Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 24, 2024
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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.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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What should I do about cervical spondylosis?

In clinical practice, the incidence of cervical spondylosis is relatively high, including vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. Usually, for such patients, it is necessary to actively apply treatments such as cervical hot compresses, acupuncture, massage, traction, massages, and electrotherapy. Additionally, it is necessary to use vasodilator drugs to improve the blood supply to the vertebral artery. Furthermore, cervical spondylosis of the spinal nerve root type also has a high incidence. Patients often experience numbness in the limbs, making it necessary to actively apply nutritional neurotrophic drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics for treatment. When cervical spondylosis is severe and cannot be improved through conservative treatment, it becomes necessary to proceed with surgical treatment actively.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to treat cervical spondylosis?

The treatment plan primarily depends on the severity of the patient's cervical spondylosis. If the cervical spondylosis is very severe and there is significant compression on the spinal nerve roots, resulting in symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs, numbness and swelling pain in the arms, abnormal bladder and bowel functions, and evident spinal stenosis, then it is necessary to aggressively pursue surgical treatment. This usually involves the removal of the intervertebral disc, decompression and expansion of the spinal canal, and surgical treatment with intervertebral bone grafting and internal fixation. For cases where the disc herniation is not very large and the neck pain is not very severe, conservative treatment may be chosen. This includes measures like rest and protection, local heat application, and combining therapies such as acupuncture, electrotherapy, cupping, and traction.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Do cervical spondylosis patients fear cold?

Patients with cervical spondylosis are sensitive to cold. Exposure to cold can cause vasoconstriction and muscle contraction, thus aggravating the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Therefore, it is said that cervical spondylosis is sensitive to cold. Patients with cervical spondylosis should avoid cold environments and actively keep warm. It is recommended to persistently apply heat using a hot water bottle or salt bag twice daily, for at least thirty minutes each time for more noticeable effects. For those experiencing severe pain, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to alleviate pain. Additionally, topical plasters that activate blood circulation and disperse stasis can be used, along with therapies like acupuncture, electric heating, cupping, traction, and massage, which may progressively lead to recovery.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Cervical spondylosis cupping locations

We can roughly divide into two main categories. The first category is the Ashi points. What this means is using the pain point as the location for cupping. We can press the most painful part and use that as the center point for cupping; this is one method. The second method is the meridian acupoint method. We can perform a cupping treatment on the acupoints in the neck area, through which the treatment flows. For example, acupoints such as the Dazhui, Fengchi, and Fengmen in the neck area can all serve as the central points for cupping.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis

The treatment of cervical spondylosis is divided into surgical treatment and non-surgical treatment. Currently, it is reported that 95% of patients with cervical spondylosis can be cured or relieved after non-surgical treatment. Only a small number of patients, whose conditions worsen after ineffective non-surgical treatment, require surgical intervention. Conservative treatments include traditional Chinese medicine and herbal treatments, external application of herbal medicine, massage and bone-setting, acupuncture, rehabilitation therapy, traction therapy, physical therapy, and exercise therapy. Surgical treatments are mainly for patients with myelopathic or radiculopathic cervical spondylosis whose symptoms have worsened significantly affecting work and life, or who have experienced muscle dysfunction or even muscle atrophy. Furthermore, other types of cervical spondylosis that are ineffective in conservative treatment, have poor results, or are recurrent, all fall within the scope of surgical treatments. Surgical treatments include minimally invasive procedures and conventional procedures, with the conventional procedures being divided into anterior cervical and posterior cervical approaches. Minimally invasive treatments include nucleolysis, percutaneous nucleotomy, PFDD, and radiofrequency ablation.