Do you sometimes feel neck pain, stiffness, or difficulty turning your neck when you wake up in the morning? Maybe you've been working in front of a computer all day or lifting heavy objects and your neck feels "locked." Don't dismiss these as normal. Today, we're going to talk about a condition that can be a major cause of neck pain.
What is Cervical Spondylosis?
Simply put, Cervical Spondylosis is a common name for the degeneration of the vertebrae in our neck, the bony joints at the top of our spine. "Cervical" refers to the top seven bones in our neck. "Spondylosis" refers to the degeneration of the parts of the spine. Sometimes doctors also call it "arthritis of the neck." Just as old furniture in our homes deteriorate over time, parts of our bodies also deteriorate with age.
If you have this condition, you may experience neck pain, aches, or a feeling of tightness in your neck. Although it cannot be completely cured, there are effective treatments to prevent the condition from getting worse and to reduce the pain. So there is nothing to worry about.
How common is this condition?
This is actually very common. This is something that happens naturally to many people as they age. As we age, our spine changes and parts start to wear out. In most cases, this can start as early as the age of 30. Imagine, by the age of 60, approximately nine out of ten people have this condition called Cervical Spondylosis. So this is not a disease that only affects you, many people in society may have this condition.
What are the symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis?
Some people may not have any symptoms at all, but if they do, they may experience the following:
- Neck pain: This is the main symptom. For some people, it may start as a dull ache and gradually worsen. Sometimes, it can be a sudden, severe pain. It can feel like a lump in the neck or like a needle being stuck in it.
- Stiff neck: You may find it difficult to turn your neck when you wake up in the morning. Or your neck may feel stiff and locked throughout the day.
- A lump or swelling in the neck: Some people may feel a lump in the back of their neck that feels like a lump in their hand.
- Muscle spasms: Muscles in the neck and shoulders suddenly tighten, causing pain.
- A "cracking" sound when turning the neck: When turning the neck from side to side, looking up, or looking down, you may hear a sound like bones hitting each other.
- Dizziness: Some people may experience dizziness along with neck pain.
- Headache: Often, this headache starts at the back of the neck and feels like it travels up the head.
What causes this?
The most common cause is the changes that occur in our spine as we age. That is, the vertebrae in our neck and the jelly-like parts between them (we call these discs) wear down over time. These changes can be accompanied by other conditions, which can also cause:
- Degenerative disk disease: The discs between our vertebrae help absorb shock. As we age, these discs lose their water content, dry out, become thinner, and wear out. It's like the shock absorbers on a car wearing out. Then, the vertebrae are more likely to rub against each other.
- Herniated disc: Sometimes the outer covering of a disc between the vertebrae can rupture, allowing the jelly-like material inside to protrude. This can press on the nerves below.
- Osteoarthritis: This is also a condition that causes the joints to wear down with age. Pain can also occur when the joints between the vertebrae in the neck wear down.
- Bone spurs (osteophytes): When the body tries to strengthen worn-out discs or joints, new bone spurs can form. These are called bone spurs. These bone spurs can also press on nerves and cause pain.
- Spinal stenosis: The spinal cord runs through our vertebrae. Sometimes, the passageway for the spinal cord can become narrowed, either because of bone spurs or herniated discs. This can cause the spinal cord to become compressed.
What are the triggers/risk factors that increase the risk of this condition?
Cervical spondylosis is a progressive condition that develops over time. There are several risk factors that can contribute to it:
- Being 60 years old or older: As we said before, aging is the main cause.
- Smoking: The discs of smokers can wear out faster.
- Working in a way that requires you to look up or down for hours on end: Imagine, you are in the office looking at a computer for hours on end, and your neck is in the same position. Or, there are some people who paint or paint ceilings, and they also have to look up constantly. Similarly, some people bend their necks for a long time while reading books or looking at their phones. Things like this put pressure on the neck in the long run.
- Lifting weights that strain the neck: Lifting weights incorrectly can damage the neck muscles and vertebrae.
- Family history: If someone in your family has had this type of neck problem, there is a small chance that you will also develop it.
- Having a previous neck injury: If you have suffered a neck injury in an accident, it can also lead to this condition later.
What are the complications of this condition?
Most of the time, cervical spondylosis doesn't cause major problems. However, some people may experience the following symptoms:
- Cervical myelopathy: This is when the spinal cord in the neck becomes compressed for some reason. Things like bone spurs and herniated discs can cause compression of the spinal cord. This is a serious condition.
- Cervical radiculopathy: This is when a nerve that runs from the neck to the arm becomes compressed. We also call this a "pinched nerve." This can cause pain, numbness, and loss of strength in the arm.
Important: Not everyone will experience these complications, but if you experience symptoms such as neck pain, numbness in your hands, or loss of coordination, see a doctor immediately.
Does Cervical Spondylosis affect the brain?
