Causes of cervical spondylosis

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 22, 2024
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The causes of cervical spondylosis are actually of two types. The first type is intrinsic causes, which refer to the degeneration of the cervical intervertebral disc, a physiological process. Starting from the age of 20, the cervical intervertebral disc begins to degenerate, varying from person to person; some degenerate faster, others slower. However, as one ages, the cervical discs also gradually deteriorate. The second cause is the pathological changes secondary to the degeneration of the cervical intervertebral discs. For instance, after the discs degenerate, it can lead to instability of the cervical spine, formation of osteophytes around it, calcification of ligaments, and instability of small joints, among others. Due to these reasons, it results in a series of pathological changes affecting nearby soft tissues, such as blood vessels, nerves, spinal cord, and sympathetic nerves. This is the definition of cervical spondylosis. Thus, the causes of cervical spondylosis boil down to two main points: first, the degeneration of the cervical intervertebral discs; second, due to this degeneration, it induces other pathological changes such as the formation of peripheral osteophytes, ligament calcification, joint instability, etc., ultimately compressing the surrounding soft tissues, leading to cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to determine cervical spondylosis

The diagnosis is mainly based on the patient's clinical symptoms, physical signs, and auxiliary examinations. If the patient presents with neck pain, discomfort, or a stiff sensation, along with dizziness, headache, blurred vision, decreased hearing, numbness in the arms, weakness, swelling pain, unsteady walking, a feeling of stepping on cotton, and even symptoms like palpitations, chest tightness, loss of appetite, and profuse sweating, cervical spondylosis is highly suspected. To confirm whether it is cervical spondylosis, further auxiliary examinations are needed, such as CT scans and MRI of the cervical spine.

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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 Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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The Harm of Cervical Spondylosis

The harm caused by cervical spondylosis is quite significant. Typically, patients with cervical spondylosis will experience pain, discomfort, or stiffness in their necks. When the vertebral artery is compressed, patients might exhibit a range of clinical symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Furthermore, some patients may experience blurred vision, decreased hearing, numbness, weakness, and distension pain in either or both upper limbs. Some patients also suffer from symptoms like profuse sweating, loss of appetite, palpitations, instability while walking, and a sensation as if stepping on cotton, and in severe cases, they may experience abnormalities in urination and bowel movements.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How is cervical spondylosis treated?

The treatment plan is primarily determined by the severity of the patient's cervical spondylosis. If the cervical spondylosis is very severe, for instance, if the patient suffers from leg pain, numbness, and instability while walking, and conservative treatment fails to improve these symptoms, significantly affecting the patient's normal functions, it is essential to actively conduct CT and MRI scans. If the patient has a significant disc herniation and severe spinal canal stenosis, surgical treatment becomes necessary. Typically, the surgery requires general anesthesia and is performed either from the anterior or posterior approach of the cervical spine. The procedure involves the removal of the disc and decompression of the spinal canal, followed by intervertebral bone grafting and fusion surgery.

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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.