Cervical spondylosis
Once your body starts to age it will begin to deteriorate. Wear and tear will continue to break down your body’s health and cervical spondylosis is definitely an example of this. Cervical spondylosis is a term that refers to when your neck joints are wearing down due to aging.
This is a condition that men and women alike may face during their lifetime. Even though its usually people over 40 that are subject to cervical spondylosis, it is more common with men at a younger age then it is with women.
What Causes Cervical Spondylosis
Generally, cervical spondylosis is a result of natural aging. As you get older your bones and cartilage that work with your backbone and neck will start to break down. Once the joints reach a certain point you will develop a form of cervical spondylosis. Even when the issue gets somewhat serious though it may be difficult to diagnose it as the symptoms of the condition and the X-ray results do not always line up.
Diagnosing Cervical Spondylosis
The best way to determine if you have cervical spondylosis is to get your doctor to perform an X-ray but this does not guarantee you will know what condition you have. There are quite a few people with cervical spondylosis that do not notice any serious symptoms that is normally a result of having the condition. Some of these common symptoms include frequent pain or feeling of discomfort, muscle or joint stiffness, and muscle spasms or cramps.
If you have a more severe condition of cervical spondylosis then it is possible that you actually have cervical radiculopathy. The signs and symptoms of this condition are much more serious than they are for cervical spondylosis. This condition could lead to serious problems such as one or more of your spinal nerves compressing. Keep in mind that the spinal nerves are connected to your cervical vertebrae.
Possible Results of Cervical Spondylosis
While cervical spondylosis is definitely a serious health condition the extreme results are not nearly as severe as they are for cervical radiculopathy. Usually the most that will happen as a result of cervical spondylosis besides the irritating symptoms included with the condition would be bone spurs . There are some other forms of irregularities that could be a result of cervical spondylosis as well.
It is definitely important to find treatment for cervical spondylosis if you get diagnosed with it. If you have cervical radiculopathy or cervical myelopathy and it goes untreated it could be a much more serious issue and could cause you to become permanently disabled. Thankfully, the result of not treating cervical spondylosis is usually never that serious as almost 90% of people affected with the condition have never noted having even had temporary disability of a certain body part.
Treating Cervical Spondylosis
The treatment methods you will have to use to treat cervical spondylosis will depend on how severe your condition is. In some of the more extreme cases it may require surgery but a less serious condition could be treated easily at home.
One recommended treatment method for a less severe form of cervical spondylosis would be just keeping your neck joints active and exercising your neck frequently. It would help your cervical spondylosis a lot if you kept your neck moving as much as possible as it will prevent flare-up, stiffness, and other symptoms of the condition.
Usually the symptoms of cervical spondylosis trigger due to the neck being stuck in the same position for a long time. Keep your neck active and find some neck exercises to do that require you to move your neck far and in all directions. The less severe form of cervical spondylosis is likely common with people that have office or home jobs that require them to be in front of the computer for most of the day. It would be suggested that you take a few breaks throughout the day to stretch your legs, neck, and it may be advisable to give your wrists a break as well to prevent developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
If the cervical spondylosis does not improve after regular exercising each day then it could be a sign that the condition was not actually caused by your neck being stuck in the same position for too long. If you do not notice any change from exercising then it is definitely possible that you developed cervical spondylosis because of stress. If this is the case then you will definitely need to see your doctor as different treatment methods are necessary for this condition.
Remember that treating cervical spondylosis could take months or even years in some cases. Home therapy methods for the condition can be great and various forms of exercise, physical therapy, and medication can show great results, but it may not always be the answer.
You should speak with your doctor to find out what the best way to treat the condition in your case would be. Your doctor may also recommend that you wear a neck brace or cervical collar in order to minimize your neck movement if the situation is severe enough. It may also be necessary to get surgery and if you do not treat the condition soon enough it could develop into a much worse condition so getting it taken care of immediately is important.
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