Cervical Spondylosis

Neck pain is extremely common. It can be caused by many things, and is most often related to getting older.

Like the rest of the body, the bones in the neck (cervical spine) slowly degenerate as we age. This frequently results in arthritis. Arthritis of the neck is called cervical spondylosis.

Cervical spondylosis is the degeneration of the joints in the neck. It becomes increasingly more common as people age. More than 85% of people over age 60 are affected.

Although it is a form of arthritis, cervical spondylosis rarely becomes a crippling or disabling type.

Understanding your spine and how it works can help you better understand cervical spondylosis.

Disc Degeneration and Bone Spurs

In the spine, arthritis can result as the disc degenerates and loses water content. In children and young adults, discs have high water content. As we get older, our discs begin to dry out and weaken. This problem causes settling, or collapse, of the disc spaces and loss of disc space height.

As the facet joints experience increased pressure, they also begin to degenerate and develop arthritis, similar to the hip or knee joint. The cartilage that covers and protects the joints wears away.

If the cartilage wears away completely, it can result in bone rubbing on bone. To make up for the lost cartilage, your body may respond by growing new bone in your facet joints to help support the vertebrae. Over time, this bone overgrowth — called spurs — may narrow the space for the nerves to pass through (stenosis).

Pain from cervical spondylosis can be mild to severe. It is sometimes worsened by looking up or down for a long time, or with activities such as driving or reading a book. It also feels better with rest or lying down.

Additional Symptoms Include:

• Neck pain and stiffness (may be worse with activity)
• Numbness and weakness in arms, hands, and fingers
• Trouble walking, loss of balance, or weakness in hands or legs
• Muscle spasms in neck and shoulders
• Headaches
• Grinding and popping sound/feeling in neck with movement

Nonsurgical Treatment

Physical Therapy

Strengthening and stretching weakened or strained muscles is usually the first treatment that is advised. Your physical therapist may also use cervical (neck) traction and posture therapy. Physical therapy programs vary, but they generally last from 6 to 8 weeks. Sessions are scheduled 2 to 3 times a week.

Medications

Several medications may be used together during the first phase of treatment to address both pain and inflammation.

Acetaminophen

Mild pain is often relieved with acetaminophen.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Often prescribed with acetaminophen, drugs like ibuprofen and and naproxen are considered first-line medicines for neck pain. They address both pain and swelling, and may be prescribed for a number of weeks, depending on the specific problem. Other types of pain medicines can be considered if you have serious contraindications to NSAIDs, or your pain is not well controlled.

Muscle relaxants

Medications such as cyclobenzaprine or carisoprodol can also be used in the case of painful muscle spasms.

Soft Collars

These collars limit neck motion and allow the muscles of the neck to rest. Soft collars should only be worn for short periods of time because long-term wear can decrease the strength of neck muscles.

Ice, heat, other modalities

Careful use of ice, heat, massage, and other local therapies can help relieve symptoms.

Steroid-Based Injections

Many patients find short-term pain relief from steroid injections. Various types of these injections are routinely performed. The most common procedures for neck pain include:

Cervical Epidural Block

In this procedure, steroid and anesthetic medicine is injected into the space next to the covering of the spinal cord (“epidural” space). This procedure is typically used for neck and/ or arm pain that may be due to a cervical disk herniation, also known as radiculopathy or a “pinched nerve.”

Cervical Facet Joint Block

Steroid and anesthetic medicine is injected into the capsule of the facet joint in this procedure. The facet joints are located in the back of the neck and provide stability and movement. These joints can develop arthritic changes that may contribute to neck pain.

Medial Branch Block and Radiofrequency Ablation

This procedure is used in some cases of chronic neck pain. It can be used for both diagnosis and treatment of a potentially painful joint.

Medial branch block and radiofrequency ablation. This procedure is used in some cases of chronic neck pain. It can be used for both diagnosis and treatment of a potentially painful joint.
Facet joint injection in the cervical spine.

During the diagnosis portion of the procedure, the nerve that supplies the facet joint is blocked with a local anesthetic (like the medicine used by your dentist). Your doctor will ask if your neck pain is completely gone. If so, then your doctor has pin-pointed the source of your neck pain.

The next step is to block the pain more permanently. This is done by damaging the nerve with radiofrequency, a procedure called radiofrequency ablation.

Although less invasive than surgery, steroid-based injections are prescribed only after a complete evaluation by your doctor. Before considering these injections, discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of these procedures for your specific condition.

Surgical Treatment

It is uncommon for people with only cervical spondylosis and neck pain to be treated with surgery.

Surgery is reserved for patients who have severe pain that has not been relieved by other treatment. Some patients with severe pain will unfortunately not be candidates for surgery. This is due to the widespread nature of their arthritis, other medical problems, or other causes for their pain, such as fibromyalgia.

In some cases, cervical spondylosis may lead to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots resulting in neurological dysfunction and progressive deterioration. Although this is relatively rare, surgery is required in such a situation to remove compression from the nerve tissue (spinal cord and/or nerve roots) and to restore stability to the cervical spine.

Surgery, depending on the situation, may be achieved through either an anterior (front), posterior (back) or combined approach. After relieving the spinal cord and/or nerve compression, the spine is reconstructed by placing bone between the involved vertebra and performing a spinal fusion. Special implants may also be placed to restore the stability of the spinal column and assist in healing of the spinal fusion.