Should I see a Chinese doctor or a Western doctor for cervical spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis is a disease that is very difficult to treat. When patients first develop cervical spondylosis, they often feel cervical pain and neck stiffness. In the later stages, it will be very difficult to turn the neck. Moreover, if the weather or temperature changes, the cervical spine will feel very uncomfortable. Nowadays, both Chinese and Western medicine have treatments for cervical spondylosis. So, should I see a traditional Chinese doctor or a Western doctor for cervical spondylosis?

When it comes to the treatment of cervical spondylosis, most patients with cervical spondylosis frown and are in great pain. As we all know, cervical spondylosis is a typical difficult-to-treat disease. It is easy to relapse and difficult to eradicate. These are the most obvious characteristics of cervical spondylosis. When it comes to treatment, most patients choose between two methods.

1. Traditional Chinese Medicine

2. Western medicine

So how do traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine treat cervical spine problems?

Which one is better?

Let us make a comparison so that everyone can make the most correct choice based on their own condition.

1. Treatment methods of traditional Chinese medicine:

Tuina massage: restore the vertebrae and facet joints to their normal physiological positions through manipulation.

·Acupuncture: promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, dredge meridians and relieve pain

Oral administration of Chinese medicine: Oral administration has a high risk and side effects, so long-term use is not recommended.

External plaster: applied to the affected area. There are many types of plasters with varying effects.

Benefits of TCM: TCM treatments such as massage can accelerate blood circulation, relieve muscle fatigue, muscle tension and spasms

Disadvantages of Traditional Chinese Medicine: It is only effective if you persist in it for a long time, and it is not very effective for treating cervical spondylotic myelopathy and slightly more severe cervical spondylosis.

Suitable symptoms: Mild symptoms such as early cervical pain, stiffness, dizziness, etc. It is not suitable for use when calcification and hyperplasia occur and vertebral processes are in poor condition.

2. Western medicine treatment methods:

Traction: Benefits: Properly limit the excessive activity of the cervical spine and control the development of cervical spondylosis

Disadvantages: It is not a treatment, but just an auxiliary treatment.

Fixed brake

· Blockage: Apply the medicine to the cervical spine. The effect is obvious, but the side effects are great and it is not suitable for long-term use.

·Western medicine:

①Advantages: It mainly relieves pain and inflammation, and has a certain effect on the treatment of cervical spondylosis.

② Disadvantages: It has serious toxic side effects and long-term use can damage gastrointestinal, liver and kidney functions.

·Surgical treatment: Open surgery is only recommended for extremely severe cases. There are three types of cervical surgery: anterior approach, posterior approach and minimally invasive approach.

Advantages of Western medicine: It works faster and relieves symptoms faster. If you want to quickly relieve the most serious cervical spine problems, you can use Western medicine.

Disadvantages of Western medicine: It only treats the symptoms but not the root cause, and can only eliminate the symptoms, causing great physical harm to the body.

Suitable situations: Long-term untreated cervical spondylosis leads to severe cervical degeneration, and Western medicine is suitable for this condition.

Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine each have their own advantages and correspond to different symptoms. To treat cervical spondylosis, the first step is to determine the basic cause of your cervical spondylosis so that you can take the correct treatment plan.