Cervical spondylosis is merely a general term used in reference for age-related wear and tear affecting the spinal disks in your neck. As the disks dehydrate and shrink, signs of osteoarthritis develop, including bony projections along the edges of bones. This health complication is very common and worsens with age. Actually, more than 85% of people older than age 60 are affected by cervical spondylosis.
If you have cervical spondylosis, then it is normal for your neck to ache, hurt, or feel stiff. Healthcare providers can’t cure cervical spondylosis, but they can keep it from getting worse. No wonder you should be aware of the common cervical spondylosis symptoms to ensure you seek medical attention within the shortest time possible.
For most individuals, cervical spondylosis causes no symptoms. When symptoms occur, nonsurgical treatments often are effective. Sometimes cervical spondylosis results in a narrowing of the spinal canal within the bones of the spine.
Keep in mind the spinal canal is the space inside the vertebrae that the spinal cord and the nerve roots pass through to reach the rest of the body. If the spinal cord or nerve roots become pinche, you might experience, tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet, lack of coordination and difficult walking, and loss of bladder or bowel control.
You might be wondering about what causes cervical spondylosis. Well, the most common cause is changes in your spine that happen as you age. Changes may include medical conditions, including Degenerative disk disease, Herniated disk, Osteoarthritis, Bone spurs, and Spinal stenosis.
Cervical spondylosis tends to increase your risk of developing Cervical myelopathy. This is when something compresses the spinal cord in your neck. It also increase cervical radiculopathy, a pinched nerve in your neck.
So, how is cervical spondylosis diagnosed? A healthcare providers will do a physical examination, including looking for bumps or knots in your neck. They may check your neck flexibility, muscle strength and reflexes in your hands, arms or legs, reflexes, and gait (how you walk).
You provider may perform different tests to get detailed images or pictures of your spine and check on your skeletal muscles and nerves. Tests may include X-ray, Computed tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, Myelogram, Electromyography, and Nerve conduction study. It is then that they can let you know about the next step of action.
