Cervical spondylosis, also known as cervical syndrome, is a general term for cervical osteoarthritis, hypertrophic cervical spondylitis, cervical radiculopathy, and cervical disc herniation. It is a degenerative disease characterized by degenerative changes. It is mainly caused by long-term strain on the cervical spine, osteophyte formation, or disc herniation and ligament thickening, which leads to compression of the cervical spinal cord, nerve roots, or vertebral artery, resulting in a series of functional disorders. It is characterized by vertebral instability, protrusion or herniation of the nucleus pulposus, bone spur formation, ligament thickening, and secondary spinal canal stenosis, which stimulate or compress neighboring nerve roots, spinal cord, vertebral artery, and sympathetic nerves, causing a series of symptoms and signs.
Cervical spondylosis can be divided into several types: cervical type, nerve root type, spinal cord type, vertebral artery type, sympathetic nerve type, and esophageal compression type.
Cervical spondylosis is a common orthopedic disease. In general, cervical vertigo is characterized by position-related dizziness in the head and neck. It occurs when the head and neck rotate or bend to a specific position and disappears when the position is restored. After experiencing 2-3 episodes, patients become aware of this and actively avoid this specific position. However, when cervical spondylosis with vertebral artery involvement or when mixed with sympathetic cervical spondylosis occurs, the dizziness symptoms can become atypical, unusually complex, and difficult to distinguish from other types of dizziness.
"Cervical vertigo" is not a specific disease name, but refers to a type of central vertigo caused by insufficient blood supply to the vertebral artery due to certain causes. In general, "cervical vertigo" is often used to refer to dizziness caused by cervical spondylosis. So, what are the characteristics of dizziness caused by cervical spondylosis and how can it be distinguished from other types of dizziness?
We already know that there are two mechanisms by which cervical spondylosis can cause dizziness: mechanical compression of the vertebral artery by bone spurs, resulting in stenosis or occlusion, and stimulation of the sympathetic nerves by the cervical sympathetic ganglia, causing vasospasm of the vertebral artery. Both of these conditions require a specific position relationship between head movement and neck position to exert pressure on the vertebral artery or stimulate the sympathetic nerves. In other words, dizziness attacks are clearly related to head position, known as positional vertigo.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is an effective treatment for cervical spondylosis. It can relieve the tension and spasm of the neck and shoulder muscles, restore cervical spine movement, and release nerve roots and soft tissue adhesions to alleviate symptoms. In the case of cervical spinal cord type spondylosis, gravity massage and relocation should generally be avoided, as they can worsen symptoms and even lead to paralysis. Even if early symptoms are not obvious, surgery is generally recommended.
Foot Reflexology Massage for Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis is a disease that seriously affects the health of desk workers, and its symptoms vary. The main symptoms include neck and back pain, weakness in the upper limbs, numbness in the fingers, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, and swallowing difficulties.
Unfortunately, until now, there is no effective method for this disease worldwide. Recently, foot reflexology experts have discovered that the soles of the feet contain reflex zones for all organs of the body. By treating the reflex zones on the soles of the feet, surprising therapeutic effects can be achieved for various diseases.
The reflex zone for the cervical spine on the feet is located at the root of the big toe on both feet and the middle part of the fifth toe bone on the outer side of both feet. The reflex zone for the neck muscles is a 2cm wide area behind the toes on the soles of both feet.
The massage technique involves using the fingertips or pads of the thumbs, or the joints of the second or third fingers, to move with a millimeter amplitude. The pressure should start light and gradually increase to a slightly painful level. The massage can be done at any convenient time. It is best to do it once in the morning and once in the evening, each time for 10-30 minutes. According to clinical observations, cervical spondylosis patients who persist for two weeks can achieve satisfactory results.
Other Treatments
1. Medication
Selective use of analgesics, sedatives, and vitamins (such as B1 and B12) has a certain effect on relieving symptoms. Supportive treatment with glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate can be tried. Glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are used clinically to treat osteoarthritis in various parts of the body. These chondroprotective agents have anti-inflammatory and anti-cartilage degradation effects. Basic research has shown that glucosamine sulfate can inhibit the production of inflammatory factors in spinal cord nucleus cells and promote the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans, a component of the intervertebral disc matrix. Clinical studies have found that intradiscal injection of glucosamine sulfate can significantly reduce lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease and improve spinal function. Case reports suggest that oral glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate can partially reverse degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc.
2. Exercise Therapy
When the symptoms of various types of cervical spondylosis are basically relieved or in a chronic state, medical exercises can be performed to further eliminate symptoms and consolidate the therapeutic effect. During the acute phase of symptoms, local rest is recommended and excessive exercise stimulation should be avoided. Exercise is contraindicated in cases of significant or progressive spinal cord compression symptoms, especially neck extension exercises. In cases of vertebral artery cervical spondylosis, neck rotation exercises should be gentle and slow, with controlled amplitude.
3. Traction Therapy
"Traction" used to be one of the preferred methods for treating cervical spondylosis, but in recent years it has been found that many cervical spondylosis patients, especially those who use traction for a long time, do not experience relief from cervical spondylosis, but instead experience worsening symptoms.
Traction not only fails to promote the restoration of the physiological curvature of the cervical spine, but also straightens the cervical spine, weakening its physiological curvature. Therefore, traction therapy should be used with caution in the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
4. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can play multiple roles in the treatment of cervical spondylosis. In general, iontophoresis, ultrasound, ultraviolet radiation, or intermittent current can be used in the acute phase. After the pain is relieved, ultrasound, iontophoresis, TENS, or other heat therapies can be used.
5. Heat Therapy
This treatment can improve blood circulation, relieve muscle spasms, reduce swelling, and alleviate symptoms. It can also help stabilize the affected vertebrae after massage therapy. This method can be applied locally using hot towels or hot water bags. Heat therapy should not be used in patients with severe pain symptoms during the acute phase.
6. Surgical Treatment
In cases of severe nerve root or spinal cord compression, surgery may be necessary.
