Spondylosis, or spinal arthritis, is a medical term for the general 'wear and tear' that occurs in the joints and bones of the spine as people get older.
Cervical spondylosis refers to these age-related changes that occur in the neck (the cervical spine).
Cervical spondylosis occurs normally as you age and does not usually cause symptoms. Changes of spondylosis can be found in 15% of people in their twenties and 85% of all patients over the age of 60. Even changes on an X-ray, like disc bulges and prolapses, are common in people with no neck pain.
In some people, however, the changes of cervical spondylosis can be responsible for stiffness and pain in the neck that may spread to the shoulders and the base of the skull.
Cervical spondylosis can also, more rarely, lead to squashing of nearby nerves or the spinal cord (main bundle of nerves protected by the spine), leading to symptoms such as:
- pain radiating from the arms, and pins and needles
- loss of feeling in your hands and legs
- loss of co-ordination and difficulty walking
For more information, see Cervical spondylosis - symptoms.
Who is at risk?
Cervical spondylosis is an age-related condition. It is estimated that nearly all men and women will have evidence of cervical spondylosis on an X-ray by the time they reach the age of 70.
Only some people experience symptoms related to cervical spondylosis. Others have very marked cervical spondylosis on an X-ray and have no symptoms at all.
Outlook
The pain and symptoms of cervical spondylosis vary from person to person and follow a pattern of 'good days' and 'bad days'.
In most cases, symptoms can be controlled using over-the-counter medication (such as ibuprofen or paracetamol) and exercise. See Cervical spondylosis – treatment for more information.
In more severe cases, where there is evidence of damage to the nerves, surgery may be needed.
