Cervical Spondylosis
Arthritis of the Neck
Symptoms
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Headaches
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Pain and stiffness
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Grinding or popping noise or sensation when moving the neck
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Numbness and weakness in arms
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Trouble walking
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Muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders
Cervical Spondylosis
What is Arthritis of the Neck?
More than 85% of people over the age of 70 are affected by cervical spondylosis or arthritis of the neck. This condition is often caused by age and resulting wear-and-tear. Other risk factors include:
- Genetics
- Smoking
- Occupation
- Depression or anxiety
- Injury or trauma
As our spine degenerates with age our spinal disks weaken and collapse, often causing cartilage to wear away and, eventually, bone to rub on bone. In response, bone spurs may develop which can cause other complications.
Treatment & Next Steps
In some cases, treatment isn’t needed if the neck is just stiff with mild to no pain. However, significant pain and other symptoms can cause a need for more care. If you are experiencing uncomfortable or debilitating pain, it may be time to see a back pain specialist. In some cases, non-surgical treatment such as physical therapy, medications, and other non-invasive treatments can be enough to provide relief and eliminate the chance for a more serious condition to develop. However, sometimes surgery is needed if a nerve is pinched by a herniated disk or bone (cervical radiculopathy), or the spinal cord (cervical spondylotic myelopathy) is being compressed due to the degeneration of the spine.
To find pain relief, make an appointment with Houston’s Top Rated Local® Back Pain Specialist Dr. Rahman.
