Neck is the most mobile part of the spine, with 7 bones separated by discs of cartilage and joined by ligaments. Wear and tear changes in the cervical bones and joints is known as cervical spondylosis. This may result in pain and stiffness.
Causes:
- Sedentary living
- Wrong posture
- Using high pillows
- Tension and stress
- Working long hours with neck kept in the downward (fixed) position.
- Wrong practice of exercises and yoga
- Trauma/ injury to neck and spine.
- Pain in the neck. This may spread to the base of the skull and shoulders. Movement of the neck may make the pain worse. The pain sometimes spreads down an arm to a hand or fingers. This is caused by irritation of a nerve which goes to the arm from the spinal cord in the neck. The pain tends to wax and wane with flare-ups from time to time. However, some people develop chronic (persistent) pain.
- Some neck stiffness, particularly after a night's rest.
- Headaches from time to time. The headaches often start at the back of the head just above the neck and travel over the top to the forehead.
- Numbness, pins and needles or weakness may occur in part of the arm or hand. Tell a doctor if these symptoms occur as they may indicate a problem with a 'trapped nerve'.
- Cervical spondylosis can lead to chronic pain and stiffness in the neck that may also lead numbness of the upper extremities.
Well the most common symptoms with which these patients approach the doctor are
2-The pain and stiffness could be confined to the neck alone
3-There could be radiation of the pain from the neck to the right hand
4-There could be radiation of the pain from the neck to the left hand
5-There could be radiation of the pain from the neck to the back of the head
6-There could be giddiness associated with pain and stiffness
7-There could be only pain in the upper arm
8-There could be numbness in the tips of the fingers
9-These above symptoms could all suggest that you could be suffering from a condition known as cervical spondylosis
- Neck stiffness and pain may be worse with upright activities.
- Numbness and weakness may appear in the arms, hands, and fingers, and weakness in the legs.
- May feel or hear grinding or popping in the neck when you move.
- Muscle spasms or headaches.
- May feel irritable and fatigue, disturb sleep and impair your ability to work.