Some particular changes take place in the body when we age. Body parts like the spine get a lot of wear and tear. This is because the spine is the primary supportive structure that keeps the head upright, helps allow people to be mobile, and serves as the pathway for neural impulses. Older people may experience something called cervical spondylosis.
What Is Cervical Spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis is also known as cervical osteoarthritis or neck arthritis. It is a condition particularly common in elderly patients, mostly age 60 and above. Cervical spondylosis can get worse with age and could get to the point where the patient experiences pain, lack of mobility, stiffness, or other symptoms.
Cervical spondylosis is a broad term used to describe age-related conditions. It can also be hereditary. This condition often starts with changes in the disc in the neck, and the spine will dehydrate with age. This causes parts to shrink, with little or no padding left between the vertebrae.
Patients may develop some signs of osteoarthritis as a result of this. In some cases, bone spurs happen. Cervical spondylosis can cause chronic pain depending on how the condition progresses.
Symptoms Of Cervical Spondylosis
The symptoms of cervical spondylosis may include stiffness and pain in the neck; You may experience the following symptoms if the nerve roots become pinched:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Difficulty walking or lack of coordination
- Weakness, numbness, and tingling in your feet, legs hands, or arms
Causes Of Cervical Spondylosis
The protective cartilage and bones in your neck are prone to wear and tear. This can result in changes that may include:
Bone spurs: A bone spur is an overgrowth of bone. It happens when the body tries to grow extra bones to make your spine stronger. Delicate areas of the spine such as the nerves and spinal cord can be pressed by this extra bone, resulting in pain.
Dehydrated spinal discs: There are discs between the spinal bones of your body. These discs are thick and pad-like cushions that absorb the shock of activities such as twisting and lifting. Inside each disc is a gel-like material that can dry out over time. This causes the rubbing together of the bones which can be painful.
Herniated discs: The internal cushion material may leak if your spinal discs develop cracks. This material can forcefully press on the nerves and spinal cord. This can lead to symptoms, such as pain that radiates down an arm and arm numbness.
Ligament stiffness: With time, the tough cords connecting the spine can become stiffer. This can affect the movement of the neck and even make the neck feel tight.
Overuse: Some occupations require repetitive heavy lifting or movements. This can cause wear and tear because of the extra pressure that is put on the spine.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help With Cervical Spondylosis
Chiropractic care is a popular treatment option for cervical spondylosis. It is non-invasive and does not require the use of harmful medications, which is why many people gravitate towards it. They want a natural and whole-body approach to healing.
Chiropractic treatment can help reduce the pressure on your spinal nerves, improve your range of motion and relieve the pain common with cervical spondylosis.
A chiropractor may recommend one or more of the following treatments after examination and diagnostic tests:
1. Spinal manipulation
Patients with cervical spondylosis may receive spinal manipulation as treatment. This involves a combination of high-velocity techniques that includes side bending and rapid rotation of the head or neck of the patient. In the treatment process, the chiropractor uses an activator or quick, hands-on pressure to realign your vertebrae.
Spinal manipulation reduces pain, makes it easier for you to move the muscles in your back and neck, and also improves the range of motion of your back and neck. You will notice less stiffness and pain after this adjustment. Spinal manipulation is one of the few therapies recommended for treating lower non-radicular back pain– the pain that does not radiate to your legs or arms.
2. Spinal mobilization
Spinal mobilization involves a low-velocity treatment, which is in the form of gradually stretching your muscles and joints. With slow, gentle movements, this technique stretches the spine and reduces tension in the muscles between the vertebrae.
Mobilization is applied when treating neck arthritis in many cases. This is because some cervical spondylosis patients are not comfortable with the high-velocity treatment. It may also be due to spinal instability, which cannot handle chiropractic manipulation or adjustments.
3. Flexion-distraction
Flexion-distraction, another chiropractic treatment technique for cervical spondylosis, is done on a segmented table. The table beneath you moves as the chiropractor manipulates your spine, stretching and decompressing your vertebrae.
Flexion-distraction eases stiffness and pain, reduces bulging of the discs, decreases pressure on the discs and nerves, and improves mobility.
4. Massage and traction
You may feel a painful stiffening in the muscles of your neck and back. Massage relaxes the muscles and improves blood flow to the neck and back areas, facilitating recovery.
Traction treatment, on the other hand, gently decompresses and pulls your vertebrae. This decreases pressure on the nerves and relieves stiffness and pain. Traction can be manually performed or performed with a special device.
Conclusion
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis may slowly get worse if not addressed in a timely manner. Your life can be significantly affected if the symptoms do not go away. A chiropractor can help treat this condition!
Visit us at New Tampa Chiropractic and Injury Center if you have been experiencing any kind of nagging pain in your back. Timely intervention can bring you both relief from the pain and also ensure that the condition of your back does not worsen with time. Call 813-994-6111 to make an appointment.