Spondylosis (Spinal Osteoarthritis) is a degenerative disorder that may cause loss of normal spinal structure and function.
As people age, certain biochemical changes occur affecting tissue found throughout the body. In the spine, the structure of the intervertebral discs (annulus fibrosus, lamellae, nucleus pulposus) may be compromised. The annulus fibrosus (eg, tire-like) is composed of 60 or more concentric bands of collagen fiber termed lamellae. The nucleus pulposus is a gel-like substance inside the intervertebral disc encased by the annulus fibrosus. Collagen fibers form the nucleus along with water and proteoglycans. The degenerative effects of aging can weaken the annulus fibrosus' structure, causing the 'tire tread' to wear or tear. The water content of the nucleus decreases with age affecting its ability to rebound following compression (eg, shock absorbing quality). The structural alterations from degeneration may decrease disc height and increase the risk for disc herniation.
Cervical
The complexity of the cervical (neck) anatomy and its wide range of motion make this spinal segment susceptible to disorders associated with degenerative change. Neck pain from spondylosis is common. The pain may spread into the shoulder or down the arm. When a bone spur (osteophyte) causes nerve root compression, extremity (eg, arm) weakness may result. In rare cases, bone spurs that form at the front of the cervical spine, may cause difficult swallowing (dysphagia).
Other common symptom is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness makes it hard to lift the arms or grasp 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 the 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. These symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.
Lumbar
Lower Back Pain is the most common concern affecting almost 80% of the population in India. Chronic lower Back Pain is a devastating condition; it not only affects your personal, social life but also your professional life. Spondylosis often affects the lumbar spine in people over the age of 40. Pain and morning stiffness are common complaints. Usually multiple levels are involved (eg, more than one vertebrae). The lumbar spine carries most of the body's weight. Therefore, when degenerative forces compromise its structural integrity, symptoms including pain may accompany activity. Movement stimulates pain fibers in the annulus fibrosus and facet joints. Sitting for prolonged periods of time may cause pain and other symptoms due to pressure on the lumbar vertebrae. Repetitive movements such as lifting and bending (eg, manual labor) may increase pain. Some people experience loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness in groin area. Pain considered chronic if lasts more than 3 months.
Healing at Agada Ayurveda starts with lifestyle management of individual. Diet modification, internal medication, physical exercises, immediate pain relief managements in Ayurveda like agnikarma (therapeutic heat burn), viddhakarma, marma therapy, cupping therapy, raktamoksham (blood letting) along with classical Ayurvedic treatments like medicated dhara, podikizhi, ilakizhi, njavara, pizhichil, snehapanam, vasti etc are implemented in course to get maximum benefit. All treatments are done with speciality doctor consultation.