Cervical spondylosis is a general term for arthritis in the neck. It is related to the wear and tear of the spinal disks in the neck. Cervical spondylosis is a common disorder, but the signs worsen as one age. More than 85% of people who are older than 60 suffer from cervical spondylosis. The condition mainly triggers pain and stiffness in the neck while some people may not experience any pain. When signs and symptoms do appear, medical intervention is required.
During cervical spondylosis, when the spinal disks dehydrate and shrink, osteoarthritis may develop, including bone spurs. Bone spurs tiny-bony projections that develop along bone edges.
What are the causes of cervical spondylosis?
It is the wear and tear of bones and protective cartilage in the beck that causes cervical spondylosis. The possible causes of CS are:
Bone spurs
Bone spurs are related to cervical spondylosis in two ways- it is the overgrowth of bone for the body trying to make the spine stronger. However, the extra bone press the delicate areas of the spine causing pain in the spinal cord.
Dehydrated spinal discs
There are thick and cushion-like discs in between the spinal bones to protect and absorb promote flexibility and sturdiness. This fluid, gel-like material inside the discs dries out as one ages. The less the gel, the more the bones rub together, which can be intensively painful.
This generally happens in your 30s.
Herniated discs
Spinal discs result in cracks, that allows the internal cushioning material to leak. This can press on the nerves nearby resulting in the signs such as arm numbness as well as pain that radiates to the arm.
Injury
Having a neck injury in the past can speed up the aging process.
Ligament stiffness
The cords connecting spinal bones to each other can stiffen over time making it difficult for the neck to move around.
Overuse
Overuse of the spine using repetitive movements or weight lifting also leads to wear and tear of muscles.
What are the risk factors involved?
One of the greatest risk factors in cervical spondylosis is aging. Cervical spondylosis occurs due to changes in your neck joints that begin with aging. Aging can also cause dehydration, bone spurs, disc herniation, etc.
Other factors, apart from aging also contribute to your risk of cervical spondylosis. These include:
- neck injuries
- work-related activities that put extra pressure on your neck such as exercising
- being overweight and inactive
- prolonged holding of your neck in an uncomfortable or awkward position
- a family history of cervical spondylosis
- smoking
What are the signs linked to cervical spondylosis?
Most people with cervical spondylosis do not have any specific symptoms to show up. If however, symptoms do occur, they may look like:
- Stiff neck
- Headaches that mostly occur in the back of the head
- Tingling or numbness around the shoulders and arms which can extend to the legs as well
- Shoulder pain is yet another common sign of cervical spondylosis. The pain increases when your when you do a lot of workouts
- Another common symptom is muscle weakness.
- It becomes hard for a person to lift the arms or grasp objects firmly
When to see a doctor
If you feel numbness or tingling in the legs, arms, shoulder talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Besides, if cervical spondylosis results in a loss of balance and a loss of bowel or bladder movement, you need immediate medical intervention.
Sometimes pain starts to affect the quality of life and interfere with your ability to do normal chores. This could also be due to aging, but the treatment can help you get rid of pain and stiffness.
What are the diagnosis tests for cervical spondylosis?
Healthcare begins with a physical examination of your health.
He may check for a range of motion in your neck
He may test your reflexes and muscle strength to check for any pressure on the spinal nerves
He may check if spinal compression is affecting your movement
Imaging tests
The doctor may do diagnostic tests with the help of an imaging test to learn about the internal damage to the spine.
Neck X-ray. An X-ray can help know internal abnormalities such as bone spur. Neck X-rays are helpful in learning about the cause of back pain such as tumors, fractures, stiffness, and any infections.
Myelography. This is a test done with the help of a dye injected into the spinal cord to get a detailed X-ray.
CT scan. A CT scan is a way to work on the detailed images of the bones.
MRI. MRI helps to know if there are nerves pinched.
Nerve function tests
Your doctor may begin with the tests to know if the nerve signals are traveling right. These tests may include:
Electromyography. This test measures the electrical activity in the nerves.
Nerve conduction. A nerve conduction study will help check the speed and strength of the signals sent by the nerves (done by giving a small shock through the urine). The test begins with placing electrodes on the part where there are nerves.
Ayurvedic treatment for cervical spondylosis
In Ayurveda, cervical spondylosis is a disease of Vata disorder. Aggravated Vata can often result in decreased grease or oil in the spinal cords. Ayurvedic treatment aims to calm the Vata dosha through medicinal herbs. The treatment is inclusive of a dietary approach to avoid the intake of Vata dominant foods.
Lifestyle changes also help in the recovery of the disorder.