Does cervical spondylosis hurt?

Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
Updated on January 18, 2025
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Cervical spondylosis is a very common disease in clinical practice, and it has many pathological types. Generally, we divide it into nerve root type cervical spondylosis, spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, local type cervical spondylosis, vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis, sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, and mixed type cervical spondylosis. Pain is a major symptom in these types of cervical spondylosis, but some cervical spondylosis do not primarily present with pain, and the pain experienced can vary widely. For example, the pain in local type cervical spondylosis primarily manifests as localized pain in the cervical region; in nerve root type cervical spondylosis, the pain is typically a shooting pain in the extremities, particularly radiating pain in the upper limbs; in spinal cord type cervical spondylosis, the pain is not very typical and mainly presents as weakness in the limbs; in vertebral artery type and sympathetic nerve type cervical spondylosis, the primary manifestation is pain in the head, with less noticeable pain in the limbs. Thus, while pain is a common symptom in patients with cervical spondylosis, the characteristics of the pain vary.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Cervical spondylosis cupping locations

We can roughly divide into two main categories. The first category is the Ashi points. What this means is using the pain point as the location for cupping. We can press the most painful part and use that as the center point for cupping; this is one method. The second method is the meridian acupoint method. We can perform a cupping treatment on the acupoints in the neck area, through which the treatment flows. For example, acupoints such as the Dazhui, Fengchi, and Fengmen in the neck area can all serve as the central points for cupping.

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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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How to treat cervical spondylosis?

For the treatment of cervical spondylosis, it is necessary to consider various factors such as the patient's symptoms, the stage of disease progression, and imaging examinations comprehensively. Treatment for cervical spondylosis is mainly divided into non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment includes cultivating good neck usage habits, avoiding prolonged sitting with the head down, and not sleeping on pillows that are too high. Performing neck exercises can also be beneficial in alleviating symptoms of cervical spondylosis. Additionally, when symptoms occur, symptomatic treatment can include the use of anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications, nerve-nourishing drugs, and cartilage nutrition drugs, combined with hot compresses, physical therapy, and cervical traction, which can positively improve symptoms. In cases of severe nerve or vascular compression symptoms, surgical treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
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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Written by Li Jin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is mainly caused by long-term strain and degenerative changes in the cervical spine. When the spinal cord, nerve roots, or vertebral artery are compressed, a series of symptoms can occur. The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are very complex, mainly manifested as weakness in the upper limbs, numbness in the fingers, weakness in the lower limbs, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and heart palpitations. Therefore, when these symptoms occur, one can go to the hospital for examination or combine imaging studies, such as CT and MRI of the cervical spine, to clarify the specific condition of the cervical spondylosis. Subsequently, targeted treatment measures can be taken based on the symptoms.

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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.