Cervical spondylosis
- Introduction
- Symptoms of cervical spondylosis
- Causes of cervical spondylosis
- Diagnosing cervical spondylosis
- Treating cervical spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis is the medical term for neck pain caused by age-related ‘wear and tear’ to bones and tissues.
The most common symptoms of cervical spondylosis are neck pain, stiffness and headaches. More rarely, it can trap nerves in the neck, leading to:
- pain radiating from the arms
- pins and needles in the arms and legs
- loss of feeling in your hands and legs
- loss of co-ordination and difficulty walking
However, many people with cervical spondylosis experience no noticeable symptoms.
Read more about the symptoms of cervical spondylosis.
Treating cervical spondylosis
In most cases, the symptoms of cervical spondylosis can be relieved using a combination of:
- medication – such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen
- exercise – such as swimming and walking
- self care techniques – such as supporting your neck with a firm pillow at night
In a small number of cases, surgery may be required to remove or repair a damaged section of the cervical spine (see below).
Read more about the treatment of cervical spondylosis.
What causes cervical spondylosis?
As people get older, the effects of ageing and everyday use causes wear to the joints and tissues that make up the spine. For example, the discs of the spine can dry out and shrink, and the ligaments can stiffen.
In all the body's joints, there is a constant process of "wear and repair" happening, as the joints adapt to the stresses and strains of normal everyday life.
Cervical spondylosis occurs when the balance of "wear and repair" is lost, leading to pain and stiffness in the neck.
Read more about the causes of cervical spondylosis.
Who is affected
Cervical spondylosis is a very common condition. It's estimated that 9 out of 10 adults will have some degree of cervical spondylosis by the time they are 60 years old (but many will not have any noticeable symptoms).
Outlook
The outlook for most cases of cervical spondylosis is generally good. Most cases respond well to treatment after a few weeks, though it can be common for symptoms to reoccur later.
In around 1 in 10 cases, a person can go on to develop long-term (chronic) neck pain.
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