As we age, the joints in our necks show signs of wear and tear and this can lead to changes in the neck vertebrae as the body adapts to joint damage. Another term for osteoarthritis of the neck is known as cervical spondylosis.

Cervical Spondylosis

Symptoms for Cervical Spondylosis

The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are variable. If you have this condition, you may find your neck has gotten stiffer over time, though the onset of symptoms can also be quite sudden. The pain may be in the neck itself, between or over the shoulder blades. If a nerve is pinched, pain and / or pins and needles can be felt from the shoulder down as far as the fingers.

You may feel numbness in your shoulders and arms and rarely, the legs – in which case you need to seek medical advice promptly. Sometimes symptoms are worse after standing or sitting (especially in a draft), or in the morning if you slept in an awkward position, when you sneeze, cough, or laugh, or bend your neck backward.

Discomfort can be mild, or you may have pain so severe that you cannot move your head. You may have attacks of vertigo if you move your head quickly. The symptoms can be constant, or you may have flare-ups. In all cases get medical advice.

Some people in whom X-rays reveal the presence of cervical spondylosis exhibit no symptoms at all.

What Causes Cervical Spondylosis?

Age is not the only cause of wear on the bones and soft tissues of the neck. Years of regular sporting activities or doing a physical job that has placed stress on the neck can have the same effect.

There are several other risk factors for cervical spondylosis. These include being overweight and lack of exercise, a past neck injury – sometimes many years before – previous spinal surgery, a damage intervertebral disc, and the effects of osteoporosis.

Prevention to Cervical Spondylosis

It’s hard to avoid the stresses and strains of everyday life that contribute to the development of cervical spondylosis. But you can reduce the impact by paying attention to the posture and lifestyle.

Fixing Cervical Spondylosis

It’s important to keep your neck gently moving so it does not stiffen up. Oral anti-inflammatories may help and the doctor may give you something more powerful on an occasional basis for flare ups.

Your doctor may recommend physiotherapy which can bring relief of symptoms to some people.

Cervical Spondylolisthesis

Sometimes a condition called spondylolisthesis can be a complication of cervical spondylosis. When it occurs in the neck, the condition is often termed subaxial subluxation. One of the vertebrae slips forward (if it slips backward the condition is called retrolisthesis) so it’s out of line with the rest of the spine. This may happen because of progressive degeneration or due to trauma such as a motor vehicle collision. If the slippage is slight, you may not experience any symptoms. But if the misaligned vertebra presses against a nerve, the pain can be severe and you may have tingling or numbness in the arms and / or legs.

What is the Treatment for Cervical Spondylolisthesis

The treatment for spondylolisthesis is initially the same as for cervical spondylosis. But if things do not settle down, you may need a surgery. Fusion of the vertebrae around the area of slippage is an option that if often recommended, especially when there are symptoms of nerve compression. In some cases the vertebrae are fused where they are after the slip.

Cervical Spondylolisthesis Specialist

Dr Mathew Tung

Dr Mathew Tung Neurosurgeon

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