Does cervical spondylosis hurt?

Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
Updated on January 18, 2025
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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 Jie
Orthopedics
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Causes of cervical spondylosis

It is currently believed that the fundamental cause of cervical spondylosis is due to degenerative changes in the cervical spine caused by aging, poor life postures, and work habits. These degenerative changes lead to instability between the vertebrae, resulting in cervical disc herniation or localized bone hyperplasia. The herniated discs and bone growth compress nearby nerve roots, the spinal cord, and vertebral arteries, causing symptoms of compression in these structures and leading to cervical spondylosis. There are also some factors that trigger cervical spondylosis, with common ones being exposure to cold, excessive fatigue, and poor lifestyle and work habits. Paying attention to these factors can generally prevent the onset of cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What should I do about cervical spondylosis?

Having cervical spondylosis is not a big deal as long as you understand two things, which basically suffices. The first point is to determine the specific type of cervical spondylosis, as the treatment depends on the type, and different strategies are adopted for different types. The second point is to have a clear concept that once cervical spondylosis occurs, it is basically incurable. Therefore, it is essential to understand the concepts of healthcare and prevention. Let's discuss the types of cervical spondylosis. Clinically, cervical spondylosis is categorized into six types: cervical type, nerve root type, spinal type, sympathetic type, vertebral artery type, and mixed type. Cervical type cervical spondylosis generally does not require surgical treatment. The nerve root type responds best to traction. The spinal type generally requires surgical treatment. Vertebral artery type treatment involves treating both the cervical spine and arteriosclerosis. The mixed type involves the coexistence of two or more types of cervical spondylosis, and they are treated together. As for prevention, which is crucial for cervical spondylosis, it is important to pay attention to rest, maintain good sitting and standing postures, protect the cervical spine from cold, and perform appropriate cervical spine exercises to strengthen neck muscles. If cervical spondylosis episodes occur, remember not to self-medicate and seek proper treatment plans from a hospital.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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How to do cervical traction for cervical spondylosis?

Cervical traction therapy can restore the physiological curvature of the cervical spine to relieve the compression of nerves and blood vessels caused by cervical spondylosis. You can purchase a cervical traction device from a pharmaceutical company or pharmacy, as it is a ready-made product. Additionally, there is an integrated traction belt made from canvas, which grips the forehead, lower jaw, and the back of the head. The belt then folds into a triangle shape upwards, with a loop in the middle through which a rope is threaded. This rope can be hung from a beam or a traction frame. By holding the rope, you perform a neck traction exercise by pulling upwards. This vertical traction can alleviate the symptoms of cervical spondylosis. It is recommended to perform traction once or twice daily, ideally morning and evening, with each session lasting about 20 minutes. Typically, symptoms can be relieved in about seven to ten days, and this is quite beneficial for cervical spondylosis. Additionally, when sleeping, try to use a low pillow, and avoid prolonged periods of bending your head down or engaging in activities such as working at a desk, playing mahjong, reading, or using a computer. Generally, following these guidelines can help prevent the recurrence of cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
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Cervical vertigo characteristics

Dizziness is a typical symptom of cervical spondylosis, usually exacerbated when the patient turns their head to one side. In a normal person, when turning the head to one side, the vertebral artery on that side might be compressed, but the opposite vertebral artery can compensate by increasing blood flow, preventing cerebral insufficiency and dizziness. Conversely, in a patient with cervical spondylosis, due to osteophyte formation or changes in the curvature of the cervical spine, the vertebral artery on one side may be compressed. When the patient turns their head to the other side, the compressed vertebral artery cannot compensate by increasing blood flow, leading to insufficient cerebral blood supply and an increase in dizziness or the onset of dizziness symptoms. This explains the characteristics and mechanism of dizziness caused by cervical spondylosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis

The treatment of cervical spondylosis includes two aspects. The first is non-surgical treatment, which mainly involves immobilization of the neck, followed by physical therapy for the neck, including massage, acupuncture, and treatments with microwaves or shock waves, as well as cervical traction. Prevention is also important, which includes correcting poor work postures and sleeping positions. If the pain is very severe, one might consider taking some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, etc. Secondly, if there is severe pain due to nerve root type or spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, and there is evident neurological dysfunction, or if the symptoms of cervical spondylosis usually do not alleviate or even worsen after systematic and conservative treatment, surgery is often required. Therefore, the treatment of cervical spondylosis generally includes both non-surgical and surgical treatments, and the specific method used depends on the condition of the disease.