NERVOUS SYSTEM

Treatment for disorders affecting the nervous system and neurological functions.

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

•Cervical spondylosis/cervical osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition affecting the cervical spine (neck region).
•Typically affects people over age 50 but can occur at any age due to wear and tear of cartilage and bones.
•Over time, discs between vertebrae become thin and joints develop bone spurs, leading to nerve compression.
•Causes pain, stiffness, and weakness in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
•Symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty with balance.
•Severe cases can cause weakness or numbness in the arms, hands, and fingers.
•Treatment includes pain management through medication, physical therapy, exercise, and weight management.

•Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck becomes compressed or irritated.
•Can cause pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
•Typically caused by herniated disc, degenerative changes in the spine, or spinal stenosis.
•Symptoms include pain radiating from neck into shoulders, arms, or hands.
•Numbness or tingling sensations in the fingers or hands and weakness in arm or hand muscles.
•Difficulty with fine motor skills such as buttoning a shirt or holding a pencil.
•Loss of reflexes in the affected arm or hand.

•A herniated disc occurs when soft, jelly-like material inside a spinal disc bulges or ruptures through a weak area.
•Can put pressure on nearby nerves or spinal cord, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
•Most commonly occur in lower back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine) but can also occur in middle back (thoracic spine).
•Most common cause is age-related wear and tear but can be caused by sudden injury, improper lifting, or awkward twisting or bending.
•Can result in radiating pain, weakness, or numbness in affected areas.

•Spinal stenosis occurs when spaces within the spine narrow, putting pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots.
•This pressure can cause pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in legs, back, neck, shoulders, or arms.
•Can occur in any part of the spine but is most common in lower back (lumbar spine) or neck (cervical spine).
•Most common cause is age-related wear and tear of spinal discs, ligaments, and bones.
•Other causes include arthritis, injuries, or tumours.
•Treatment depends on severity of symptoms and includes lifestyle modifications, regular exercise, weight loss, and good posture.

•Sciatica is a common type of pain occurring along the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body.
•Sciatic nerve runs from lower back down to legs and feet.
•Characterized by sharp, shooting pain radiating from lower back into buttocks and legs.
•Other symptoms include numbness, tingling, and weakness in the affected leg.
•Usually caused by herniated disc or spinal stenosis (narrowing of spinal canal).
•Can also be caused by muscle spasm or injury.
•Treatment depends on underlying cause and severity and may include rest, ice and heat therapy, pain medications, and physical therapy.

•Paralysis is the loss of muscle tone in some or all of the body caused by damage to the nervous system.
•Particularly affects the brain or spinal cord from traumatic injuries, stroke, spinal cord disorders, neurological disorders, or neurotoxicity.
•Symptoms include loss of voluntary movement, muscle weakness, loss of sensation, spasticity or rigidity, and loss of reflexes.
•Can cause difficulty with balance and coordination, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and impaired speech or swallowing.
•Known as Pakshaghata in Ayurveda, caused by Vata dosha imbalance controlling the nervous system.
•Can result from poor diet, lifestyle, stress, traumatic events, or buildup of toxins (ama).
•Ayurveda focuses on rejuvenating tissues and nerves while re-establishing dosha balance through dietary adjustments, herbal remedies, therapies, and specific exercises.

•Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting nerve cells controlling voluntary muscles.
•Primarily occurs due to loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.
•Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals that coordinate movement.
•May be due to genetics or environmental factors.
•Symptoms develop gradually and include tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and impaired balance and coordination.
•Treatment aims to manage symptoms and improve quality of life through medications to increase dopamine levels.
•Other treatments include deep brain stimulation (DBS), physical therapy, and lifestyle modifications.

•Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
•Immune system mistakenly attacks the protective sheath (myelin) covering nerve fibres.
•Leads to inflammation and damage to myelin and underlying nerves.
•Damage disrupts normal flow of electrical impulses along nerves.
•Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, numbness or weakness in limbs, tremors, coordination and balance problems, and vision problems.
•Can also cause bladder and bowel dysfunction.
•Treatment helps manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and modify disease course with rehabilitation therapies, lifestyle modifications, and support services.

•Migraine is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent, debilitating headaches and other symptoms.
•Associated symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
•Ayurveda considers migraine as a disorder related to imbalances in the body's doshas, particularly Vata and Pitta.
•Migraine headaches present as intense, throbbing pain, often on one side of the head.
•Followed by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia), and sound (phonophobia).
•Causes include genetic predisposition, alterations in brain chemistry and function, hormonal fluctuations, environmental triggers, and dosha imbalances.
•Chronic migraine refers to headaches occurring on 15+ days per month with 8+ days meeting migraine criteria.
•Ayurvedic approach emphasizes restoring doshic harmony through personalized interventions for lasting relief.