the spine, arthritis can result as the disk degenerates and loses water content. In children and young adults, disks have high water content. As we get older, our disks begin to dry out and weaken. This problem causes settling, or collapse, of the disk spaces and loss of disk space height.
As the facet joints experience increased pressure, they also begin to degenerate and develop arthritis, similar to the hip or knee joint. The cartilage that covers and protects the joints wears away.
If the cartilage wears away completely, it can result in bone rubbing on bone. To make up for the lost cartilage, your body may respond by growing new bone in your facet joints to help support the vertebrae. Over time, this bone overgrowth — called spurs — may narrow the space for the nerves to pass through (stenosis).
Herniated disks.
Age also affects the exterior of your spinal disks. Cracks often appear, leading to bulging or herniated disks — which sometimes can press on the spinal cord and nerve
Stiff ligaments
Ligaments are cords of tissue that connect bone to bone. Increasing age can make spinal ligaments stiffen and calcify, making your neck less flexible.
Others Causes
-Computer professionals, bike users
-Repeated occupational trauma e.g., carrying loads on head, professional dancing, gymnastics may contribute.
-For a long time, watching TV in abnormal positions or when lying down
Old people
Risk Factors
There are several factors that increase your risk for cervical spondylosis.
The following have all been linked to higher risks of neck pain and spondylosis:
Genetics - if your family has a history of neck pain
Smoking - clearly linked to increased neck pain
Occupation - jobs with lots of neck motion and overhead work awkward positioning
Mental health issues - depression/anxiety
Injuries/trauma - car wreck or on-the-job injury.Previous neck injuries appear to increase the risk of cervical spondylosis.
Symptoms
Spondylosis is common. Symptoms are often first reported between the ages of 20 and 50. Over 80% of people over the age of 40 have evidence of spondylosis on X-ray studies. The rate at which spondylosis occurs is partly related to genetic predisposition as well as injury history.
Pain from cervical spondylosis can be mild to severe. It is sometimes worsened by looking up or down for a long time, or with activities such as driving or reading a book. It also feels better with rest or lying down
symptoms include:
In most cases, cervical spondylosis causes no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they typically affect only the neck — causing pain and stiffness.
-Neck pain is often accompanied by stiffness which progressively worsens. Pain may also radiate to the shoulders or to the occiput. Many patients present with interscapular pain, pain in the arm, forearm, and/or hand pain.
-Numbness Tingling and weakness in arms, hands, and fingers legs or feet
-Trouble walking, loss of balance, or weakness in hands or legs
-Muscle spasms in neck and shoulders
-Lack of coordination and difficulty walking
-Loss of bladder or bowel control
-Loss of sphincter control and urinary incontinence occurs in very rare cases, but some patients complain of urgency, frequency, and urinary hesitancy
-Non-specific headaches occurring mostly in the sub-occipital region (lower part at the back of head) and this pain radiates to the base of the neck and to the vertex (top) of the head.
-Grinding and popping sound/feeling in neck with movement
Seek medical attention if you notice sudden onset of numbness or weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
-Occasionally, the pain may be atypical and present as chest pain or breast pain (false angina).
-Patients with myelopathy can present with symptoms such as difficulty in writing; nonspecific, diffuse weakness; and abnormal sensations.
Tests
X-rays
These pictures are traditionally ordered as a first step in imaging the spine. X-rays will show aging changes, like loss of disk height or bone spurs.
Myelography
This specific x-ray study involves injecting dye or contrast material into the spinal canal. It allows for careful evaluation of the spinal canal and nerve roots.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
This study can create better images of soft tissues, such as muscles, disks, nerves, and the spinal cord.
Computed tomography (CT) scans
This specialized x-ray study allows careful evaluation of the bone and spinal canal.
Electromyography (EMG)
Nerve conduction studies and electromyography may be performed by another doctor to look for nerve damage or pinching.
Cervical Spondylitis Do's & Don'ts
Do's
Do regular exercise to maintain neck strength, flexibility and range of motion.
Use firm mattress, thin pillow.
Do turn to one side while getting up from lying down position.
Wear a cervical collar during the day.
Regularly walk or engage in low-impact aerobic activity.
In order to avoid holding the head in the same position for long periods, take break while driving, watching TV or working on a computer.
Use a seat belt when in a car and use firm collar while traveling.
