Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on February 23, 2025
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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 Li Jie
Orthopedics
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What to do if cervical spondylosis causes vomiting?

Vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis may cause nausea and vomiting. This is because the vertebral artery runs through the transverse foramen in the cervical spine. If the patient has cervical disc herniation or cervical hyperostosis that compresses the vertebral artery in the transverse foramen, it can cause spasm of the vertebral artery. This leads to insufficient blood supply to the brain, resulting in symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision. Once these symptoms occur, we recommend that patients first limit the movement of the cervical spine. Secondly, some drugs that improve microcirculation and alleviate cerebral ischemia can be used. Thirdly, antiemetic medications, which are also commonly used clinically, can be employed. If conservative treatment is ineffective and the condition recurs frequently, surgical treatment should be considered. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Qiu Xiang Zhong
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

The cervical spine refers to the part of the spine located in the neck, consisting of seven vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and ligaments between the vertebrae. When cervical spondylosis occurs, it mainly causes pain in the head, neck, and shoulders, as well as numbness or pain in the arms and fingers. When the neck is stiff, the patient's movement is restricted, and neck and shoulder pain may also be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, vomiting, or even sudden collapse. Some patients may also experience a heavy feeling in the shoulders and back, weakness in the arms, numbness in the fingers, decreased skin sensation in the limbs, and weakness in gripping objects; other patients may also experience weakness in the lower limbs, a feeling of treading on cotton when walking, unsteady walking, or numbness in the feet.

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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.

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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.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Cervical spondylosis treatment

The treatment of cervical spondylosis firstly requires identifying the specific type of the condition, as treatment is determined based on the classification. The first type, cervical type cervical spondylosis, generally is asymptomatic, merely presenting as degeneration at the edges of the cervical spine. Even if symptoms are present, satisfactory effects can generally be obtained through conservative treatment, so cervical type cervical spondylosis does not require surgical treatment. The second type, nerve root type cervical spondylosis, is the most common type. The vast majority can be cured through conservative treatment, with approximately ninety-five percent achieving cure, leaving only about five percent who require surgery due to very clear nerve damage sites which have not improved with conservative treatment and worsened nerve compression symptoms. The third type, spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, basically requires surgical treatment, and it is better to perform the surgery sooner rather than later. The fourth type, vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, is usually treated conservatively, mainly focusing on immobilization, anti-inflammatory, and pain relief treatments, while also addressing arteriosclerosis concurrently. The fifth type, sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, requires coordinated treatment with internal medicine while treating this type of cervical spondylosis. Thus, the treatment of cervical spondylosis is actually not complicated. First, ascertain which type of cervical spondylosis you have, and then, treat accordingly.