Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical Spondylosis Symptoms

Cervical Spondylosis does not cause symptoms in most cases. When the condition does produce symptoms, they most often affect only the neck area. The most common Cervical Spondylosis symptoms are stiffness and pain in the neck.

Many individuals with Spondylosis on X-ray don't have any side effects. In fact, lumbar (spondylosis in the low back) is available in 27%-37% of individuals without Cervical Spondylosis symptoms. In a few people, Spondylosis causes back pain and neck pain because of nerve compression (pinched nerves). Pinched nerves in the neck can cause pain in the neck or shoulders and headache. Nerve compression is caused by swelling plates and bone goads on the facet joints, causing narrowing of the gaps where the nerve roots exit the spinal canal (foraminal stenosis).

Characteristic discoveries of Spondylosis can be detected with X-ray tests. These discoveries include a decrease in the disc space, hard spur arrangement at the upper or lower portions of the vertebrae, and calcium build-up where the vertebrae have been affected by Cervical Spondylosis symptoms.

Most moderately aged and elderly individuals have irregular discoveries on X-ray trial of Spondylosis, notwithstanding when they are completely pain-free. In this manner, different factors are likely significant contributors to their back pain.

On the off chance that a herniated disc from Spondylosis causes a pinched nerve, pain may shoot into an appendage. For example, a huge plate herniation in the lumbar spine can cause nerve compression and cause pain that begins in the low back and after that transmits into the legs. This is called Radiculopathy. At the point when the sciatic nerve, which keeps running from the low back down the leg to the foot, is affected, it is called Sciatica. Radiculopathy and Sciatica regularly cause numbness and tingling (vibe of pins and needles) in an extremity.

In some cases, Cervical Spondylosis symptoms can cause the spinal canal to become narrow. The nerve roots and the spinal cord located in this space need enough room, and if they get pinched, the following Cervical Spondylosis symptoms may occur:

• Weakness, numbness and/or tingling in your hands or arms, or your feet and legs.
• Problems walking and poor coordination, balance problems can be one of the cervical spondylosis symptoms.
• Inability to control your bowels or bladder.

When to see a doctor

If you notice sudden weakness or numbness, or sudden inability to control your bladder or bowels and other Cervical Spondylosis symptoms, seek medical attention right away.

Diagnostic procedures

When your doctor examines you, if Cervical Spondylosis symptoms are detected, he will check the mobility and flexibility in your neck. He will also check your reflexes and the strength of your muscles to determine if there is any pressure on your spinal cord or the spinal nerves. Your doctor may also ask you to walk several feet to evaluate if Cervical Spondylosis and associated spinal compression is affecting your balance, coordination or gait.

Imaging tests

There are several imaging tests doctors use to gain information that will help them diagnose Cervical Spondylosis or other conditions and guide your treatment. Examples of these tests include:

• • Neck X-ray: X-rays are used many times to screen for serious causes of neck stiffness and pain, such as fractures, tumors or infections. Bone spurs and other abnormalities to indicate Cervical Spondylosis may show up on an x-ray.

• • Computerized tomography (CT)scan: A CT scan uses x-rays taken from several different angles and combines these views into cross-sectional images of the internal structures. This provides the doctor with many more details of the bones than a plain x-ray and may be helpful in diagnosing Cervical Spondylosis.

• • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This study uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce very detailed images of bones as well as soft tissues. This helps your doctor evaluate your spinal nerves to see if they are affected by Cervical Spondylosis.

• Myelogram: This test involves the injection of a dye into the spinal canal, followed by obtaining images either using CT or x-rays. Areas of your spine are made more visible by the dye which helps your doctor assess for complications of Cervical Spondylosis or other conditions.

Nerve function tests

Nerve function tests can help determine if signals sent by your nerves are travelling correctly to the muscles. Some examples of nerve function tests are:

• • Electromyogram (EMG): This test evaluates how healthy your muscles are and also the health of the nerves that control the muscles. It takes a measurement of the activity in the nerves while they are transmitting signals when the muscles are resting and when they are tensed. Your doctor may order nerve function tests if Cervical Spondylosis is suspected.

• Nerve conduction study: This test measures the speed and the strength of nerve messages. Small electrodes are placed on your skin near the nerve being tested. A small shock is then sent through the nerve to measure its response.

Cervical Spondylosis Treatment

The course of treatment you and your doctor decide is best for you depends on how severe your signs and symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis are. The primary goal of most plans for Cervical Spondylosis treatment is to manage pain, prevent any lasting damage to the nerves or spinal cord, and to restore or maintain your ability to perform your usual activities as much as possible.

