Question 1

What is cervical pain?

Accepted Answer

Cervical pain is the stiffness and discomfort felt in the neck region by those suffering from cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylitis, cervical lordosis or other similar diseases that affect the spinal cord at the neck.

Question 2

What is the difference between cervical and lumbar spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis occurs at the cervical vertebrae near the neck. Lumbar spondylosis causes the lower lumbar region of the vertebrae to face severe pain.

Question 3

What is cervical spondylitis?

Accepted Answer

Spondylitis symptoms are because of inflammation in any of the joints in the vertebrae of the spine. Contrary to cervical spondylosis, spondylitis pain occurs due to this inflammation and not the degeneration of the spinal cord discs.

Question 4

Are cervical spondylosis and cervical spondylitis serious?

Accepted Answer

Both these conditions can cause stiffness, discomfort and severe pain in the neck region. But they are not progressive and show symptoms gradually over time. With proper care and timely corrective surgery, you can be cured of cervical pain.

Question 5

Can cervical spondylosis cause a stroke?

Accepted Answer

Though uncommon, a cervical attack can happen to people who suffer from cervical spondylosis. A transient ischemic stroke occurs because of the presence of abnormal bone spurs or osteophytes that can block blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. Such attacks often happen unexplained and can be the main reason for shock. With immediate treatment, cervical attack improves within 24 hours.

Question 6

Can cervical spondylosis cause fainting issues?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis is another factor that can contribute to neck-related dizziness or fainting among people suffering from the condition.

Question 7

What happens to people with cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Those suffering from cervical spondylosis face spinal cord compression, which usually leads to a lack of function in the spinal cord. Due to the tissue of the spinal cord being damaged, such people are more susceptible to spine injury and may lose movement capabilities. In such serious cases, surgery may be necessary.

Question 8

What happens if cervical spondylosis is not treated?

Accepted Answer

If timely treatment is not administered, the condition can become serious. The increased degeneration and inflammation of the vertebrae can result in the bones fusing with each other, which in turn leads to extra stiffness and rigidity of the spine. Patients can lose their movement ability with a decreased range of motion like the inability to bend, twist or turn.

Question 9

What are the usual risk factors that can lead to cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis occurrences are quite normal among the elderly. The risk factors include normal wear and tear of the cervical spinal cord after a certain age with time. Other factors can accelerate the occurrence of cervical spondylosis. These factors include severe neck injuries due to an accident, work habits like desk jobs that require people to sit in a certain posture for a long period of time and other jobs that involve heavy lifting and physical activities.

Question 10

What is the best treatment for cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Various over-the-counter and prescribed medications are available in the market that help reduce the pain of cervical spondylosis. Physiotherapy and regular exercise are also helpful. The use of devices such as neck traction and neck collars helps ease the pain in many cases of mild cervical pain. In certain rare situations, doctors may advise surgery.

Question 11

What is cervical lordosis?

Accepted Answer

Cervical lordosis refers to the normal curve of the spinal cord. Loss of cervical lordosis meaning is referred to as the condition in which the cervical curve arches too far inward. Cervical lordosis loss causes severe pain, and discomfort, and affects the normal movement of your neck and shoulders.

Question 12

Is cervical spondylosis dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis is a common occurrence as people age. It won’t have any symptoms in most people. Many won’t even be aware of the changes that may be happening in their neck.

Although cervical spondylosis usually won’t cause any disability, the changes in the spine may compress the spinal cord or the nerve roots attached to it m. As a result, the individual may feel weak or clumsy in their legs or hands.

Question 13

What are the dos and don'ts of cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis can be prevented. Below mentioned are a few simple dos and don’ts that anyone can follow to avoid chronic neck pain.

Maintain a good posture at all times. The neck must be in a neutral position so that the head is well-balanced directly over the spine.
Keep your shoulders down and back in a relaxed position. Try setting an alarm every forty-five minutes to check in on yourself and fix your posture.
Try to manage stress levels. Stress may increase the perception of pain and further promote poor positioning and tension in muscles.
If you have a desk job, set your workstation in a way so that the computer screen is at your eye level and your feet are supported on the floor.
Don’t roll your neck to relax. This creates unnecessary grinding in the bones. You can instead stretch your neck from side to side slowly and hold the position for ten seconds for each side.
Make sure that you don’t bend your neck for more than ten minutes when you are reading a book, or looking down at a smartphone or computer. Change your position to keep looking straight.
If the neck pain lasts for more than two weeks, you need to seek professional care.

Question 14

Can cervical spondylosis cause paralysis?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis produces symptoms when the spinal cord or the spinal nerve roots are compressed. This leads to jerky or spastic leg movements and walking becomes unsteady. It may also decrease the sensations in the neck. The neck may be painful and become less flexible. The individual may feel exaggerated reflexes in the leg, and sometimes, the muscles may contract involuntarily.

In severe cases, compression may impair bladder and bowel function. If the spinal cord is severely damaged from the neck trauma, it may paralyze all four limbs suddenly.

Question 15

What kind of doctors treat cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Cervical spondylosis can be treated by many different specialities of physicians, which may include family medicine doctors, internists, neurologists, rheumatologists, neurosurgeons, general practitioners, orthopaedists, and pain management specialists. Non-physician healthcare practitioners who can treat spondylosis include

physician assistants
nurse practitioners
physical therapists
massage therapists
chiropractors

Question 16

When should someone seek medical care for cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Spondylosis is diagnosed by plain film X-ray, CT scan, and MRI scan. Most of the people will have already gone through these diagnosis procedures after being ordered by their primary doctor. Re-evaluation or medical care may be necessary in the following situations.

If the prescribed treatment fails to manage the pain
In case an acute nerve dysfunction develops causing weakness in one or more limbs. It is important to visit your doctor if you feel your leg is weak and you can’t flex your foot or ankle.
Loss of bladder or bowel control during the time when acute back or neck pain has set in. The inability to start or stop urinating is a serious nerve dysfunction. It should be evaluated at the emergency department immediately.
Saddle anaesthesia. The term is used to describe numbness in the groin area or the bottom part that would contact a saddle. This again needs emergency medical care.
If back or neck pain is associated with weight loss or fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Question 17

Can my lifestyle cause cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Yes, to an extent. Faulty posture related to work may result in neck strain and thus likely to cause muscle and ligament tension. Some of the other activities that increase the risk include:

Using a phone on one shoulder and leaning at it for a long time.
Prolonged sitting and standing in a still position.
Faulty posture while sitting at the chair or at the desk,
Driving.

Question 18

Are there any simple exercises to combat cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Stand while touching your back with the walls. Try to push the wall with your back and neck. This may help correct your body posture.

Question 19

Can I do physiotherapy for cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Physiotherapy along with cervical spondylosis treatment is going to help you. But make sure to consult a trained physiotherapist for the same. Do not try anything on your own.

Question 20

What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis?

Accepted Answer

Most people do not witness any cervical spondylosis symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they may be inclusive of pain and stiffness in the neck. In a severe case, you may notice:

Tingling, numbness, and weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet
Lack of coordination and difficulty walking
Loss of bladder or bowel control

Cervical Spondylosis