Cervical spondylosis Health Article

Treatment

The goal of treatment to relieve pain and prevent permanent spinal cord and nerve root injury.

In mild cases, no treatment is required. Symptoms from cervical spondylosis usually stabilize or get better with simple, conservative therapy, including:

• A cervical collar (neck brace) worn for a short period of time to restrict motion
• Cortisone injections to specific areas of irritation
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)

Periods of neck traction may be recommended, but this therapy has not been found to be helpful most of the time.

Severe cases may need hospitalization with complete bedrest and traction for 1 or 2 weeks. Narcotic medicine or muscle relaxants may help to reduce pain. Surgical decompression of the spinal cord in the neck may be recommended for severe pain or significant loss of movement, sensation, or function.

Surgical procedures may remove bone and disk tissue that is pressing on the nerves of the spinal cord, or stabilize the neck by fusing the cervical vertebrae.

Expectations (prognosis)

Most patients with cervical spondylosis will have some long-term symptoms. However, they respond to non-surgical treatments and do not need surgery.

Complications

• Chronic neck pain
• Inability to hold in feces (fecal incontinence) or urine (urinary incontinence)
• Progressive loss of muscle function or feeling
• Permanent disability (occasional)

Calling your health care provider

Try home treatments, such as the use of a cervical collar (which you can buy at pharmacies) and over-the-counter pain medications.

Call your health care provider if:

• The condition becomes worse
• There are signs of complications
• You develop new symptoms (such as loss of movement or sensation in an area of the body).

Prevention

Many cases are not preventable. Preventing neck injury (such as by using proper equipment and techniques when playing sports) may reduce your risk.

References

Feske SK, Cochrane TL. Degenerative and compressive structural disorders. In: Goetz CG. Goetz: Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 29.

Polston DW. Cervical radiculopathy. Neurol Clin. 2007;25:373-385.