Like the rest of the body, the disks and joints in the neck (cervical spine) slowly degenerate as we age. Cervical spondylosis, commonly called arthritis of the neck, is the medical term for these age-related, wear-and-tear changes that occur over time. Cervical spondylosis is extremely common.
Most of the time if symptoms are mild, the doctor may recommend rest, a neck brace, drugs and physical therapy. These, however, do not treat the underlying cause. Surgery may be needed if you have severe pain that does not get better with other treatments or if symptoms are getting worse.
Key Points about Cervical Osteoarthritis
Cervical spondylosis can be caused by a variety of factors, including herniated discs, bone spurs, dehydrated disks, and stiffened ligaments in the neck. The most common symptoms associated with cervical spondylosis are pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and arms.
Some serious symptoms that could result include difficulty gripping objects or even problems with walking or coordination. If the spinal cord or a nerve root is compressed for long enough without seeking medical attention, permanent damage can occur.
Cervical disc degenerative disorder can be characterized by neck pain. This neck pain can be most prevalent when the patient is upright or moving the head and can be reduced by lying down or reclining. Often the disc will be associated with osteophytes or bone spurs.
Many people by their 30s have signs of degeneration in the cervical spine that would be visible on MRI imaging—and by age 70 almost everyone has it.
When neck arthritis symptoms do occur, it's typically pain and stiffness in the neck that ranges from mild to severe. It may be worsened by looking up or down for a long time, or by activities where the neck is held in the same position for a long time like driving or reading a book.
Age. A major risk factor for cervical spondylosis is age. Once you reach 40, your likelihood of developing neck arthritis increases. By age 60, according to The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 85% of people have cervical spondylosis.
The goal is to keep your neck in a neutral position, says Picard. If you are a back sleeper, occupational therapists (OTs) recommend using a thin pillow that will keep your spine aligned while you sleep. Side sleepers should choose a taller pillow under their neck so their neck aligns with their head.
Neck arthritis can cause pain and stiffness in a person's neck. Wear and tear of the spinal discs generally cause it, although there are different types with various treatment options. Neck arthritis is very common in people over 60, with around 85% affected. Symptoms are usually treatable without surgery.
High-Intensity Exercises – For those with knee osteoarthritis, high-intensity exercises such as sports and deep lunges can exacerbate the condition.
But it's not the only cause of neck pain and many people can achieve pain-free living in spite of arthritis. Most of the time, neck arthritis responds well to conservative treatments like over-the-counter medications, heat, exercise, and physical therapy.
Stretching the muscles of the neck and performing strengthening exercises to provide support and stability can help relieve arthritis pain.
Cervical spondylosis is known to trigger muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders. If you experience this, you can attest that it typically comes on suddenly and presents with sharp pain and stiffness. It may even cause your head or neck to jerk to one side or feel stuck in a bent position until it resolves.
If you are suffering from symptoms of neck arthritis, your physical therapist may recommend some common exercises to help you find relief. The exercises will likely focus on your back, shoulder, and neck to help strengthen the muscles working around the bones, discs, and ligaments that might be causing your pain.
Painkillers such as paracetamol will often help. It's best to take them before the pain becomes very bad, but you shouldn't take them more often than prescribed. Over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can also help.
The same inflammation that affects your joints can also affect your eyes. Here's how to protect your vision. While most people think of arthritis as inflammation of the joints, research shows that inflammation can cause damage other parts of the body including the eyes.
Two common benign causes include air escaping from the synovial fluid that surrounds and lubricates the joints, and tight ligaments snapping off of one bone and onto another. Typically, a person does not need to do anything to address noises their neck makes during movement unless it causes pain or swelling.
This technology can show detailed cross-sections of soft tissues like cartilage, tendons and ligaments. MRI is the most effective way to diagnose problems within any joint and the image sensitivity makes it the most accurate imaging tool available in detecting arthritis and other inflammatory changes.
In stage four, you will have minimal disc material remaining. In addition, severe bony changes of the vertebrae may be present. At this stage, your vertebrae may be almost bone on bone due to the reduced thickness of your spinal discs. Disc replacement surgery or vertebral fusion surgery may be required.
Stage 3 – Stabilization
This is the late stage of spinal degeneration. At this stage severe remodeling of the bones and decrease of joint space causes for a severe loss of mobility. Bone spurs continue to grow and can narrow the spinal canal, which presses onto the spinal cord or nerve roots.
The more the cervical spine degenerates, the more likely the spinal canal will narrow and put the spinal cord at risk. If the spinal cord becomes compressed, then myelopathy could result and include symptoms such as: Difficulty moving arms and/or legs. Trouble with coordination and/or balance.