Neck and Spine Disorders are illnesses that are relatively detrimental to ones physical health. The spine starts from the region above the shoulder blades and ends by supporting and connecting the Skull.They contain several anatomic compositions, including muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints. All of these structures have nerve endings that can detect painful problems when they occur.Most commonly elderly people are affected .Each year more than 200,000 cervical spine surgeries are performed in world. Most common disorders are Cervical spondylitis, Muscular and Ligamentous Injury,Degenerative Disc Disease,Compression of the Spinal Cord,etc associated with pain,numbness,discomfort,weakness along with neurological symptoms.

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Cervical spondylosis is a ‘wear and tear’ of the vertebrae and discs of the neck. It is a normal part of ageing. Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative condition which affects the cervical spine thus causing severe back pain and stiffness.

MUSCULAR AND LIGAMENTOUS INJURY

Neck pain,headache,thoracic outlet symptoms are commonly seen in Muscular and Ligamentous Injury.

Neck pain of soft tissue origin tends to produce symptoms localized to the muscular tissues running up and down both sides of the spine. Once injury occurs, there tends to be a tightening of the muscles, perhaps as a reflex designed to hold the head and neck stable, but this also creates enhanced muscle tone and discomfort from the chronic muscle spasm.

DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

Degeneration of the discs and arthritis of the spine are common issues and symptoms are localized to the spine. These conditions may be accelerated or precipitated by aging, trauma or repetitive use.The distribution of the pain and tingling may reflect which level or disc is the cause of the symptoms. Discs and nerves are named by the level of the cervical spine from which they are located.The pain and numbness associated with nerve root compression may be quite severe and disabling, so the weakness in the arm is often not noticed. It is the weakness or paralysis caused by damage to the nerve.

COMPRESSION OF THE SPINAL CORD

With degenerative disc and spine disease, there may also be compression of the central canal of the spine.Pressure on the spinal cord occurs from bony and disc expansion posteriorly (towards the back) into the canal and from thickening of the internal ligaments within the canal anteriorly.Symptoms of this pathology are difficult for the patient to recognize, as they tend to occur from gradual forces on the spinal cord. Pain is not commonly intrusive and, instead, difficulties with mobility, bladder and sensation emerge. Balance problems, bladder control issues and weakness and fatigue with walking are the chief symptoms of spinal cord injury.

SCIATICA

Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots of each sciatic nerve or by compression or irritation of the left or right or both sciatic nerves. Symptoms include lower back pain, buttock pain, and pain, numbness or weakness in various parts of the leg and foot. Other symptoms include a “pin and needle” sensation, or tingling and difficulty moving or controlling the leg. Typically, symptoms only manifest on one side of the body. The pain may radiate below the knee.

SPINAL STENOSIS

Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal that may occur in any of the regions of the spine. This narrowing causes a restriction to the spinal canal, resulting in a neurological deficit. Symptoms include pain, numbness, paraesthesia, and loss of motor control. The location of the stenosis determines which area of the body is affected. With spinal stenosis, the spinal canal is narrowed at the vertebral canal, which is a foramen between the vertebrae where the spinal cord (in the cervical or thoracic spine) or nerve roots (in the lumbar spine) pass through. There are several types of spinal stenosis, with lumbar stenosis and cervical stenosis being the most frequent. While lumbar spinal stenosis is more common, cervical spinal stenosis is more dangerous because it involves compression of the spinal cord whereas the lumbar spinal stenosis involves compression of the cauda equina.

LUMBAR SPONDYLOSIS

Spondylosis is a term referring to degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the center of the spinal vertebrae and/or neural foramina.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.

SPINAL DISC HERNIATION

Spinal disc herniation is a medical condition affecting the spine in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring (anulus fibrosus) of an intervertebral disc (discus intervertebralis) allows the soft, central portion (nucleus pulposus) to bulge out beyond the damaged outer rings. Disc herniation is usually due to age related degeneration of the anulus fibrosus, although trauma, lifting injuries, or straining have been implicated. Tears are almost always postero-lateral in nature owing to the presence of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the spinal canal.[2] This tear in the disc ring may result in the release of inflammatory chemical mediators, which may directly cause severe pain, even in the absence of nerve root compression.

CAUSE:

• Unusual positions while sitting, driving and using the phone or computer.
• Injury.
• Degeneration.

TREATMENT :

Healing Earth emphasizes on giving complete cure rather than just giving a temporary pain relief. So we will be identifying the root cause of the disease by proper analysis of the patient including the pulse variations of the patient. Vata is the main dosha involved in neck and spine disorders.The treatments involves correction of the bone derangement,nourishment of the bones, improving the synovial fluid. Also we will be ensuring no further degeneration by improving synovial fluid between the joints. Healing Earth Multispeciality Ayurveda Hospital is well equipped with all treatment facilities where pancakarma treatments are done with special care and its authenticity after proper advice from the experts.