1. Cervical Spondylosis
Your getting it

2. What is it?
Cervical Spondylosis AKA cervical osteoarthritis
is the result of age related progressive
degenerative changes in the cervical spine,
inclusive of disk degeneration, facet arthropathy,
osteophyte formation, ligamentous thickening and
the loss of cervical lordosis. Narrowing of the
spinal canal, also known as Spinal Stenosis may
develop as a result of the spondylotic changes.
The spinal cord and/or nerve root functions may
be negatively affected, resulting in symptoms of
myelopathy or radiculopathy.

3. Who and when
Cervical spondylosis usually appears in men and
women older than 40 and progresses with age.
Approximately 85% of people over the age of 60
years have some degree of disc degeneration.
Though cervical spondylosis affects both men and
women equally, men usually develop it at an
earlier age than women do.

4. How is starts
As the spine ages (or due to trauma), the discs
between the vertebrae desiccate and become
thinner. The ligaments may become tight,
causing the joints above or below the affected
joint to become hyper mobile. The body
reacts by generating the osteophytes (bone
spurs) to try to stabilize the spine.

5. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Neck pain and stiffness that gets progressively
worse may be an indication of cervical
spondylosis. The pain may range from mild to
severe. Headaches (radiating from the back of
the head forward. Cervical radiculopathy, pain
(subscapular to finger tips). Cervical
myelopathy, dizziness, loss of bladder control,
loss of bowel control, numb legs.
The condition may be acute to chronic.

6. Cervical radiculopathy
The most common symptom of cervical
radiculopathy is a sharp to dull pain that
‘travels’ from your shoulder down one of
your arms to your fingertips. You may also
experience some numbness or ‘pins and
needles’ in the affected arm and find that
stretching your neck and turning your head
makes the pain worse.
This pain is caused by the nerve roots
being compressed by osteophytes or disc
material.

7. Cervical radiculopathy

8. Cervical myelopathy
Cervical myelopathy occurs when severe cervical
spondylosis causes narrowing of the spinal canal
(also known as stenosis) and compression of the
spinal cord.
When the spinal cord is compressed, it interferes
with the signals that travel between your brain and
the rest of your body.

9. Cervical myelopathy

10. Medications
NSAID medications (anti-inflammatory) is the
first line of treatment.
Muscle relaxers
Pain killers
Injecting corticosteroid medications into the joints
between the vertebrae (facet joints). The injection
combines corticosteroid medication with local
anesthetic to reduce pain and inflammation.

11. Soft cervical collar

12. Neck traction

13. SURGERY
Risks of these procedures include infection, a tear
in the membrane that covers the spinal cord at the
site of the surgery, bleeding, blood clots, and
neurological deterioration.
Surgery may be necessary if severe pain does not
improve from conservative treatments.

14. A foraminotomy is done to open up the neural foramen and
relieve pressure on a spinal nerve root. A foraminotomy may
be done because of bone spurs or inflammation.

15. Anterior Discectomy and Fusion: Anterior discectomy and
fusion is done through the front of the neck. After taking out
the disc (discectomy), the disc space is filled with a small
graft of bone. The bone is allowed to heal, fusing the two
vertebrae into one solid bone.

16. PREVENTION
Cannot be prevented because cervical spondylosis because it
involves the aging process. Your getting it.
Skipping high-impact activities like running, bull riding, etc.
Perform neck exercises that build strength, flexibility and range of
motion
Taking breaks when performing activities so as to not hold the
head in the same position for long periods
Practicing good posture, with the neck aligned over shoulders