What is Cervical Spondylosis?
It’s age related wear and tear affecting the discs in your neck. They dehydrate and shrink and signs of osteoarthritis develop. Bony spurs at the edge of bones overgrow on the vertebrae. These bony ridges and the extruded disc, which is also often calcified, form what is called a spondylitic bar, which compresses the spinal cord.
The most affected segments are the most mobile: C 4-5 C 5-6 C 6-7. The pain is usually related to neck movement and worse on waking, trauma or painting.
CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS SYMPTOMPS
You may experience some or all the following:
- Neck pain and stiffness on and off
- Headaches from back of neck
Complications: getting worse, loss of coordination, weakness in arms, legs, pins and and needles and pain in arms, problems walking, loss of bladder control. These signs suggest more severe damage to the spine and you must see a GP asap.
CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS CAUSES
In the cervical region the spinal cord is expanded and in some people the canal is narrow so they may develop compression, even with mild degenerative changes. The neck is very mobile and when you flex (look down) the cord must stretch and can give symptoms of tingling or electroshock down the back, arms and legs.
A job with repetitive neck movement overhead like painting and decorating, a previous neck injury, whiplash, family history can inflame the spinal cord with neck extension, it shortens and maybe squeezed between the bars.
It tends to affect the over 50’s but it can happen much younger as well.
CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS DIAGNOSES
Diagnosis is based on full medical history, physical examination to test muscles strength and reflexes. Images test, will allow the therapist or professional to determining the severity of the Cervical Spondylosis.
The most common imagery test are:
- Confirmed by X-ray
- TC scans
- MRIs
CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS TREATMENTS
Medical
- Physio exercises.
- Muscle relaxants
- Nsaids.
Most people have success with conservative therapy. If nothing works surgery is the last resort.
Natural
Hands on treatment
Manual therapy: You can try Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Acupuncture. These are evidence based interventions proven to work.
A combination of manual therapy techniques will be selected by our experts after taking into account your past medical history, spinal mechanics, aggravating and maintaining factors, lifestyle.
- Posture improvement
- Don’t sleep on your front with the neck rotated. Keep the neck in line with the body
- Don’t stay in the same position for a long time
- Shoulder rolls
There is conflicting evidence about wearing a collar, but you may want to try it at night to protect the neck from slumping in a relaxed position when you can’t control your movements.
Timeline
Symptoms subside in a few weeks but provocative activity must be avoided.
We can help you!
DIAGNOSE
CONDITIONS
TREATMENTS
Treatments that can help
Here are some treatments that can help with Cervical Spondylosis Pain:
- Massage (Soft Tissue)
Help decompress the nerve impingement due to tight muscles - Osteopathy
Helps restore normal movement due to misalignment and decompress nerve impingement - Physiotherapy/Sports Therapy
Helps stabilise weak areas and restore normal movement - Acupunture
Helps to loosen up the tissue decompress the nerve impingement in tight muscles
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