HEALTH

Alleviating pain in the neck

NECK pain (Cervical Spondylitis) has become widely prevalent in recent years. It is the product of a fast, mechanical life. The most common complaints by the patient are pain and stiffness in the neck. The patient is not able to turn his neck and look behind. This pain may radiate to the posterior part of the head or upper back between the two shoulder blades and to both shoulders. Patients specially women, often have swelling in the lower part of the neck. There may be numbness, tingling and a feeling of pins and needles in the hand. There is a tenderness of the muscles of the neck. Sometimes movement may be quite free. Occasionally creaking sounds can be heard while moving the neck. In an inflammatory condition movement in all directions is painful.

The cervical vertebrae have many peculiarities. The protect the spinal cord, which carries practically all the nerves to the body. The neck has to be mobile and yet it has no support like, say, the ribs in the dorsal spine or pelvis in the lumbar spine. It has to support the head and a considerable strain is borne by the neck, when the arms are heavily used. It carries its own blood supply through vertebral arteries and veins. These vessels are well protected in transverse process, still they complicate mechanical problems.

Neck pain and stiffness are usually caused by strain or spasm of the neck muscles or inflammation of neck joints. It may occasionally be due to arthritis or damage to the discs between the neck (cervical) vertebrae. Neck movement may be limited, usually more to one side than the other. Headaches often accompany neck problems.

Neck pain and headaches are sometimes related to tension in the trapezius muscles. Neck muscle strain may be due to.

* Sleeping on a pillow that’s too high, too flat or does not support your head.

* Watching TV or reading lying down with the neck in an awkward position.

* Injury that causes sudden movement of the head and the neck or a direct blow to the neck.

* Other pressures on neck muscles.

* Meningitis is a serious illness that causes a severe stiff neck with headache and fever.

* Bad posture.

* Stress.

Prevention and Remedies:

* Good posture, body mechanics and exercise are important to prevent neck pain. Most neck pain that is not due to arthritis or injury is completely avoidable. If the pain is worse at the end of the day, evaluate you posture and body mechanics during the day.

* If you work at a computer, adjust the monitor so that the top of the screen it at eye level. Use a document holder that puts the copy at the same level as the screen.

* Sit straight in your chair with your low back supported. Avoid sitting for long periods without getting up or changing position. Take mini-breaks several times each hour to stretch your neck muscles.

* Adjust your car seat to a more upright position that supports your head and lower back.

* If you use the telephone a lot, consider a headset or speaker phone.

* When sleeping on your side, make sure the nose is in line with the centre of your body.

* Avoid pillows that force your head forward when you are sleeping on your back.

* Improve your sleeping support. A hard mattress or special neck support pillow may solve the problem, or you can fold a towel lengthwise into a four-inch wide pad, wrap it around your neck, and pin it for good support.

* Avoid slouching and forward head posture.

* Keep your head and neck in the neutral position over your body.

* Walking is also helpful in relieving and preventing neck pain. The gentle swinging motion of your arms often relives pain. Start with short walks of five to ten minutes, three to four times a day.

* Move your head backward and side to side against gentle pressure from your hands, holding each position for several seconds. Repeat six to ten times.

* Avoid violent massage. Massage with deep pressure is harmful for patients. A gentle massage of Mahanarain taila is best suited. Massage can be given 2-3 times a day.

* Avoid fried and sour food. Bitter vegetables like bitter variety of drumstick, neem flowers and bitter gourds are very useful. Wheat is better than rice for the patient.

* Hot formention on the vertebra of the neck is also useful. Ayurvedic medicines like - Sinhnadadi and Mahayograj Guggulu Maharasnadi quoth are also helpful in the neck pain. For the patient to recover from this ailment, it is necessary that his bowels movements should be easy and regularly.

— Dr Anil Dheer

Polio-afflicted child dies
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 21
The polio-afflicted 13-month-old child Mukesh died here on the intervening night of February 19-20. Despite the fact that the child had administered all the dosages against the disease from the Shimlapuri dispensary, he got inflicted by the disease about two months back.

Mr Dinesh Kumar, father of the child who runs a small sweet shop in the Ravindra Colony, Shimlapuri, said he had already spent Rs 3 lakh on the treatment of his only child. “But I got his body in return,” he added.

“My child was admitted in the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital on December 23 but due to financial constraints, I had to take him to home on February 18. And there were no chances of stability in the child. Mukesh was admitted in the intensive care unit of Paediatrics Department of the DMCH and was on respiratory machine since then,” said Dinesh Kumar. The family had consulted many other doctors also but in vain. They had even sold their small house in Shimlapuri to pay the hospital bills.

ADMINISTRATION

City gets new PCR
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 21
A new hi-tech police control room (PCR), the first of its kind in the North Region excluding New Delhi, was inaugurated by the Punjab DGP, Mr Sarbjit Singh, today.

The city residents can hope of more facilities from the police as the state government has sanctioned Rs 4 lakh for providing more infrastructure to the force. Disclosing this to mediapersons, the DGP announced that this model of the PCR would be adopted by all the police districts in the state gradually.

Earlier, the DGP flagged off 40 motor cycles to formally inaugurate the new hi-tech police control room which has been upgraded with new communication facilities, 40 motor cycles and a posse of 100 policemen who would patrol the city on the ultra-modern bikes besides being stationed at key places.

The DGP, however, had to face several questions from the mediapersons regarding the present status of a number of earlier schemes launched in the city by former police officials. Similar schemes were launched in the past but were discontinued after some time.

Giving details about the project, Mr Harpreet Singh Sidhu, SSP, Ludhiana, said the PCR teams shall have the duties of attending to public in need, area domination through patrolling and continuous checking, immediate reaction to crime reports, protection of scene of crime, prompt handling of law and order situations, assistance to police station staff apart from traffic duties.

Each team has been equipped with an Enfield motor cycle fitted with revolving lights, siren, public address system with an first-aid kit, windshield and panniers. The driver has been armed with 9 mm pistol, a short baton and a wireless set. The team members have been given special training in yoga, wireless communication, intelligence collection and public dealing.

The SSP said the PCR would operate on a well-planned three-shift system. Each group would be on duty for eight hours and adequate rest is provided on rotational basis to each group.

Apart from the DGP, IG Zonal J. P. Birdi, DIG Rohit Chowdhry, Deputy Commissioner S. K. Sandhu, SSP, Ludhiana, Harpreet Sidhu, SSP, Jagraon, Balkar Singh, and Additional Deputy Commissioner, S. R. Kaler, were also present on the occasion.