Cervical spondylosis is a common, age-related condition that affects the joints and discs in your cervical spine, which is in your neck. It's also known as cervical osteoarthritis or neck arthritis.
It develops from the wear and tear of cartilage and bones. While it's largely the result of age, it can be caused by other factors as well.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the condition is present in more than 90 percent of people aged 60 and older.
Some people who have it never experience symptoms. For others, it can cause chronic, severe pain and stiffness. However, many people who have it are able to conduct normal daily activities.
The bones and protective cartilage in your neck are prone to wear and tear that can lead to cervical spondylosis. Possible causes of the condition include:
These overgrowths of bone are the result of the body trying to grow extra bone to make the spine stronger.
However, the extra bone can press on delicate areas of the spine, such as the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in pain.
Dehydrated spinal discs
Your spinal bones have discs between them, which are thick, padlike cushions that absorb the shock of lifting, twisting, and other activities. The gel-like material inside these discs can dry out over time. This causes your bones (spinal vertebrae) to rub together more, which can be painful.
This process can begin to happen in your 30s.
Spinal discs can develop cracks, which allows leakage of the internal cushioning material. This material can press on the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in symptoms such as arm numbness as well as pain that radiates down an arm.
If you've had an injury to your neck (during a fall or car accident, for example), this can accelerate the aging process.
The tough cords that connect your spinal bones to each other can become even stiffer over time, which affects your neck movement and makes the neck feel tight.
Some occupations or hobbies involve repetitive movements or heavy lifting (such as construction work). This can put extra pressure on the spine, resulting in early wear and tear.
The greatest risk factor for cervical spondylosis is aging. Cervical spondylosis often develops as a result of changes in your neck joints as you age. Disc herniation, dehydration, and bone spurs are all results of aging.
Factors other than aging can increase your risk of cervical spondylosis. These include:
Most people with cervical spondylosis don't have significant symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can range from mild to severe and may develop gradually or occur suddenly.
One common symptom is pain around the shoulder blade. Some complain of pain along the arm and in the fingers. The pain might increase when:
Another common symptom is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness makes it hard to lift the arms or grasp objects firmly.
Other common signs include:
Symptoms that occur less frequently often include a loss of balance and a loss of bladder or bowel control. These symptoms warrant immediate medical attention.
If you have the sudden onset of numbness or tingling in the shoulder, arms, or legs, or if you lose bowel or bladder control, talk to your doctor and seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is a medical emergency.
If your pain and discomfort start to interfere with your daily activities, you may wish to make an appointment with your doctor.
Although the condition is often the result of aging, there are treatments available that can reduce pain and stiffness.
Making a diagnosis of cervical spondylosis involves ruling out other potential conditions, such as fibromyalgia. Making a diagnosis also involves testing for movement and determining the affected nerves, bones, and muscles.
Your doctor may treat your condition or refer you to an orthopedic specialist, neurologist, or neurosurgeon for further testing.
Your doctor will start by asking you several questions regarding your symptoms. Then, they'll run through a set of tests.
Typical exams include testing your reflexes, checking for muscle weakness or sensory deficits, and testing the range of motion of your neck.
Your doctor might also want to watch how you walk. All of this helps your doctor determine if your nerves and spinal cord are under too much pressure.
If your doctor suspects cervical spondylosis, they'll then order imaging tests and nerve function tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatments for cervical spondylosis focus on providing pain relief, lowering the risk of permanent damage, and helping you lead a normal life.
Nonsurgical methods are usually very effective.
Your doctor might send you to a physical therapist for treatment. Physical therapy helps you stretch your neck and shoulder muscles. This makes them stronger and ultimately helps to relieve pain.
You might also have neck traction. This involves using weights to increase the space between the cervical joints and relieve the pressure on the cervical discs and nerve roots.
Your doctor might prescribe certain medications if over-the-counter (OTC) drugs don't work. These include:
If your condition is severe and doesn't respond to other forms of treatment, you might need surgery. This can involve removing bone spurs, parts of your neck bones, or herniated discs to give your spinal cord and nerves more room.
Surgery is rarely necessary for cervical spondylosis. However, a doctor may recommend it if the pain is severe and it's affecting your ability to move your arms.
If your condition is mild, you can try a few things at home to treat it:
Cervical spondylosis is a common, and often age-related, condition that can cause stiffness, discomfort, and headaches related to neck pain.
Your doctor may not be able to reverse the condition, but they can often recommend conservative treatments to help you overcome the discomfort and pain.