No. It doesn't affect your brain. Cervical spondylosis only affects the vertebrae and discs in your neck. That's why your neck hurts and feels stiff.
How is this diagnosed?
When you go to see a doctor, he or she will first ask you about your symptoms. Then they will do a physical exam. This may include checking for things like:
- Neck flexibility: This tests how far you can turn your neck from side to side, up and down.
- Muscle strength and reflexes in your arms and legs: This test measures the strength of your arms and legs, as well as your reflexes, such as when you hit something with a hammer.
- Gait: You can see how you walk and your balance.
- They also check for lumps and swelling in the neck.
In addition, if the doctor wants, he can also perform tests like these to accurately assess the condition inside the cervix:
- X-ray: This can check for things like bone fractures and bone spurs.
- CT scan: This can take clearer, cross-sectional images than an X-ray.
- MRI scan: This allows for a very clear look at soft tissues such as discs, spinal cord, and nerves.
- Myelogram: In this, a special fluid is injected into the spinal canal and an X-ray or CT scan is performed. This allows the areas of the spinal cord compression to be clearly seen.
- Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study: These tests can check how well the nerves are working and whether nerve messages are properly sending to the muscles.
What is the best treatment for this?
The best treatment is the one that reduces your symptoms and brings you relief. Doctors usually start with simple, noninvasive treatments. For example:
- Physical therapy: This is very important. A physical therapist will teach you exercises to strengthen your neck muscles, increase flexibility, and teach you proper posture.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers: Pain relievers that can be purchased at the pharmacy, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.
- Hot or cold compresses: Applying an ice pack or a hot water bottle to your neck for about 15 minutes several times a day can help reduce pain.
- A soft collar or brace: Your doctor may recommend wearing this for a short period of time to support your neck. However, it is not recommended to wear it continuously, as it can weaken the muscles in your neck.
If your neck pain is very severe, a doctor may also recommend treatments such as:
- Cervical epidural steroid injection: In this, a steroid medication is injected into the area of pain, close to the nerve roots.
- Radiofrequency ablation: This uses radio waves to reduce the activity of the nerves that cause pain.
If these treatments don't provide relief, or if your condition is complicated by the cervical myelopathy or cervical radiculopathy we discussed earlier, a doctor may also recommend something like spinal fusion surgery .
Are there any side effects of the treatments?
The simple treatments mentioned earlier (such as physical therapy and painkillers) rarely cause serious side effects. However, treatments such as surgery, steroid injections, and radiofrequency ablation can have various side effects. Your doctor will explain all of this to you, including the possible side effects and complications of the treatments.
What should I expect if I have cervical spondylosis?
This is a chronic condition. That means it can't be cured completely. But don't worry. It can be managed well, with symptoms under control, and without much impact on your quality of life. Most people can get along well with treatment.
How do I take care of myself? (Self-care)
Cervical spondylosis is often a side effect of aging, but you can do these things to take care of your neck:
- Take regular breaks from tasks that strain your neck: If you spend hours hunched over, looking down, or doing other tasks that require your neck to be in an awkward position, take a short break at least every half hour to move your neck back and forth and stretch.
- Ask your doctor about exercises that strengthen and stretch your neck muscles: The right exercises can keep your neck muscles strong and increase flexibility.
- For minor neck pain, use rest, ice or heat, and over-the-counter pain relievers.
When should I see a doctor?
See a doctor if you have neck pain or stiffness that doesn't go away after a few days. Also, if you're already being treated for cervical spondylosis, but your symptoms don't improve or get worse, be sure to tell your doctor .
When should I go to a hospital (ETU) as soon as possible?
Sometimes, if a stiff neck is accompanied by these symptoms, it could be a sign of a serious condition. Seek immediate medical attention:
- If the neck pain is getting worse.
- If you feel numbness or tingling in your hands.
- If you have trouble with coordination or walking.
- If you feel muscle weakness or heaviness in your arms or legs.
- If you are unable to control your urine or stool (Loss of bladder or bowel control).
What questions should I ask the doctor?
When you see a doctor, you can ask questions like these:
- Why does my neck hurt?
- Is my neck pain a sign of a serious condition?
- What are the treatments for neck pain?
- Will I need surgery?
- Will my neck pain go away completely?
Finally, remember (Take-Home Message)
As we age, our bodies go through various changes. Cervical Spondylosis is one such change. This can cause your neck to hurt, ache, and feel stiff. It can happen to anyone. This risk is especially high for people who work long hours looking up and down. Although doctors cannot completely cure Cervical Spondylosis, there are effective treatments to reduce the stiffness and pain in your neck. Therefore, if your neck hurts or feels stiff for more than a few days, be sure to see a doctor and get advice. The earlier you detect it, the easier it is to manage!
` Neck pain, Neck pain, Cervical spondylosis, Cervical arthritis, Nerve compression
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