How to deal with cervical spondylosis?

Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
Updated on January 18, 2025
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Cervical spondylosis is primarily caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine, chronic strain, and other factors, leading to cartilage damage. After damage, calcium deposition occurs around the bone joints, thus causing bone proliferation. Treatment for cervical bone proliferation is not necessary if there are no symptoms. When bone proliferation causes neurological and vascular irritation symptoms, such as pain, numbness, and weakness, treatment is needed. Treatment recommendations include resting, using anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications, and medications that nourish nerves. Treatments can also be combined with hot compresses, physical therapy, and traction. These methods can help improve symptoms. If the symptoms are severe and significantly impact daily life, surgical treatment may also be considered. (Please follow the guidance of a professional physician when using medications.)

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Age of onset of osteophyte formation

Bone hyperplasia is generally caused by degenerative changes that form bony structures, leading to localized pain. In severe cases, it can press on important nerves, causing a range of symptoms. Bone hyperplasia is generally a result of aging-related degeneration and is common in the elderly. However, heavy laborers or athletes can also develop localized bone hyperplasia due to repeated strain and injury. For example, football players may experience bone hyperplasia in the ankle and knee joints, while weightlifters may develop it in their lower back. Therefore, the age at which bone hyperplasia occurs varies depending on specific circumstances.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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What is bone hyperplasia?

Bone hyperplasia is primarily caused by degenerative changes in the joints or due to trauma, chronic strain, and other factors, leading to the destruction of cartilage and subsequently causing a reactive proliferation of cartilage. Bone hyperplasia is a physiological phenomenon, commonly seen in middle-aged and elderly patients. When bone hyperplasia is asymptomatic, treatment is not required; however, when it irritates surrounding tissues, symptoms such as pain and restricted movement can occur, and treatment is necessary. Treatment mainly involves symptomatic medication, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics, drugs that nourish the cartilage, and drugs that nourish the nerves, among others. Additionally, treatment can include hot compresses, physical therapy, or surgery, all of which can effectively improve symptoms. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor and do not use them indiscriminately on your own.)

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Written by Kuang Tao
Orthopedics
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Can bone hyperplasia be treated by supplementing calcium?

Patients with bone hyperplasia are generally elderly, and elderly patients often also have osteoporosis. Treating osteoporosis definitely requires calcium supplementation. Therefore, patients with bone hyperplasia can generally be given calcium supplements. However, this calcium supplementation treats osteoporosis, not bone hyperplasia. Bone hyperplasia and osteoporosis are two different diseases, but they are related, and many elderly people have both conditions simultaneously. Thus, many patients with bone hyperplasia can benefit from calcium supplementation.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to diagnose osteophyte formation?

To accurately diagnose osteophyte formation, it is necessary to consider the patient's clinical symptoms and signs, and actively cooperate with some auxiliary examinations. For example, if a patient has obvious pain in a specific area, which swells over time, it may lead to joint deformities in severe cases, severely affecting the patient's normal functions. Additionally, some patients may experience spinal nerve compression. To make a definitive diagnosis, it is essential to actively take radiographs, and when necessary, conduct CT scans and MRI examinations. These can confirm the presence of osteophytes and the severity of the condition, thereby determining the appropriate treatment plan.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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How to treat osteophyte growth?

Bone hyperplasia mostly occurs in people over the age of 45, with symptoms becoming more apparent as age increases. It represents degenerative, hyperplastic, and aging changes in bone. Bone hyperplasia commonly affects major joints such as the cervical spine, lumbar spine, knee joint, heel, etc. Radiographic examinations are typically used to clearly diagnose the location of hyperplasia, which characteristically shows pointed changes on X-rays, and may stimulate surrounding nerves, blood vessels, and muscles to varying degrees. In cases like the knee joint, it is prone to synovitis, and symptoms become more noticeable when walking, climbing, or descending stairs. Upon diagnosis, treatment may involve anti-bone hyperplasia medications, and strict bed rest is recommended to avoid vigorous exercise. Application of local heat to the joints, and performing some traction treatments on the cervical or lumbar spine can help restore the normal physiological curvature of the spine and effectively alleviate symptoms.