This is a degenerative condition of the cervical spine found universally in persons over 50 years of age.

Cervical spondylosis is a disorder in which there is abnormal wear on the cartilage and bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). It is a common cause of chronic neck pain.

It occurs early in those susceptible to neck strain because of keeping the neck constantly in one position while reading and writing.

CAUSES

• Being overweight and not exercising
• Having a job that requires heavy lifting or a lot of bending and twisting
• Past neck injury (often several years before)
• Past spine surgery
• Ruptured or slipped disk
• Severe arthritis
• Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Pain and stiffness: initially intermittent but later persistent. Occipital headache may occur if the upper half of the cervical spine is affected

The pain may get worse:

• After standing or sitting
• At night
• When you sneeze, cough, or laugh
• When you bend the neck backwards or walk more than a few yards

• Radiating pain: pain radiates to the shoulders or downwards on the outer aspect of the forearm and hand. There may be parasthesia in the region of the nerve root, commonly over the base of the thumb.
• On examination-there is loss of normal cervical lordosis and a limitation in the neck movements. There may be tenderness over the lower cervical spine or in the muscle of the paravertebral region, the upper limb may show signs of nerve root compression.

Less common symptoms are:

• Loss of balance.
• Loss of control over the bladder or bowels (if there is pressure on the spinal cord)

TREATMENT

• Proper neck posture
• Neck muscle exercise
• Hot fomentation
• Rest to neck using cervical color