Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Written by Qiu Xiang Zhong
Orthopedics
Updated on September 16, 2024
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The cervical spine refers to the part of the spine located in the neck, consisting of seven vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and ligaments between the vertebrae. When cervical spondylosis occurs, it mainly causes pain in the head, neck, and shoulders, as well as numbness or pain in the arms and fingers. When the neck is stiff, the patient's movement is restricted, and neck and shoulder pain may also be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or even sudden collapse. Some patients may also experience a heavy feeling in the shoulders and back, weakness in the arms, numbness in the fingers, decreased skin sensation in the limbs, and weakness in gripping objects; other patients may also experience weakness in the lower limbs, a feeling of treading on cotton when walking, unsteady walking, or numbness in the feet.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Do cervical spondylosis patients fear the cold?

Cold weather has certain effects on patients with cervical spondylosis, as cold weather can impact blood circulation, which may aggravate symptoms of neck pain and discomfort. Therefore, patients with cervical spondylosis should pay attention to protecting their neck and keeping warm during cold weather. Cervical spondylosis is primarily caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine, chronic wear and tear, leading to neck pain, limited movement, and sensory and functional impairments. Therefore, patients with cervical spondylosis should also focus on resting, maintaining good posture, and may use heat applications, physical therapy, functional exercises for the neck, or medications to improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis of the nerve root type.

Cervical radiculopathy is the most common type of cervical spondylosis encountered in clinical practice. Clinically, it presents as partial or complete pain and numbness in the area innervated by the compressed nerve root, which is related to body posture. Firstly, the cause of cervical radiculopathy is compression of the nerve root. Secondly, compression of different nerves leads to numbness and pain in different regions. Thirdly, changes in posture, such as sneezing or tilting the head back, can exacerbate the symptoms. In clinical examinations, two tests are generally performed: the Spurling's test and the traction test. If both tests are positive, the disease can generally be diagnosed. Additional diagnostic aids such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs can also be used to make a definitive diagnosis of the specific nerve root compression.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Cervical spondylosis treatment

The treatment of cervical spondylosis firstly requires identifying the specific type of the condition, as treatment is determined based on the classification. The first type, cervical type cervical spondylosis, generally is asymptomatic, merely presenting as degeneration at the edges of the cervical spine. Even if symptoms are present, satisfactory effects can generally be obtained through conservative treatment, so cervical type cervical spondylosis does not require surgical treatment. The second type, nerve root type cervical spondylosis, is the most common type. The vast majority can be cured through conservative treatment, with approximately ninety-five percent achieving cure, leaving only about five percent who require surgery due to very clear nerve damage sites which have not improved with conservative treatment and worsened nerve compression symptoms. The third type, spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, basically requires surgical treatment, and it is better to perform the surgery sooner rather than later. The fourth type, vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, is usually treated conservatively, mainly focusing on immobilization, anti-inflammatory, and pain relief treatments, while also addressing arteriosclerosis concurrently. The fifth type, sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, requires coordinated treatment with internal medicine while treating this type of cervical spondylosis. Thus, the treatment of cervical spondylosis is actually not complicated. First, ascertain which type of cervical spondylosis you have, and then, treat accordingly.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Can cervical spondylosis be cured?

Can cervical spondylosis be cured? First, it is necessary to understand what cervical spondylosis is. Cervical spondylosis refers to a series of diseases characterized by clinical symptoms due to degenerative changes in the cervical intervertebral disc and its secondary pathological changes that involve surrounding tissues, including the spinal cord, nerve roots, blood vessels, and sympathetic nerves. Therefore, the main causes of cervical spondylosis are: First, the degenerative changes of the cervical intervertebral disc, which is the degeneration of the cervical disc, begin to degenerate from the age of twenty, mainly showing a decrease in the elasticity and toughness of the annulus fibrosus and dehydration of the nucleus pulposus. This is a normal aging process of the human body and cannot be changed. Second, the degeneration of the cervical intervertebral disc causes secondary pathological changes, mainly referring to the formation of peripheral osteophytes, relaxation of the intervertebral joints, leading to joint instability, and ossification of the posterior ligament causing spinal canal stenosis. Therefore, analyzing from the cause, cervical spondylosis is a necessary process as the body ages from youth to old age, so it cannot be cured. It is only possible to slow down the aging process or, through other means, prevent the degenerative changes from causing too much compression on the surrounding tissues, leading to too many symptoms. In summary, cervical spondylosis cannot be cured.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is mainly caused by long-term strain and degenerative changes in the cervical spine. When the spinal cord, nerve roots, or vertebral artery are compressed, a series of symptoms can occur. The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are very complex, mainly manifested as weakness in the upper limbs, numbness in the fingers, weakness in the lower limbs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and heart palpitations. Therefore, when these symptoms occur, one can go to the hospital for examination or combine imaging studies, such as CT and MRI of the cervical spine, to clarify the specific condition of the cervical spondylosis. Subsequently, targeted treatment measures can be taken based on the symptoms.