What is cervical spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis is one of the degenerative diseases that affect the neck. Normally, your spine's vertebrae-the bones that make up your spine-are cushioned by soft discs. These discs become squeezed in cervical spondylosis.

The cartilage lining the vertebrae on either side of the disc, where they come into contact, may deteriorate as a result. Spurs may form on your vertebrae where they rub against one another when this protecting cartilage is gone. There may be less space for spinal cord-attached nerves to travel between vertebrae as they leave the spine.

What signs of cervical spondylosis are present?

• Cervical spondylosis does not necessarily cause symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may include:
• Pain in your neck.
• A stiff neck.
• You have a knot or lump in your neck.
• Muscle cramping.
• A clicking or grinding sensation when you move your neck, such as when you turn your head or bend forward to touch your toes.
• Dizziness.
• A headache.

What causes cervical spondylosis?

Age-related changes in your spine are the most common cause. Medical conditions that may cause changes include:

• Degenerative disc disease.
• Disc herniation.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Spikes of bone (osteophytes).
• Spinal stenosis.

What are the complications of this condition?

Cervical spondylosis raises your risk of:

• Cervical myelopathy is a term used when anything squeezes or compresses the spinal cord in your neck.
• Cervical radiculopathy is the medical term for a pinched nerve in your neck.

What triggers cervical spondylosis?

Cervical spondylosis takes years to develop. The following are among the risk factors or triggers:

• Being sixty years of age or older.
• Smoking.
• Doing a job that involves looking up or down for hours every day.
• Lifting large objects by putting strain on your neck.
• Having cervical spondylosis in their family.
• Having previously sustained a neck injury.

How is the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis made?

During a physical examination, a medical professional will check your neck for lumps or knots. They might look at your:

• Flexibility of the neck.
• Your hands, arms, or legs' muscle strength and reflexes.
• Reflexes.
• Gait, or the way you walk.

Which tests are used to detect cervical spondylosis?

To get detailed pictures or photos of your spine and to evaluate the health of your skeletal muscles and nerves, your healthcare professional might perform the following tests. Tests may include:

• X-ray.
• CT scan (computed tomography).
• Scan using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Myelogram.
• EMG stands for electromyography.
• Study of nerve conduction.

Which is the most effective treatment for cervical spondylosis?

The best type of treatment is that which decreases the severity of symptoms. Health practitioners start with a conservative, non-invasive approach in most cases of cervical spondylosis. This includes, for example:

• Physical therapy
• Painkillers over-the-counter
• Applying heat or ice to the neck three or more times a day for 15 minutes
• Use a brace or soft collar.

In severe cases, the doctor can opt for either radiofrequency ablation or a cervical epidural steroid injection.

These include surgery to fuse your spine if other treatments do not work or your condition is a complication of cervical myelopathy or cervical radiculopathy.

What are the complications of the treatment?

Side effects are rare with conservative therapies. The adverse effects of some treatments, like radiofrequency ablation, steroid injections, and spinal fusion surgery, are different. Your health care practitioner will talk with you about what to expect, including potential side effects and outcomes from treatment.

What can I expect if I have cervical spondylosis?

This is a chronic condition, meaning there is no known cure. However, one can still seek treatment to ensure that its symptoms do not get a hold of and ruin your quality of life.

How to take care?

Mostly, cervical spondylosis is due to the effects of aging. Your neck can be taken care of through:

• Avoid activities that require long periods of looking down, looking up or keeping your neck in an awkward position.
• Discuss the possibility of exercise with your doctor to stretch and strengthen the neck muscles.
• Treat minor neck pain with rest, ice, or heat, and by taking over-the-counter pain relief medications.

How soon should I seek medical attention?

Contact your healthcare provider if you have neck pain or stiffness that persists past a few days. You should also contact your provider if you are receiving treatment for cervical spondylosis and your symptoms do not go away or get worse.

When do I need to go to the emergency room (ER)?

At times, the severity of neck pain can be associated with the presence of the following symptoms as indicating a serious underlying medical condition. Get emergency treatment if you experience:

• Neck pain that worsens.
• Numbness or tingling in your arms.
• Discomfort in your ability to walk or maintain balance.
• Muscle weakness or the feeling of their arms or legs weighing heavily.
• Bladder or bowel incontinence.

What to ask your doctor?

You could ask your medical provider:

• Why do I have a neck pain?
• Could the pain in my neck be associated with a dangerous medical condition?
• What treatments are available for neck pain?
• Do I need surgery to treat my pain?
• Will it pass?

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for cervical spondylosis?

Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most experienced professional in the country, with the finest neurologist and neurosurgeons specialized in cervical spondylosis. Tender Palm stands out as the premier Neurology hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.

To seek an expert consultation for any Neurology condition

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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