How to treat cervical spondylosis?

Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
Updated on October 27, 2024
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The treatment plan primarily depends on the severity of the patient's cervical spondylosis. If the cervical spondylosis is very severe and there is significant compression on the spinal nerve roots, resulting in symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs, numbness and swelling pain in the arms, abnormal bladder and bowel functions, and evident spinal stenosis, then it is necessary to aggressively pursue surgical treatment. This usually involves the removal of the intervertebral disc, decompression and expansion of the spinal canal, and surgical treatment with intervertebral bone grafting and internal fixation. For cases where the disc herniation is not very large and the neck pain is not very severe, conservative treatment may be chosen. This includes measures like rest and protection, local heat application, and combining therapies such as acupuncture, electrotherapy, cupping, and traction.

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Written by Kuang Tao
Orthopedics
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Features of headaches caused by cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis can also cause headaches, and the headaches caused by cervical spondylosis have their own characteristics compared to headaches caused by other reasons. Headaches resulting from cervical spondylosis generally stem from the irritation or compression of the cervical vertebrae and vertebral arteries due to the growth of cervical bone spurs, leading to constriction of these arteries and insufficient blood supply to the cerebral arteries, causing headaches and dizziness. Typically, these headaches are accompanied by symptoms of dizziness. Additionally, the headache is related to the movement of the neck and cervical spine, and neck movements can intensify the headache.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to treat cervical spondylosis?

The treatment plan primarily depends on the severity of the patient's cervical spondylosis. If the cervical spondylosis is very severe and there is significant compression on the spinal nerve roots, resulting in symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness in the legs, numbness and swelling pain in the arms, abnormal bladder and bowel functions, and evident spinal stenosis, then it is necessary to aggressively pursue surgical treatment. This usually involves the removal of the intervertebral disc, decompression and expansion of the spinal canal, and surgical treatment with intervertebral bone grafting and internal fixation. For cases where the disc herniation is not very large and the neck pain is not very severe, conservative treatment may be chosen. This includes measures like rest and protection, local heat application, and combining therapies such as acupuncture, electrotherapy, cupping, and traction.

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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 Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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How to exercise for cervical spondylosis

In general, for patients with cervical spondylosis, exercises such as swimming, playing badminton, flying kites, or performing "Mi Zi" exercises can effectively strengthen the neck muscles and thereby better protect the cervical spine. These are the exercise methods for cervical spondylosis. Additionally, patients should also pay attention to rest and protection, apply local heat, and combine treatments such as acupuncture, massage, traction, electrical stimulation, and cupping. For severe pain, topical ointments that invigorate blood and remove stasis can be used, along with oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs that invigorate blood and remove stasis, and drugs that nourish the nerves. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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What should I do about cervical spondylosis?

In clinical practice, the incidence of cervical spondylosis is relatively high, including vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. Usually, for such patients, it is necessary to actively apply treatments such as cervical hot compresses, acupuncture, massage, traction, massages, and electrotherapy. Additionally, it is necessary to use vasodilator drugs to improve the blood supply to the vertebral artery. Furthermore, cervical spondylosis of the spinal nerve root type also has a high incidence. Patients often experience numbness in the limbs, making it necessary to actively apply nutritional neurotrophic drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics for treatment. When cervical spondylosis is severe and cannot be improved through conservative treatment, it becomes necessary to proceed with surgical treatment actively.