Learn About Cervical Spondylosis

What is the definition of Cervical Spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis is a disorder in which there is wear on the cartilage (disks) and bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). It is a common cause of chronic neck pain.

What are the alternative names for Cervical Spondylosis?

Cervical osteoarthritis; Arthritis - neck; Neck arthritis; Chronic neck pain; Degenerative disk disease

What are the causes of Cervical Spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis is caused by aging and chronic wear on the cervical spine. This includes the disks or cushions between the neck vertebrae and the joints between the bones of the cervical spine. There may be abnormal growths or spurs on the bones of the spine (vertebrae).

Over time, these changes can press down on (compress) one or more of the nerve roots. In advanced cases, the spinal cord becomes involved. This can affect your arms, legs, and balance.

Everyday wear and tear may start these changes. People who are very active at work or in sports may be more likely to have them.

The major risk factor is aging. By age 60, most people show signs of cervical spondylosis on x-ray. Other factors that can make someone more likely to develop spondylosis are:

  • Being overweight and not exercising
  • Having a job that requires heavy lifting or a lot of bending and twisting
  • Past neck injury (often several years before)
  • Past spine surgery
  • Ruptured or slipped disk
  • Severe arthritis
  • Previous surgery on the neck
What are the symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis?

Symptoms often develop slowly over time. But they may start or get worse suddenly. The pain may be mild, or it can be deep and so severe that you are unable to move.

You may feel the pain over the shoulder blade. It may spread to the upper arm, forearm, or fingers (in rare cases).

The pain may get worse:

  • After standing or sitting
  • At night
  • When you sneeze, cough, or laugh
  • When you bend the neck backward or twist your neck or walk more than a few yards (meters)

You may also have weakness in certain muscles. Sometimes, you may not notice it until your health care provider examines you. In other cases, you will notice that you have a hard time lifting your arm, squeezing tightly with one of your hands, clumsiness of your hand, or other problems.

Other common symptoms are:

  • Neck stiffness that gets worse over time
  • Numbness or abnormal sensations in the shoulders or arms
  • Headaches, especially in the back of the head
  • Pain on the inside of the shoulder blade and shoulder pain

Less common symptoms are:

  • Loss of balance
  • Pain or numbness in the legs
  • Loss of control over the bladder or bowels (if there is pressure on the spinal cord)
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What are the current treatments for Cervical Spondylosis?

Your providers can help you manage your pain so that you can stay active.

  • Your provider may refer you for physical therapy. The physical therapist will help you reduce your pain using stretches. The therapist will teach you exercises that make your neck muscles stronger.
  • The therapist can also use neck traction to relieve some of the pressure in your neck.
  • You may also see a massage therapist, someone who performs acupuncture, or someone who does spinal manipulation (a chiropractor, osteopathic provider, or physical therapist). Sometimes, a few visits will help with neck pain.
  • Cold packs and heat therapy may help your pain during flare-ups.

A type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful if the pain is having a serious impact on your life. This technique helps you better understand your pain and teaches you how to manage it.

Medicines can help your neck pain. Your provider may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) for long-term pain control. Opioids may be prescribed if the pain is severe and does not respond to NSAIDs.

If the pain does not respond to these treatments, or you have a loss of movement or feeling, surgery is considered. Surgery is done to relieve the pressure on the nerves or spinal cord, and it can involve fusion of part of the neck.

Who are the top Cervical Spondylosis Local Doctors?

St Vincent Medical Group

6020 Warden Rd, Suite 100, 
Sherwood, AR 
 1.6 mi
Accepting New Patients

Stylianos Rammos is a Neurosurgery provider in Sherwood, Arkansas. Dr. Rammos and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cervical Spondylosis. His top areas of expertise are Stroke, Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Subdural Hematoma, Stent Placement, and Transmyocardial Revascularization. Dr. Rammos is currently accepting new patients.

Pain Medicine | Anesthesiology
Pain Medicine | Anesthesiology

Pain Treatment Centers Of America PLLC

4020 Richards Rd, Suite A, 
North Little Rock, AR 
 3.2 mi
Accepting New Patients

Meraj Siddiqui is a Pain Medicine specialist and an Anesthesiologist in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Siddiqui and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cervical Spondylosis. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Pain, Cervical Spondylosis, Sciatica, and Sacroiliac Joint Disease. Dr. Siddiqui is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences

4301 W Markam St, 
Little Rock, AR 
 9.3 mi
Accepting New Patients

Samuel Overley is an Orthopedics provider in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Overley and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cervical Spondylosis. His top areas of expertise are Invertebral Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Kyphosis, Microdiscectomy, and Herniated Disc Surgery. Dr. Overley is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Cervical Spondylosis?

Most people with cervical spondylosis have some long-term symptoms. Most of these symptoms improve with non-surgical treatment and do not need surgery.

Many people with this problem are able to maintain an active life. Some people will have to live with chronic (long-term) pain.

What are the possible complications of Cervical Spondylosis?

This condition may lead to the following:

  • Inability to hold in feces (fecal incontinence) or urine (urinary incontinence)
  • Loss of muscle function or feeling
  • Permanent disability (occasionally)
  • Poor balance
When should I contact a medical professional for Cervical Spondylosis?

Contact your provider if:

  • The condition becomes worse
  • There are signs of complications
  • You develop new symptoms (such as loss of movement or feeling in an area of the body)
  • You lose control of your bladder or bowels (call right away)
What are the latest Cervical Spondylosis Clinical Trials?
Spine Procedures Assisted with RoboTics and Navigation Registry

Summary: Creation of a pediatric robotic spine surgery registry will allow for data collection and analysis on the coupled use of robotics and navigation, as well as patient-specific rods in pediatric spine deformity surgery across participating study institutions. Eventually, an educational and informative framework for this technology will be established.

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The NOTICE Study: Neurosurgery and OrThopedIcs Communication Evaluation Study Following Lumbar Fusions

Summary: The purpose of this single-blind, randomized, controlled study is to assess the efficacy of informative text messages vs traditional handouts provided to lumbar spine surgery patients post-operatively.

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: April 24, 2023
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Boody BS, Goldstein ZH, Sasso R. Pathophysiology of cervical spondylosis, radiculopathy, and myelopathy. In: Steinmetz, MP, Berven SH, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.

Fast A, Dudkiewicz I. Cervical degenerative disease. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, Jr., eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3.

Ronthal M. Arm and neck pain. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 32.