Cervical spondylosis, also known as neck arthritis, is a normal wear of age that appears between the vertebrae of the cervical spine, in the neck area, causing symptoms such as:
Some people, with more severe cases of spondylosis, may lose arm and leg movement, have difficulty walking, and feel stiffness in the leg muscles. Sometimes, when combined with these symptoms, there may also be a sense of urgency to urinate or an inability to retain urine. In these cases, it is advisable to consult an orthopedic surgeon, as there may be damage to the spinal nerves.
See other spinal diseases that can also cause these symptoms
To confirm the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis, it is important to consult an orthopedist. Your doctor usually starts by making a physical assessment, to understand what symptoms and movements can make them worse.
However, in most cases, diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs are needed to make sure there are no other problems that can cause the same type of symptoms.
Because other spinal diseases need to be screened, diagnosis of cervical spondylosis may take a few weeks or months to discover, however, medication treatment may be initiated even before diagnosis, to relieve pain and improve quality of life. person.
Cervical spondylosis is very common in the elderly, due to small changes that occur naturally in the joints of the spine over the years. However, people who are overweight, have poor postures, or who have jobs with repeated neck movements may also develop spondylosis.
As principais alterações que acontecem na coluna incluem
In addition, the ligaments in the spine also lose their elasticity, causing difficulty moving the neck and even the appearance of pain or tingling.
In most cases, treatment of cervical spondylosis begins with the use of painkillers, anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxants, which help relieve pain and reduce neck stiffness. However, physiotherapy sessions are also recommended to help stretch and strengthen the muscles of the area, greatly improving symptoms naturally.
Depending on the intensity of your symptoms, your doctor may also recommend injecting corticosteroids directly at the site. In rarer cases, where symptoms improve, surgery may also be recommended to correct possible changes in the vertebrae of the spine. Learn more about healing this type of surgery and the precautions you should take.