Management of Cervical Spondylosis with Agnikarma Therapy: Case Study Article

Introduction

Cervical spondylosis is usually age-related condition in which degeneration of cervical column especially that resulting in abnormal fusion and immobilization of vertebral bones. As it is vata vyadhi which is considered as a mahagada because treatment may be prolonged and prognosis is uncertain [1].

Spondylosis is a term suggested for degenerative osteoarthritis of the joints between the centre of the spinal vertebrae and or neural foramina resulting in pain, paraesthesia etc. If it is occurring on cervical vertebrae, it is called cervical spondylosis.

So, it is a disease affecting more of elderly (more than 40 years) where there is degeneration of the apophyseal joints and intervertebral disc joints with osteophyte formation and associated with or without neurological sign.

In ayurveda cervical spondylosis comes under sandhigata vata. Sandhigata vata is a common vata predominant disorder due to changes in life style unsuitable sitting, sleeping, standing, looking upwards or some other certain posture lead to cervical spondylosis in a prominent disease.

Sandhigatavata can be defined as a disease of sandhi (joint) with symptoms of sandhishoola, sandhishotha and akunchana prasaran pravrittiscavedana and in the later stage hanti sandhigatah. Acharya sushruta has described various types of sandhi viz. peshi sandhi, snayu sandhi and shira sandhi etc. but in this perspective, we are dealing with asthi sandhi [2].

The term gata means “situated in”, directed to hence sandhigatavata represents the site in which provoked vata dosha is situated. vata is a biological force which governs and stimulates all the activity of body and act as a receptor as well as stimulator [3].

Treatment for heat burns in ayurveda is known as agni karma. Dahan karma is another name for it. Several painful conditions like joint pain, headache, cervical pain, lower backache, muscular pain anywhere in the body and few convulsion disorders such as epilepsy and psychosomatic diseases can be treated with his intentional heat burn therapy.

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The process of agni karma is normally done by using pippali, hot honey, oil gold, hot jiggery and silver, panchadhatu shalaka, loha shalaka, etc.

Methodology

This is a single case study conducted at Rishikul govt. Ayurvedic College and hospital, UAU, haridwar patient having I.P.D. no 4767/26581 was treated with a specific regimen and prognosis was assessed. After proper counseling, the line of treatment was explained.

Case History

Study in which a 27year-old female patient. Who had apparently been normal 6month back. Gradually she noticed pain and stiffness over neck region. Radiating to the right upper limb along with tingling sensation and numbness up to tip of fingers. Difficulty in neck movement. She was managed according for a week with allopathic medicine but did not get any relief. After that she visited O.P.D no 20 Panchkarma dept. of Rishikul campus for further management with diagnosed as having cervical spondylosis.

Chief Complaint

The onset of symptoms developed around 6 months back. However, the symptoms such as pain and stiffness over neck region and pain radiating to RT hand. Numbness present in RT hand and difficulty in neck movement.

Investigation

X-Ray cervical spine shows mild osteophyte formation with normal intervertebral disc. MRI image of cervical spine shows right posterolateral disc prolapse at c6/c7 causing moderate c7 root compression. Routine blood investigations were in normal limits. Urine routine examination showed to be normal. The patient was diagnosed with cervical spondylosis due to chronic postural strain. Other investigation like haemoglobin, esr, lft, kft, lipid profile, thyroid etc. are with in normal limit (Table 1).

Treatment

Agnikarma Chikitsa

Observation

The observations of the case is recorded and displayed in the Table 2.

Result

Based on prognosis, observed parameters such as pain over neck which was grade 3 on day 1, was relieved to mild/ grade1 on first sitting (15th days) & complete relief on 2nd sitting (30th day). Neck stiffness and pain in arm which were grade 3 on day 1(initial day), were relieved to moderate/ grade 2 on days 15th day& mild relieve that is grad1 at day 30&complete relief in neck stiffness on day30. Also, the parameter vertigo was grade 3 in day 1, was relieved to mild/ grade1on 15 day & complete relief on day 30. This proves is effective in management of greevagata sandhi vata with special reference to cervical spondylosis.

Discussion

In the present single case study, a patient with a chief complaint such as pain and stiffness over neck region, and radiating to the right upper limb along with numbness up to tip of fingers. Difficulty in neck movement was diagnosed with sandhi vata (cervical spondylosis) was taken for the study. The established treatment includes steroids & analgesics along with surgery having a limited prognosis. In this study, Agni-karma procedure was given to the patient & found efficacious in reliving symptoms. Agnikarma with modified agnikarma device 2 times with 15 days

Conclusion

Agnikarma gave cervical spondylosis patients more alleviation. The best and most efficient Para surgical technique. It functions as an antiseptic, haemostatic, and analgesic all at once. In the Vedas, Agni is referred to as life. The karma performed by this Agni in a similar manner breathes fresh life into the body.