Cervical Spondylosis treatment for mild cases may include:

• • Exercise: Getting regular exercise will help you recover faster than staying sedentary. Modify some exercises if you have to due to neck pain, but do your best to stay with or start a routine of regular exercise. Exercise may also help lift your spirits if you are feeling discouraged due to cervical spondylosis.

• • Cervical Spondylosis medication: Often, over-the-counter Cervical Spondylosis medications are effective for controlling the pain of Cervical Spondylosis. Some examples of Cervical Spondylosis medication are naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others), or acetaminophen (Tylenol and others).

• • Ice or Heat: If your neck muscles are tight or sore because of Cervical Spondylosis, try using ice initially then heat to help with pain.

• Soft neck brace: These soft collars support your neck and provide rest for the muscles in the back of your neck that are fatigued by Cervical Spondylosis. Because they allow the muscles to rest, the muscles can become weak if the collar is worn too often or for long periods, so the amount of time a soft neck brace is worn should be limited.

Cervical Spondylosis Medication

If Cervical Spondylosis medications such as Tylenol, Advil or Aleve aren't controlling your Cervical Spondylosis pain, your physician may recommend Cervical Spondylosis medication that is only available with a doctor's prescription. These might include:

• • Muscle relaxants: Muscle spasms can be very painful. If you are experiencing these, a muscle relaxant may help Cervical Spondylosis. Examples of these include methocarbamol (Robaxin) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril, Amrix).

• • Anti-seizure drugs: Nerve pain, like the pain, sometimes caused by Cervical Spondylosis, is sometimes well-controlled with certain Cervical Spondylosis medication that is given for epilepsy. Examples of these cervical spondylosis medications include pregabalin (Lyrica) and gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant).

• • Narcotics: Some Cervical Spondylosis medications like analgesics (pain pills) contain narcotics. These are usually only given in cases of very severe pain, due to a high risk for addiction. Some examples of Cervical Spondylosis medication called narcotic analgesics include oxycodone (Roxicet, Percocet, and others) and hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin, and others).

• Injections of Steroids: Injecting a corticosteroid in combination with a numbing agent directly into the area affected by Cervical Spondylosis is sometimes helpful for reducing pain and inflammation and used as a Cervical Spondylosis medication.

Therapy

Sometimes physicians recommend physical therapy to help patients with Cervical Spondylosis learn stretching and strengthening exercises for the shoulder and neck muscles. Traction is sometimes used for Cervical Spondylosis to help make more room within the spinal canal and remove pressure from the nerve roots.

Surgery

If you have neurological symptoms and signs associated with Cervical Spondylosis, such as weakness in your legs or arms, or if conservative treatments such as cervical spondylosis medication have not helped, your doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery for Cervical Spondylosis could involve the removal of a portion of a vertebra, removal or bone spurs or removal of a herniated disc to make more space for the nerve roots and spinal cord.

Spinal decompression surgery includes different surgical procedures that can mitigate weight on the nerves in the back because of spinal stenosis, herniated intervertebral discs, or foraminal stenosis (narrowing of the openings between the facet joints because of bone goads). Common techniques for decompression include the accompanying:

• • Laminectomy is a procedure to evacuate the hard arches of the spinal canal (lamina) along these lines increasing the measure of the spinal canal and decreasing weight on the spinal cord.

• • Discectomy is a procedure to extract a portion of an intervertebral disc that is putting pressure on a nerve root or the spinal canal.

• • Foraminotomy or Foraminectomy is a procedure to expand the openings for the nerve roots to exit the spinal canal. Amid a Foraminectomy, for the most part, more tissue is expelled than amid a Foraminotomy.

• • Osteophyte surgery is a procedure to extract bone spurs from a region where they are causing pinched nerves.

• Corpectomy is a procedure to extract a vertebral body and plates.

Combination of the vertebrae is now and then combined with at least one of these procedures keeping in mind the end goal to settle the spine.

Pathological changes

Cervical Spondylosis occurs as the discs between your vertebrae become dehydrated and lose their elasticity as you grow older. This drying out and stiffness makes them susceptible to cracks. The ligaments of the spine lose their elasticity in Cervical Spondylosis also, and bone spurs develop which take up room in the spinal column. The discs can eventually collapse and the gel-like center then bulges out. This makes the spinal canal even more narrow. In people who have Cervical Spondylosis, when they extend the neck, the ligaments fold inward and further reduce the diameter of the canal. Eventually, there isn't enough space, and the spinal cord and/or the nerve roots can be pinched or compressed.