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Cervical spondylosis

Definition

Cervical spondylosis is a disorder in which there is wear on the cartilage (disks) and bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). It is a common cause of chronic neck pain.

Causes

Cervical spondylosis is caused by aging and chronic wear on the cervical spine. This includes the disks or cushions between the neck vertebrae and the joints between the bones of the cervical spine. There may be abnormal growths or spurs on the bones of the spine (vertebrae).

Over time, these changes can press down on (compress) one or more of the nerve roots. In advanced cases, the spinal cord becomes involved. This can affect your arms, legs, and balance.

Everyday wear and tear may start these changes. People who are very active at work or in sports may be more likely to have them.

The major risk factor is aging. By age 60, most people show signs of cervical spondylosis on x-ray. Other factors that can make someone more likely to develop spondylosis are:

• Being overweight and not exercising

• Having a job that requires heavy lifting or a lot of bending and twisting

• Past neck injury (often several years before)

• Past spine surgery

• Ruptured or slipped disk

• Severe arthritis

• Previous surgery on the neck

Symptoms

Symptoms often develop slowly over time. But they may start or get worse suddenly. The pain may be mild, or it can be deep and so severe that you are unable to move.

You may feel the pain over the shoulder blade. It may spread to the upper arm, forearm, or fingers (in rare cases).

The pain may get worse:

• After standing or sitting

• At night

• When you sneeze, cough, or laugh

• When you bend the neck backward or twist your neck or walk more than a few yards (meters)

You may also have weakness in certain muscles. Sometimes, you may not notice it until your health care provider examines you. In other cases, you will notice that you have a hard time lifting your arm, squeezing tightly with one of your hands, clumsiness of your hand, or other problems.

Other common symptoms are:

• Neck stiffness that gets worse over time

• Numbness or abnormal sensations in the shoulders or arms

• Headaches, especially in the back of the head

• Pain on the inside of the shoulder blade and shoulder pain

Less common symptoms are:

• Loss of balance

• Pain or numbness in the legs

• Loss of control over the bladder or bowels (if there is pressure on the spinal cord)

Exams and Tests

A physical exam may show that you have trouble moving your head toward your shoulder and rotating your head.

Your provider may ask you to bend your head forward and to each side while putting slight downward pressure on the top of your head. Increased pain or numbness during this test is usually a sign that there is pressure on a nerve in your spine.

Weakness of your shoulders and arms or loss of feeling can be signs of damage to certain nerve roots or to the spinal cord.

A spine or neck x-ray may be done to look for arthritis or other changes in your spine.

MRI or CT scans of the neck are done when you have:

• Severe neck or arm pain that does not get better with treatment

• Weakness or numbness in your arms or hands

Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity tests may be done to examine nerve root function.

Treatment

Your providers can help you manage your pain so that you can stay active.

• Your provider may refer you for physical therapy. The physical therapist will help you reduce your pain using stretches. The therapist will teach you exercises that make your neck muscles stronger.

• The therapist can also use neck traction to relieve some of the pressure in your neck.

• You may also see a massage therapist, someone who performs acupuncture, or someone who does spinal manipulation (a chiropractor, osteopathic provider, or physical therapist). Sometimes, a few visits will help with neck pain.

• Cold packs and heat therapy may help your pain during flare-ups.

A type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful if the pain is having a serious impact on your life. This technique helps you better understand your pain and teaches you how to manage it.

Medicines can help your neck pain. Your provider may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) for long-term pain control. Opioids may be prescribed if the pain is severe and does not respond to NSAIDs.

If the pain does not respond to these treatments, or you have a loss of movement or feeling, surgery is considered. Surgery is done to relieve the pressure on the nerves or spinal cord, and it can involve fusion of part of the neck.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most people with cervical spondylosis have some long-term symptoms. Most of these symptoms improve with non-surgical treatment and do not need surgery.

Many people with this problem are able to maintain an active life. Some people will have to live with chronic (long-term) pain.

Possible Complications

This condition may lead to the following:

• Inability to hold in feces (fecal incontinence) or urine (urinary incontinence)

• Loss of muscle function or feeling

• Permanent disability (occasionally)

• Poor balance

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

• The condition becomes worse

• There are signs of complications

• You develop new symptoms (such as loss of movement or feeling in an area of the body)

• You lose control of your bladder or bowels (call right away)

References

Boody BS, Goldstein ZH, Sasso R. Pathophysiology of cervical spondylosis, radiculopathy, and myelopathy. In: Steinmetz, MP, Berven SH, Benzel EC, eds. Benzel's Spine Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.

Fast A, Dudkiewicz I. Cervical degenerative disease. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD, Jr., eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 3.

Ronthal M. Arm and neck pain. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 32.

Review Date: 4/24/2023

Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.