Osteoarthritis of the cervical spine is a typical disease in middle-aged and older people, in which degeneration of the intervertebral discs and joints of the cervical spine occurs.
Symptoms
When the spinal cord is compressed, the first manifestation is usually a change in gait.It becomes restless and leg movements become jerky (spastic).If the nerve roots are damaged, pain is primarily observed in the neck.Weakness and atrophy of the muscles of one or both arms may develop both before and after signs of spinal cord compression appear.
All symptoms: increased pain with physical activity, pain worsens when bending forward, weakness of one or both arms, jerky gait, neck pain.
When should you see a doctor?
- For pain in the cervical spine.
- For tingling, loss of sensitivity, pain in the arm, shoulder joint.
- For frequent headaches.
- For dizziness.
Specialists: neurologist (neurologist), neurologist (neurologist), orthopedist.
Reasons
Osteoarthritis of the cervical spine can be accompanied by a narrowing of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord runs.This causes compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord, resulting in dysfunction.The symptoms that occur can be due to either compression of the spinal cord or damage to the nerve roots.
diagnosis
If osteoarthritis of the cervical spine is suspected, the doctor will prescribe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can determine the area of narrowing of the spinal canal, the degree of compression and the area of affected nerve roots.
List of diagnostic methods: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray of the spine.
Treatment
Spinal cord dysfunction due to osteoarthritis of the cervical spine may resolve without treatment but may also progress.To alleviate the condition, the doctor initially recommends supporting the neck with a special collar, conducting physiotherapy and taking anti-inflammatory drugs, mild analgesics and muscle relaxants.However, if the MRI shows severe compression or the disease progresses, surgery is required to stop the process.However, this does not eliminate changes that have already occurred, as some nerve fibers in the spinal cord are irreversibly damaged.
Treatment methods: surgery, immobilization and orthoses.