Cervical spondylosis, also known as arthritis, is a chronic disease that involves wear and tear of muscles in the spinal disks of the neck. The discs dehydrate and shrink over time, including bony projection on the edge of the spine or at an intersection where two bones meet. Cervical spondylosis is a chronic disease affecting your neck between vertebrates. The major age group affected by this disease is above the age of 60 or those who indulge in heavy lifting labor work.
According to studies, more than 80% of the cause of the disease is due to age. As humans grow older, their bones become brittle and fragile, so any kind of high-end physical work can easily wear down the bones.
Other Factors Resulting in Cervical Spondylosis:
- History of neck, back, or spine injury
- Previously performed spine surgery
- Smoking
- Obesity
Symptoms of Cervical Spondylosis:
- Headaches
- Stiffness in the neck
- Neck pain
- Weakness in the neck, arms, and legs
- Weakening shoulders
- Unstable balance
- Unstable movements of bowels & bladder
Causes of Cervical Spondylosis:
1. Dehydration in Spinal Discs
Your spine absorbs the weight of heavy lifting and labor work with the help of thick cushion-like discs present between the vertebrae. Over time, the bones become brittle and dry out, causing the two bones to rub against each other, creating friction. This results in the dehydration of the bones.
2. Herniated Discs
Because of wear and tear, the spinal discs crack open, allowing internal cushioning material to ooze out through cracks, causing immense arm pain or numbness.
3. Bone Spurs
Whenever a bone breaks in the spine, the body tries to repair it by developing a new bone to make the spine appear strong. However, due to insufficient space, the new bone puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing unbearable pain.
4. Ligament Stiffness
The cords that connect each bone to another in the body are called ligaments. These ligaments wear down due to factors like age and surgery, causing stiffness in the neck.
5. Injury
Previous injuries or trauma to the spine that causes chronic pain can accelerate the bone’s aging process.
Treatment for Cervical Spondylosis
Home Treatments:
- Using a heating pad or cold ice pack on your neck
- Regular exercise
- Occasionally wearing a neck brace
(Note: Neck braces shouldn’t be worn regularly or for a longer period of time as it can weaken the neck muscles.)
Medical Treatments:
1. Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps the bones by gradually training them using various equipment. These tools slowly put pressure on bones, training them so they don’t become obstacles in daily life. Physical therapy is often recommended for cases where the pain can be alleviated without surgery.
2. Medications
Medications prescribed by a doctor are essential alongside physical therapy. Combining both treatments typically yields faster results.
3. Surgery
If the case is severe, surgery becomes mandatory. Surgical procedures involve removing bone spurs, herniated discs, or any bones causing stress to other parts of the neck.
What Does ICD Mean in Cervical Spondylosis?
Medical is an extensively large field with numerous diseases to record. It is difficult and important to keep track of every disease affecting every joint, bone, and part of the human body.
The human body is a complicated structure consisting of bones, ligaments, veins, and joints, which bring a number of diseases in each area. To make tracking records easier, ICD codes were introduced. These codes help in characterizing the problem in the respective area of treatment. These are the medical classifications listed by WHO.
Conclusion
Cervical spondylosis currently has no definitive cure as it is a chronic disease. However, with appropriate treatment, such as medications, physical therapy, or surgery (in severe cases), patients can carry out daily activities without significant hurdles.
If not treated, cervical spondylosis can cause obstacles due to numbness, stiffness, and unbearable pain in the neck and spine. It is better to consult a doctor instead of relying on pain relief medicines, as these only provide short-term relief.
Wearing and tearing of bones is a natural process that cannot be entirely terminated. However, timely treatment can help patients live a normal life.
FAQs on Cervical Spondylosis
it is somewhat chronic tearing and dragging of the discs and bones in the spine of the neck. Most of the time, such aging process makes it stiff and painful in the neck and other areas adjacent to it.
Its commonest symptoms include:
Pain and stiffness in the neck
Headaches
Weakness in neck, arms, or legs
Poor shoulder strength
Unstable balance or movements
Loss of bowel or bladder control (in very severe cases)
The leading causes of cervical spondylosis include related changes with age, dehydration of spinal discs, formation of bone spurs, stiffness of ligaments, herniated discs, injury to the spine on previous occasions.imate range includes property and local market data including: Property types, Recent sales & local price trends, and Land area. To learn more about privacy and Property Value pages.
While cervical spondylosis is not life-threatening, it can significantly impact your quality of life if left untreated. Severe cases can lead to chronic pain, nerve compression, or difficulty in daily activities.
You ought to consult your doctor if you experience:
Persistent pain and stiffness in the neck Weakness or numbness in the neck, arms, or legs Problems relating to balance or walking.