Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Many people think that cervical spondylosis is just neck pain, but actually, after developing cervical spondylosis, there can be other symptoms. For example, the early symptoms of cervical spondylosis are generally diverse and complex. Most patients initially experience mild symptoms, which gradually worsen over time. Some patients have severe symptoms, and clinically, it is generally divided into five major types. The first type is cervical cervical spondylosis, where the main symptoms are soreness and swelling in the head, neck, shoulders, back, and arms, neck stiffness, and limited movement. The soreness in the neck and shoulders can radiate to the suboccipital area and upper limbs. The second type is vertebral artery type, where patients generally experience dizziness, a sensation that the room is spinning, and severe cases may include nausea, vomiting, and bedrest, with a few instances of vertigo and sudden collapse. The third, and most common, is spinal cervical spondylosis, where it is particularly strenuous to hold objects, which often fall to the ground, instability in walking, as well as spasms in the neck and shoulder muscles, increased muscle tone in the limbs, and even paralysis. The fourth type is radicular cervical spondylosis, with neck pain, acid swelling and distension pain in the unilateral or bilateral upper limbs, numbness, and sometimes intense pain that is unbearable. The fifth most common type is sympathetic nerve cervical spondylosis, where patients may experience blurred vision, dizziness, abnormal sweating, persistent low-grade fever, palpitations, chest tightness, rapid heartbeat, often with insomnia and frequent dreaming. The sixth type is the mixed type, which may present a combination of symptoms from the types mentioned above.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
1min 5sec home-news-image

How to alleviate cervical spondylosis?

Patients with cervical spondylosis are advised to do the following, which can help alleviate the symptoms of the condition. Patients should develop correct habits of using their necks in daily life, such as avoiding prolonged sitting with the head bowed down, and move the neck appropriately after sitting for a long time; they can also perform some medical neck exercises; additionally, it is important to use a slightly lower pillow during sleep and to keep the neck warm. These measures can help maintain the physiological curvature of the cervical spine and improve symptoms of neck discomfort. When patients with cervical spondylosis experience symptoms such as pain, they can also use anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, and apply methods like heat therapy to improve symptoms; when the symptoms are severe, it is necessary to visit the hospital for further medical consultation, to clarify the specific condition, and then receive targeted treatment.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to relieve cervical spondylosis?

For the issue of alleviating cervical spondylosis, usually, patients need to pay attention to rest and protection, apply local heat, avoid looking down for long periods or keeping the neck in one position. Routine activities such as swimming, flying kites, or playing badminton can help strengthen the neck muscles and thereby better protect the cervical spine. Additionally, patients should use medications that expand blood vessels, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, and drugs that nourish the nerves, and combine these with acupuncture, massage, traction, massage, electrotherapy, and cupping therapy. These physiotherapeutic methods are more beneficial for the clinical symptoms improvement of patients with cervical spondylosis. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Sun Shu Jian
Orthopedics
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How to treat cervical spondylosis by oneself?

Self-treatment for cervical spondylosis can adopt the following methods: First, correct daily behaviors to avoid excessive strain, load, and stress on the neck, such as avoiding prolonged desk work, and frequent usage of smartphones while looking downward, to prevent the neck muscles from being in a state of prolonged tension. Second, regularly perform appropriate cervical spine health exercises, such as the "Mi Zi" exercise and neck muscle resistance training, etc. Third, locally apply methods like heat therapy, infrared radiation, electromagnetic therapy, and ultrasound for self-treatment. Fourth, treatment can also include the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, medications that nourish the nerves and those that relieve muscle tension.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

The symptoms of cervical spondylosis in clinical practice are relatively complex. Patients with cervical spondylosis typically experience neck pain and discomfort, or stiffness. Furthermore, the patients may suffer from headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, reduced hearing, and numbness, weakness, or swelling pain in the bilateral or unilateral upper limbs. Some patients might also experience palpitations, loss of appetite, unsteady walking, and a sensation of walking on cotton. These are the common clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Usually, the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis requires the support of auxiliary examinations, such as CT scans and MRI of the cervical spine.

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Written by Su Zhen Bo
Orthopedics
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Is a "wealth bag" a cervical spondylosis?

In clinical practice, Dowager's hump and cervical spondylosis are two different conditions. A dowager's hump primarily results from long-term forward head posture, which increases the external force on the back of the cervical spine, leading to the formation of subcutaneous cysts in this area and the appearance of a dowager's hump. This condition commonly develops between the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra. Patients with a dowager's hump typically experience localized swelling, pain, sourness, or even a feeling of chest tightness. Patients with cervical spondylosis primarily suffer from bone growth and degeneration in the cervical spine area, which compresses the spinal cord, nerve roots, and blood vessels, leading to symptoms of nerve compression damage. Therefore, when patients exhibit symptoms of either dowager’s hump or cervical spondylosis, it is imperative that they seek medical attention promptly. Doctors need to make a clear differential diagnosis and then proceed with symptomatic treatment.