Cervical spondylosis

With everyday use over many years the discs and the facet joints become worn. This wear from person to person. The discs become thinner and this causes the spaces between the vertebrae to become narrower. Also, 'spurs' of bone, know as osteophytes, from at the edges of the vertebrae and the facet joints. In a way this is a particular from of osteoarthritis (see are booklet ' octeoarthritis) but it is known as ' cervical spondylosis'. These changes may also occur at the bottom of the apine where they are known as ' lumber spondylosis'. These conditions should not be confused with ankylosing spondylitis, where inflammation in the spine can cause the bones of the spine to fuse together (see arc booklet 'ankylosing spondylitis'). The abnormalities found in cervical and lumbar spondylosis can be seen on x-rays(see - figure 2) and are present in almost everyone by the age of 65. However, many people have to neck pain even though quite significant changes can be seen on their x-rays.

When these changes do cause pain it may come either from the lining of worn joints or from stretched ligaments. Occasionally buiging discs or osteophytes pinch the nerve roots and this causes pain or numbness that travels into the arm. If the vertebral artery is pinched, this reduces theblood supply to the area of the brain that controls balance and this may lead to dizziness. Rarely an extra rib ( cervical rib) can cause partial blockage of the blood supply to the arms, resulting in pain and numbness in the hands. Very rarely, in severe apondylosis, the spinal cord can be squeezed, which causes weaknes and numbness in the arms and legs.