How is cervical spondylosis treated?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on September 15, 2024
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The treatment plan is primarily determined by the severity of the patient's cervical spondylosis. If the cervical spondylosis is very severe, for instance, if the patient suffers from leg pain, numbness, and instability while walking, and conservative treatment fails to improve these symptoms, significantly affecting the patient's normal functions, it is essential to actively conduct CT and MRI scans. If the patient has a significant disc herniation and severe spinal canal stenosis, surgical treatment becomes necessary. Typically, the surgery requires general anesthesia and is performed either from the anterior or posterior approach of the cervical spine. The procedure involves the removal of the disc and decompression of the spinal canal, followed by intervertebral bone grafting and fusion surgery.

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Orthopedics
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Do cervical spondylosis patients fear cold?

Patients with cervical spondylosis are sensitive to cold. Exposure to cold can cause vasoconstriction and muscle contraction, thus aggravating the clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Therefore, it is said that cervical spondylosis is sensitive to cold. Patients with cervical spondylosis should avoid cold environments and actively keep warm. It is recommended to persistently apply heat using a hot water bottle or salt bag twice daily, for at least thirty minutes each time for more noticeable effects. For those experiencing severe pain, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken to alleviate pain. Additionally, topical plasters that activate blood circulation and disperse stasis can be used, along with therapies like acupuncture, electric heating, cupping, traction, and massage, which may progressively lead to recovery.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a very common clinical disease, which is classified into different types, each with distinct symptomatic characteristics. Let's discuss them broadly. Local type cervical spondylosis primarily manifests with local cervical pain, neck stiffness, and restricted neck movement. Cervical radiculopathy mainly features symptoms such as upper limb sensory changes, numbness, radiating pain, or weakness in the extremities. Myelopathy type cervical spondylosis presents with symptoms like weakness in the limbs, unstable walking, urinary or fecal dysfunction, or even severe symptoms like paralysis of the limbs. Sympathetic and vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis mainly have symptoms including headache, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, unclear vision, and excessive sweating, among others. There is also a special type called esophageal cervical spondylosis, where patients might experience symptoms like esophageal compression.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis

The treatment of cervical spondylosis includes two aspects. The first is non-surgical treatment, which mainly involves immobilization of the neck, followed by physical therapy for the neck, including massage, acupuncture, and treatments with microwaves or shock waves, as well as cervical traction. Prevention is also important, which includes correcting poor work postures and sleeping positions. If the pain is very severe, one might consider taking some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers, etc. Secondly, if there is severe pain due to nerve root type or spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, and there is evident neurological dysfunction, or if the symptoms of cervical spondylosis usually do not alleviate or even worsen after systematic and conservative treatment, surgery is often required. Therefore, the treatment of cervical spondylosis generally includes both non-surgical and surgical treatments, and the specific method used depends on the condition of the disease.

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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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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.