Cervical Spondylosis
What is cervical spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis is a general term for age-related changes in the cervical spine (neck) that can lead to neck pain and other symptoms. Consult Dr. G. Ram Mohan for cervical spondylosis treatment in Himayatnagar.
What causes cervical spondylosis?
As we get older, the spine undergoes changes due to years of normal wear and tear.
Starting in middle age, the discs between the vertebrae start to change. These changes - collectively known as cervical spondylosis - can include:
- Degeneration: The spinal discs in the neck may slowly wear away (degenerate). With time, the discs become thinner, and the soft tissue has less elasticity.
- Herniation: Normal aging can cause part of a spinal disc to break or crack. Doctors call this a herniated disc. The herniation can allow the disc to bulge out, pressing on nearby tissue or a spinal nerve. This
pressure can cause pain, tingling, or numbness.
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition that causes cartilage in joints to degenerate. With osteoarthritis, cartilage degenerates faster than with normal aging.
- Bone spurs: When cartilage in the spine starts to degenerate, abnormal bone growths may grow along the edges of vertebrae. These growths (called osteophytes or bone spurs) are common as people get older. Often,
they cause no symptoms.
How common is cervical spondylosis?
These changes in the spine are a normal part of aging. The spine likely begins this wearing-down process sometime in your 30s. By age 60, almost 9 in 10 people have cervical spondylosis.
What are the most common cervical spondylosis symptoms?
Neck pain or stiffness may be the main symptoms. However, it is common for people with cervical spondylosis to have no symptoms at all.
Pain may get worse when you move your neck.
Other cervical spondylosis symptoms include:
- A nagging soreness in the neck
- Neck stiffness or spasms
- A clicking or popping sound when you move your neck
- Dizziness
- As the vertebral discs wear away with time, the spinal cord (and the nerves around it) can be put under increased pressure. This compression can result in worsening neck pain and other symptoms. Doctors call this
condition cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).
- In addition to the symptoms associated with cervical spondylosis, people with CSM may notice:
- Weakness, tingling, or numbnessin one or both arms or legs
- Incontinence(bladder control issues that may cause you to use the bathroom more)
- Problems walking (feeling unsteady on your feet)
- Loss of function in hands,like having problems writing
- Symptoms related to CSM may get worse over time. For most people, symptoms progress very slowly. If your symptoms don't go away, or if they significantly affect your life, your family doctor may refer you
to a spine surgeon who specializes in treating this condition.
Who is most at risk for getting cervical spondylosis?
As people get older, they’re more likely to develop this condition. People are more likely to experience neck pain or other symptoms related to cervical spondylosis if they:
- Smoke cigarettes or used to
- Have one or more family members with this condition
- Strain their neck often for their job, like looking up a lot or using poor posture while staring at a computer all day
- Have a previous neck injury, such as from a car accident
How is cervical spondylosis diagnosed?
History and physical examination will find the cause of your neck pain or other symptoms. The symptoms and their severity give doctors clues to how much pressure your cervical spine might be under. During a physical
exam, a best doctor for cervical spondylosis in Hyderabad may check your
- Neck flexibility
- Muscle strength and reflexes in your hands, arms, or legs
- Walking function
Occasionally, certain investigations are recommend to learn more about what may be causing your symptoms. These tests may include the following:
- X-raysshow the bones in your spine.
- MRIimages show the details of soft tissues such as cartilage and nerve roots. This test can show spinal compression more clearly than X-rays. An MRI can help doctors identify the source and location of pain.
- A myelogram(type of CT scan) or electromyography (nerve function test) is very rarely indicated. These tests give doctors more details on how cervical spondylosis may be affecting your nerves.
What are common cervical spondylosis treatments?
Cervical spondylosis does not always cause symptoms. Without symptoms, it may not need treatment at all.
When the condition does cause symptoms, conservative treatments effectively treat most cases. Your best doctor for cervical spondylosis in Hyderabad may recommend
- Physical therapy
- Oral medications:
- Pain medication for soft tissue, bone, muscle and ligament pain.
- Muscle relaxants for spasm.
- Nerve pain medication.
- Interventional pain management doctors in Hyderabad for back pain, can inject medications such as steroids into the affected area of the spine. Injection medications can make
your symptoms better for a short period of time.
- Soft collar or brace: Your doctor may recommend you wear a therapeutic collar for a short time. This can help strained muscles rest and recuperate. Wearing a brace for too long can lead to muscle atrophy (wasting away). Only use
a collar under the guidance of a medical professional. Book an appointment for chronic neck pain treatment in Himayatnagar.
- For the most severe cases of cervical spondylosis, doctors may consider surgery. Spine surgery is complex and may involve a lengthy recovery. Your doctor will consider your symptoms, condition, and overall health before deciding
whether surgery may benefit you.
We offer cervical spondylosis treatment for people who lives in and around Himayat Nagar, Ashok nagar, Somajiguda, Khairatabad and Hyderabad.
