Cervical spondylosis may also cause insomnia! These exercise therapies and traditional Chinese medicine therapies are very effective.

Office workers often work in front of computers and play with their phones after get off work. Nine out of ten have bad cervical vertebrae. If you often feel neck pain and numbness, you should pay attention to it as soon as possible, otherwise it will accelerate cervical vertebrae degeneration over time and cause more serious cervical spondylosis.

The cervical vertebra is the support of the brain, surrounded by various muscles and blood vessels, nerves and spinal cord. The cervical spinal cord and the blood vessels and nerves around the vertebra are the hubs and channels for the brain and the whole body to communicate. When cervical spondylosis worsens, symptoms that affect the brain and the whole body are likely to appear. For example, insufficient blood supply to the brain, dizziness, tinnitus, vomiting, cataplexy, pain and numbness in the upper limbs, increased muscle tension in the lower limbs, and limited movement are likely caused by cervical spondylosis.

In addition to the above symptoms, cervical spondylosis may also cause insomnia, with symptoms such as pain, numbness, and dizziness, followed by difficulty falling asleep, insufficient sleep, and poor sleep quality. Cervical spondylosis causes vertebral artery vasospasm, lumen narrowing, and decreased blood flow, leading to insufficient blood supply to the vertebral artery and insufficient blood supply to the brain, which in turn leads to insomnia. Poor rest will aggravate the symptoms of cervical spondylosis, and this vicious cycle repeats.

Most people don't take insomnia seriously, thinking that taking tranquilizers or melatonin can solve the problem. However, if the root cause of insomnia is cervical spondylosis, taking tranquilizers or melatonin is only a temporary solution. In addition, melatonin and other drugs may also have certain adverse reactions. Currently, the application of non-drug therapies such as exercise therapy and traditional Chinese medicine is gradually increasing.

Joint exercise therapy

Scientifically select the best exercise rehabilitation training method. For example, joint exercise therapy can increase the range of joint movement, relieve pain, improve sleep quality, and enhance the effect of rehabilitation treatment.

Sit with your head retracted, eyes looking straight ahead, completely relaxed, keep your jaw stable, and lean your head back until it can no longer be retracted. Hold for a few seconds and then return to the original position. If this movement is difficult to master or painful, you can lie on your back on the bed, lean your head back (towards the mattress), and retract your jaw at the same time. Hold for 3 seconds and then return to the original position.

Neck stretching exercise: Keep the head in a backward retracted state, lift the chin, tilt the head back to the maximum angle, hold for about 3 seconds, and return to the starting position. If this movement is difficult to master or painful, you can lie on your back on the bed, support the lower part of the head with one hand and move slowly, hold for 3 seconds, and then slowly lift the head back to a horizontal position.

Neck rotation exercise: Sit still, keep your head retracted, and turn your head from one side to the other, reaching the maximum range and hold for 3 seconds.

Neck flexion exercise: Sit down, lower your head and hold your chest, and keep your chin as close to the chest wall as possible. You can cross your hands behind your head and slowly and forcefully bring your head closer to your chest. Maintain the maximum neck flexion position for 3 seconds, then return to the initial position.

It should be noted that cervical spine exercises are mainly suitable for people who work at a desk for a long time and have mild cervical spondylosis. They can prevent cervical spondylosis. However, if there are symptoms such as compression of nerves and blood vessels, you need to consult a doctor before exercising. Exercise needs to be slow and even, and do not use force suddenly. Exercise within the range that you can control, and do the range of motion until you just feel or are about to feel pain, then relax and return to the starting position. Do not pursue too large a range of motion. If you feel discomfort during training, stop in time. During the exercise, if the neck pain no longer spreads but moves to the middle of the cervical spine, it means that the exercise is correct. However, if the neck pain is very severe, the pain continues to worsen after exercise or spreads away from the cervical spine, you should stop practicing and consult a rehabilitation expert. It is recommended to sit when you first start practicing, and you can stand or take other postures after mastering the essentials. If the pain is too severe, you can practice in a supine position.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Commonly used methods include massage, acupuncture, moxibustion, etc.

Massage is less traumatic and easy to accept. It can relax muscles and promote blood circulation, relieve spasms and pain, relieve muscle spasms, relieve vascular spasms and nerve compression, eliminate or reduce stimulation and compression of the vertebral artery and cervical sympathetic nerves, regulate autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and achieve the purpose of treating cervical insomnia.

Acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine believes that liver and kidney deficiency, insufficient qi and blood, imbalance in nourishing tendons and bones, and combined with rheumatism and cold evil can lead to blockage of meridian qi and blood circulation, causing neck pain. Acupuncture can promote qi and blood, nourish yin and yang, and nourish tendons and bones. In the selection of sites for the treatment of insomnia, emphasis is placed on local cervical Jiaji points, and the long-term effect is better.

Moxibustion is a simple method with various forms and can be used frequently at home as a health care method. Moxibustion can improve the local symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Its main functions are to dilate blood vessels, improve local blood circulation, relieve muscle and blood vessel spasms, eliminate inflammation and edema of nerve roots, spinal cord and surrounding soft tissues, and reduce adhesions, thereby achieving the purpose of relieving symptoms.

In addition, the following points should also be focused on for the prevention of cervical spondylosis. ① Do not sit for a long time, especially when working at a desk. Sitting for a long time is the most common cause of cervical spondylosis. It is necessary to perform simple shoulder and neck relaxation exercises every half an hour to an hour to avoid a single posture. ② Both the supine and lateral positions have a good protective effect on the neck. It is also very important to choose a pillow that conforms to the normal physiological curvature of the cervical spine. ③ The slow movement of local qi, blood and body fluids, stagnation and blockage are also a common cause of cervical spondylosis. Usually, you should pay attention to keeping your neck warm to prevent the stagnation of cold evil. ④ Strengthen physical exercise to improve physical fitness.

Sleep disorders have become a common and frequently occurring disease in clinic. When treating patients with cervical spondylosis, attention should also be paid to their sleep and psychological problems, and mental health education should be strengthened. In daily life, attention should be paid to one's work habits and health status at any time. The earlier the rehabilitation intervention, the lower the medical expenses will be.

Source: China Traditional Chinese Medicine News, Capital Chinese Medicine Author: Si Xiangyue, Beijing Rehabilitation Hospital, Capital Medical University