What is cervical spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis is an age-related degeneration (‘wear and tear’) of the bones (vertabrae) and discs in the neck. To an extent, we all develop some degeneration in the vertebrae and discs as we become older. It tends to start sometime after the age of about 30.
One feature of the degeneration is that the edges of the vertebrae often develop small, rough areas of bone called ostephytes. Also over many years, the discs become thinner.
This degeneration is a normal ageing process which can be likened to having ‘wrinkles in the spine’. However, in some people, the nearby muscles, ligaments, or nerves may become irritated or ‘pressed on’ by the degenerative changes. So, cervical spondylosis often causes no problems but can be a cause of neck pain , particularly in older people.
What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis?
• Pain in the neck
• Some neck stiffness, particularly after a night’s rest.
• Headaches may occur. The headaches often start at the back of the head just above the neck and travel over the top to the forehead.
• You may develop ‘pins and needles’ in part of an arm or hand. This symptom is caused by irritation of a spinal nerve as it leaves the bony (vertebral) area. Loss of feeling (numbness) or weakness develops in a part of a hand or arm. These symptoms suggest more pressure on a nerve. This is called a ‘cervical radiculopathy’.
• Giddiness while moving neck in upward or downward direction.
