Spondylosis: Symptoms and cure

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Spondylosis has become increasingly common and more and more people seem to be wearing those thick brown belts or collars to ease the pain.

"It is a common problem that affects the neck and upper back and shoulders," according to Dr Sanjeev Jain, a consultant orthopaedic and joint surgeon at LH Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai. The symptoms and the pain tend to hamper everyday activities.

"It is caused dues to impingement/pressure on the discs between the bones on your spinal cord, Dr Jain explains.

Causes

Stress on the back is the main cause of spondylosis. Bending and lifting heavy weights can lead to swelling in the spine. It can occur due to a sedentary lifestyle. Looking downwards for a long time during the day can be another reason too. "Anyone could get it," says Dr Jain.

"You also need to maintain the right posture while sitting," says Dr Sunanda Gaikwad, a back specialist.

Symptoms

Persistent pain on the left/right shoulder or neck or back is one of the main symptoms of this condition. Tingling numbness in the hand is another symptom. "Other symptoms include a stiff neck, headaches and nausea," informs Dr Jain.

Prevent it

Cervical spondylosis - the medical term for this problem - is mainly a posture-related problem. "Maintaining a correct posture can help," says Dr Jain. Make sure your books and computers are at eye level, he adds. This will prevent the degeneration of the discs.

Another reason people suffer from spondylosis is because the muscles around the neck are not strong enough. In this case, the prevention can be exercise. "Neck muscles get weak with age too and this cannot be prevented," Dr Jain says. [See recommended neck exercises below]

Being stress free will also help prevent spondylosis according to him. "People do not realise that any sort of pressure - work-related or relationships, can build up on the neck/shoulder muscles," he says.

So try to be positive and stress free.

Treatment

Less than 20 per cent of cases become serious. "If you take care of yourself, the condition can go away temporarily or even permanently," says Dr Gaikwad.

Exercise/yoga can make the condition better. Shoulder rotations, neck rotations and arm rotations are helpful. Physiotherapy is another effective cure for it. Pain killers and ointments may be used, but they only provide temporary relief.

Sit, stand and eat well and you should be fine. "Being active is the key to good health," says Dr Gaikwad.

Another option is the collar. The patient is asked to wear one only if the pain is acute or when the neck muscles are too weak to support the head or in case of giddiness or an unstable spine. "It is not necessary to wear it all the time though. You can remove it while you sleep," Dr Jain says.

So simply be active, eat healthy and maintain a healthy lifestyle on the whole and keep spondylosis away.