When in acute pain take rest, immobilize the neck, and take medications as directed.
Don'ts
Avoid sitting for prolonged period of time in stressful postures.
Avoid running and high-impact aerobics, if you have any neck pain.
Do not lift heavy weights on head or back.
Avoid bad roads, if traveling by two or four wheelers.
Do not drive for long hours; take breaks.
Avoid habit of holding the telephone on one shoulder and leaning at it for long time.
Do not take many pillows below the neck and shoulder while sleeping.
Do not lie flat on your stomach.
In order to turn around, do not twist your neck or the body; instead turn around by moving your feet first.
Do not undergo spinal manipulations if you are experiencing acute pain.
What are the bad postures that can aggrative cervical Spondylosis pain ?
1.The head held forward from normal position
2.The shoulders held up and forward
3.The chest bent and rounded
4.The pelvic area tilted backwards
5. The hips, knees and ankles bent
Cervical Spondylosis Homeopathic 

[Commonly used Remedies]
Lachnanthes Tinctoria:
This is one of the best Homeopathic remedies for the treatment of cervical spondylitis. This remedy is prepared by the potentization of the plant commonly known as ‘spirit weed'. It is one of the specific remedies for cervical spondylitis and is especially useful in cases with acute pain in the neck region.
Few of its common symptoms are:
Stiffness and rheumatism of neck. The neck drawn over to one side, usually the right side. Pain in nape of the neck as if dislocated. Chilliness felt in between the shoulder blades. The pain is worse on lying down. Patient feels better from external warmth and is better by walking about.
Phosphoric Acid:
Phosphoric acid is a wonderful deep acting constitutional remedy prepared from potentization of Glacial Phosphoric Acid. It is one of the very good remedies for mental debility followed by physical debility, which leads to a host of complaints. Frequently used for complaints of cervical spondylitis, hairloss, diabetes, hemorrhages, debility, depression, gastro-intestinal affections, sexual complaints, etc.
Complaints frequently come up due to loss of vital fluids from the body and after acute illnesses. Few of its common symptoms of cervical spondylitis are:
Boring pain in between the scapulae. Pain in the back and limbs as if beaten. Over-lifting and over-study frequently causes pain in the nape of the neck and in the occiput. Patient may also develop headache from long lasting grief or exhausted nerves. The pain is worse from drafts especially cold draft. He feels much better with warmth and after a short sleep.
Paris Quadrifolia:
This is one of the specific Homeopathic remedies for the treatment of cervical spondylitis. It is prepared by the potentization of the plant commonly known as ‘one-berry'. Few of its common indications have been described below:
Sensation of weight and weariness in the nape of the neck and in between the shoulders. Neuralgic pains that begin in the left side of the chest and radiate along the left arm. Much stiffness of the arms due to pain in the neck. It is a very good remedy when the patient develops feeling of numbness in the hands due to the cervical spondylitis. Due to the numbness of the hands, everything the patient holds feel rough.
Kalmia Latifolia:
Kalmia latifolia is one of the very good remedies for the treatment of cervical spondylitis. It is prepared by the potentization of the leaves of the plant called ‘Mountain laurel'. Following are some of its common indications:
Neuralgic pains that are shifting in nature, moving downwards, with numbness of the affected parts. Pain from neck shoots down the arm. Aching, bruised, stiff feeling in the neck and the arms. Weakness and numbness (as if paralyzed) of painful parts. Pains shift rapidly, shooting outward, along the nerves. The pain is worse from stooping, bending forward, motion, from becoming cold and lying on left side. In general the patient feels better after being in the recumbent posture.
Causticum:
This is one of the drugs prepared by the founder of Homeopathy, Dr Hahnemann. Causticum is a wonderful deep acting constitutional remedy and it affects multiple systems of the body. It is one the best remedies for affections of the musculo-skeletal system, gastro-intestinal system, nervous affections, skin complaints, urinary complaints, sexual disorders, respiratory disorders, etc. Few of its common indications in cervical spondylitis are as follows:
Stiffness in the neck and upper back so much so that the patient can scarcely move the head. Paralytic weakness in the right arm, the patient can barely raise the hand above his head. Numbness in the hands and trembling of the arms. One of the specific remedies for torticollis.
There are lot more homoeo remedies for Cervical Spondylosis ....
