Symptoms of cervical spondylosis of the nerve root type.

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Cervical radiculopathy is the most common type of cervical spondylosis encountered in clinical practice. Clinically, it presents as partial or complete pain and numbness in the area innervated by the compressed nerve root, which is related to body posture. Firstly, the cause of cervical radiculopathy is compression of the nerve root. Secondly, compression of different nerves leads to numbness and pain in different regions. Thirdly, changes in posture, such as sneezing or tilting the head back, can exacerbate the symptoms. In clinical examinations, two tests are generally performed: the Spurling's test and the traction test. If both tests are positive, the disease can generally be diagnosed. Additional diagnostic aids such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs can also be used to make a definitive diagnosis of the specific nerve root compression.

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Cervical vertigo characteristics

Dizziness is a typical symptom of cervical spondylosis, usually exacerbated when the patient turns their head to one side. In a normal person, when turning the head to one side, the vertebral artery on that side might be compressed, but the opposite vertebral artery can compensate by increasing blood flow, preventing cerebral insufficiency and dizziness. Conversely, in a patient with cervical spondylosis, due to osteophyte formation or changes in the curvature of the cervical spine, the vertebral artery on one side may be compressed. When the patient turns their head to the other side, the compressed vertebral artery cannot compensate by increasing blood flow, leading to insufficient cerebral blood supply and an increase in dizziness or the onset of dizziness symptoms. This explains the characteristics and mechanism of dizziness caused by cervical spondylosis.

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Is cervical spondylosis serious?

The severity of cervical spondylosis largely depends on the clinical symptoms of the patient. If the patient with cervical spondylosis experiences discomfort and stiffness in the neck, along with headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, hearing loss, unsteady walking, a sensation of stepping on cotton, numbness and weakness in both upper limbs, and swelling pain, it indicates that the cervical spondylosis is very serious and has caused significant compression on the vertebral artery and spinal nerve roots. Such patients need to be actively treated, and if necessary, surgical treatment should be carried out, involving the removal of the intervertebral disc and decompressive surgery to expand the spinal canal.

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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.

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Orthopedics
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Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis

The treatment of cervical spondylosis is divided into surgical treatment and non-surgical treatment. Currently, it is reported that 95% of patients with cervical spondylosis can be cured or relieved after non-surgical treatment. Only a small number of patients, whose conditions worsen after ineffective non-surgical treatment, require surgical intervention. Conservative treatments include traditional Chinese medicine and herbal treatments, external application of herbal medicine, massage and bone-setting, acupuncture, rehabilitation therapy, traction therapy, physical therapy, and exercise therapy. Surgical treatments are mainly for patients with myelopathic or radiculopathic cervical spondylosis whose symptoms have worsened significantly affecting work and life, or who have experienced muscle dysfunction or even muscle atrophy. Furthermore, other types of cervical spondylosis that are ineffective in conservative treatment, have poor results, or are recurrent, all fall within the scope of surgical treatments. Surgical treatments include minimally invasive procedures and conventional procedures, with the conventional procedures being divided into anterior cervical and posterior cervical approaches. Minimally invasive treatments include nucleolysis, percutaneous nucleotomy, PFDD, and radiofrequency ablation.

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What should I do about cervical spondylosis?

Having cervical spondylosis is not a big deal as long as you understand two things, which basically suffices. The first point is to determine the specific type of cervical spondylosis, as the treatment depends on the type, and different strategies are adopted for different types. The second point is to have a clear concept that once cervical spondylosis occurs, it is basically incurable. Therefore, it is essential to understand the concepts of healthcare and prevention. Let's discuss the types of cervical spondylosis. Clinically, cervical spondylosis is categorized into six types: cervical type, nerve root type, spinal type, sympathetic type, vertebral artery type, and mixed type. Cervical type cervical spondylosis generally does not require surgical treatment. The nerve root type responds best to traction. The spinal type generally requires surgical treatment. Vertebral artery type treatment involves treating both the cervical spine and arteriosclerosis. The mixed type involves the coexistence of two or more types of cervical spondylosis, and they are treated together. As for prevention, which is crucial for cervical spondylosis, it is important to pay attention to rest, maintain good sitting and standing postures, protect the cervical spine from cold, and perform appropriate cervical spine exercises to strengthen neck muscles. If cervical spondylosis episodes occur, remember not to self-medicate and seek proper treatment plans from a hospital.