Cervical spondylosis
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis include Twisted neck and shoulder pain . The pain can be severe in some cases.
Occasional headaches may also occur, which usually start at the back of the head, just above the neck, and travel over the top to the forehead.
Pain usually comes and goes, with flare-ups followed by symptom-free periods.
Around 1 in 10 people develop long-lasting (chronic) pain.
Other, more severe, symptoms usually only occur if you develop:
These problems are described in more detail below.
The most common symptom of cervical radiculopathy is a sharp pain that "travels" down one of your arms (also known as brachialgia).
You may also experience some numbness or " pins and needles "in the affected arm, and find that stretching your neck and turning your head makes the pain worse.
Cervical myelopathyoccurs whensevere cervical spondylosis causes narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord.
When the spinal cord is compressed, it interferes with the signals that travelbetween your brain and the rest of your body. Symptoms can include:
If you think you areexperiencing symptoms of cervical myelopathy, see your GP as soon as possible.
Left untreated, cervical myelopathy can lead to permanent spinal cord damage and long-term disability.
Cervical spondylosis is the medical term for neck pain caused by age-related wear and tear to bones and tissues.
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis include neck pain and shoulder pain. The pain can be severe if you develop cervical radiculopathy or cervical myelopathy.
To better understand the causes of cervical spondylosis, it is useful to know more about the structure of your spine.
Cervical spondylosis is usually suspected if there are typical symptoms of neck pain and stiffness. It will also be considered as a cause of radiating arm pain, problems with use of the hands or difficulty walking.
Treatment for symptoms due to cervical spondylosis aims to relieve pain and prevent permanent damage to your nerves.