Dietary Approach to Cervical Spondylosis
Non-vegetarian diet
Meat is a rich source of sulphur which can change the pH of blood. Same impact is observed in the case of fried foods, spicy foods and sour foods. Meat has the heaviest acid load due to the rich sulphur content which increases the acidity of the blood leading to the demineralization of bones. Many surveys have demonstrated that post-menopausal women who are vegetarians have a higher bone mineral content as compared to their non-vegetarian
Furthermore there is a very strong relationship between joint pains like 'frozen shoulder and cervical spondylosis and the kind of food eaten. Fried foods, spicy, oily foods, excessive meats and refined foods like sweets, confectionery, bread and other refined wheat products are the main incriminating factors in joint diseases. The kind of food leads to excess acid load in the blood which the kidneys are unable to cope with. Hence this acid cause's inflammation of all joints, deterioration of intervertebral discs hence the disc compression.
Constipation also initiates the formation of toxins in the gut, which get absorbed into the blood and increase its acidity. This, too, contributes, along with other factors, in the development of CS and bone demineralisation.
Hormones like oestrogen, testosterone, adrenocortical hormones, thyroid and growth hormone also play a very major role in the maintenance of normal body structure and function. A strong link between hormonal activity and the kind of food we eat has been established in several studies.
Vegetarian diet
A vegetarian diet, which is rich in fibre and, in the uncooked form, contains a lot of vitamins and minerals proves very beneficial as it prevents constipation [10], removes toxic matter from the gastrointestinal tract, thereby preventing increased acidity of the blood. The increased amounts of minerals and vitamins in vegetarian foods contribute richly to the smooth functioning of bone metabolism. The acidity (sulphur related) of a non-vegetarian diet initiates and perpetuates bone demineralisation as seen by serial bone mineral density studies done by direct photon absorptiometry. In contrast the vegetarian diet which contains predominantly uncooked food doesn't have this disadvantage. However, fried foods, spicy foods and excessively sour foods-whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian are detrimental to bone, cartilage and joint integrity.
Persons suffering from spondylosis should consist of salad of raw vegetables such as tomato, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, radish, lettuce and at least two steamed or lightly-cooked vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, spinach and plenty of fruits. The patients should have four meals daily.
Patient must have four meals a day which includes salad of steamed vegetables, raw vegetables, whole-wheat bread sprouts and milk. Intake of vitamin d, vitamin c, phosphorus, calcium proteins are also useful.
Taking lemon juice mixed with salt at least 2-3 times a day. Additional intake of chebulic myrobalan following meals also found very effective. Habitual consumption of 2-3 cloves of garlic in the morning decreases the problem of cervical spondylosis.
Proteins and Vitamin C are necessary for the development of a healthy bone metrix. Vitamin D, calcium, phosphorous and the essential trace minerals are essential for healthy bones. Foods that have been processed for storage to avoid spoiling have few nutrients and should be eliminated from the diet.
Other measures found valuable in cervical spondylosis are mild oil massage to the neck, shoulders and hands, hot fomentation for five to 10 minutes twice a day
Apple, garlic, ginger and turmeric are also anti-inflammatory.Include fruit juice and veg soup in the routine diet. Diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acid help to reduce inflammation
Add more bitter vegetables like bitter gaud and drum stick in the routine food
Replace rice with wheat
Garlic Oil
An oil prepared from garlic and rubbed on the affected part will give great relief. This oil is prepared by frying 10 cloves of garlic in 60 grams of oil in a frying pan.
They should be fried slowly till they are brown. After it is cooled, it should be applied vigorously on the affected part and allowed to remain there for three hours.
The patient may thereafter have a warm bath. This treatment should be continued for at least 15 days.
Avoid
The patient should avoid fatty, spicy and fried foods, sour curd, sweets, sugar, condiments as well as tea and coffee.
Avoid red meat, white potato as it increase acid load in the body
Those who smoke and take tobacco in any form should give up completely.
Fish, nuts and oil seeds are rich sources of omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E acting against inflammation.
Must Eat
Apple, garlic, ginger and turmeric are also anti-inflammatory.
Include fruit juice and veg soup in the routine diet.
Diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acid help to reduce inflammation.
Replace rice with wheat
Add more bitter vegetables like bitter gaud and drum stick in the routine food 

The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider