CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS (Neck Pain)

This is the commonest disorder of the cervical spine and is a degenerative condition. Patients usually are over 40 years of age.

This condition is characterized by;

• Degeneration of the intervertebral disc with extrusion of the disc materials
• Surrounding fibrosis which may spread to nerve roots
• Hypertrophy of the edges of the vertebral bodies

Symptoms:

• The most important complaint is pain in the neck that appears gradually and becomes worse in the morning at the time of getting up from bed.
• Pain may radiate to the occiput, frontal region, shoulders and down one or both arms
• Weakness, paraesthesia and clumsy finger movement