Cervical spondylosis
What is cervical spondylosis – wear and tear in the neck?
Cervical spondylosis can be said to be a collective term for various types of changes in the neck. Examples of affected structures/changes in the neck include discs, joints, bone spurs, slipped vertebrae, and thickening of ligaments. Since the load is greatest in the lower part of the neck, this is the most common area to be affected.
The discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae and contribute to the mobility we have in the spine. Over the years, the discs decrease in height, which, together with any bone deposits in the area where the nerves exit the spine, can lead to pressure on the nerves.
In osteoarthritis of the neck (facet joint osteoarthritis, uncovertebral joint osteoarthritis), the cartilage in the joints is affected, which loses thickness and bone deposits can form on the outer edges of the joints. Together, this can lead to stiffness and pain in the neck. It can also contribute to the nerve exits of the spine becoming cramped, which can cause radiating pain.
As the wear and tear develops in the neck, the vertebrae can slip slightly relative to each other. This can lead to pain and pressure on the nerves.
These different changes in the neck can, individually and together, cause the muscles in the area to become tense and sore.
This is common among adults, from middle age and up. There is no clear reason why you get cervical spondylosis. It seems that genetics can play a role. Monotonous strain on the neck, for example from work and exercise, as well as poor posture can be contributing factors. If you have an accident that damages any structure in the neck, it can develop into wear and tear in the neck later in life.
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis
Common symptoms linked to neck strain are:
-Neck pain. Can be localized to parts of the neck or more generally widespread throughout the neck.
-Stiffness in the neck.
-Morning stiffness/pain that usually decreases once you get up and move around for a while. Once you have been active all day, the symptoms can worsen again towards the end of the day.
-If the nerves are pinched, it leads to radiating pain, numbness and loss of strength in the shoulder, arm, hand. Which part is affected depends on the level at which the affected nerve is located. The type of symptoms depends on which part of the nerve is pinched. It is most common for one side to be affected, but it can also happen that both sides are affected.
Treatment for cervical spondylosis
First, the patient must describe their symptoms. A proper examination is performed to get as close to a correct diagnosis as possible. We look at posture, talk through ergonomics and training plans. We must initially be a little cautious with the choice of treatment to get a sense of how easily provoked the neck is. Manual treatment aims to soften any sore muscles and optimize possible mobility in order to reduce pain. It is always combined with exercise rehabilitation to strengthen and improve coordination in the neck/shoulder. In the case of nerve damage, the treatment is aimed at trying to reduce any pressure on the nerve and to ensure that the nerve can slide as it should in the neck, shoulder, shoulder, arm, hand.
Prognosis for degenerative changes in the neck
In most cases, we can achieve success with the treatment. It obviously depends on how extensive the cervical spondylosis has progressed. But even in the most severe cases, treatment, exercise and tips for managing everyday life better can lead to improvement. But if the treatment results are not acceptable, we refer the patient to an orthopedist. The orthopedist can decide whether further investigation with plain X-rays, MRI scans or similar should be performed. They can also prescribe an anti-inflammatory course to see if it reduces the symptoms. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary.
