How is cervical spondylosis treated?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 15, 2024
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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 Li Jie
Orthopedics
1min 13sec home-news-image

Does cervical spondylosis hurt?

Cervical spondylosis is a very common disease in clinical practice, and it has many pathological types. Generally, we divide it into nerve root type cervical spondylosis, spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, local type cervical spondylosis, vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, and mixed type cervical spondylosis. Pain is a major symptom in these types of cervical spondylosis, but some cervical spondylosis do not primarily present with pain, and the pain experienced can vary widely. For example, the pain in local type cervical spondylosis primarily manifests as localized pain in the cervical region; in nerve root type cervical spondylosis, the pain is typically a shooting pain in the extremities, particularly radiating pain in the upper limbs; in spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, the pain is not very typical and mainly presents as weakness in the limbs; in vertebral artery type and sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, the primary manifestation is pain in the head, with less noticeable pain in the limbs. Thus, while pain is a common symptom in patients with cervical spondylosis, the characteristics of the pain vary.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How to alleviate cervical spondylosis?

Patients with cervical spondylosis are advised to do the following, which can help alleviate the symptoms of the condition. Patients should develop correct habits of using their necks in daily life, such as avoiding prolonged sitting with the head bowed down, and move the neck appropriately after sitting for a long time; they can also perform some medical neck exercises; additionally, it is important to use a slightly lower pillow during sleep and to keep the neck warm. These measures can help maintain the physiological curvature of the cervical spine and improve symptoms of neck discomfort. When patients with cervical spondylosis experience symptoms such as pain, they can also use anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, and apply methods like heat therapy to improve symptoms; when the symptoms are severe, it is necessary to visit the hospital for further medical consultation, to clarify the specific condition, and then receive targeted treatment.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Hot compress method for cervical spondylosis

Regarding the method of hot compress for cervical spondylosis, there are many methods used clinically. For example, one can actively use a salt bag or a hot water bottle for hot compresses, or use stir-fried bran for hot compresses twice a day, each time for half an hour or more to achieve more obvious effects. The main purpose of hot compress is to promote local blood circulation, thereby effectively improving the clinical symptoms of the patient's cervical spondylosis. Additionally, apart from hot compresses, patients with cervical spondylosis should also avoid bowing their heads for long periods and keep their necks from staying in one position for too long. Try to keep the neck muscles relaxed. Regular activities like swimming, flying kites, or playing badminton can help strengthen the neck muscles, thus better protecting the cervical spine and alleviating the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Su Zhen Bo
Orthopedics
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How to determine if it is cervical spondylosis

In clinical settings, cervical spondylosis can be diagnosed by evaluating the patient's subjective symptoms, medical history, and physical examination, combined with corresponding auxiliary examinations. Patients with cervical spondylosis often have a history of long-term chronic strain or injury in the neck. Patients may experience increased muscle tone in the limbs, muscle weakness, and sensations of tingling and numbness in the upper limbs. There may also be difficulties in walking involving the lower limbs, with sensations like walking on cotton; accompanying symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, unstable blood pressure, and blurred vision. Electromyography, cervical spine X-rays, CT scans, and MRI can be taken to confirm the diagnosis. In terms of treatment, conservative treatments are primarily used in the early stages of the disease. Patients are advised to rest in bed, wear cervical collars for stabilization, and use a chin strap for traction. Acupuncture and moxibustion are used on the neck, along with enhanced functional training and the administration of neurotrophic medications.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Causes of cervical spondylosis

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.