cervical osteoarthritis

Cervical osteoarthritis is generally a conditionón related to age that affects the joints in the neck. Develops as a result of cart wearílake and bones cervical spine.

Although it is largely due to age, spaghettién can be caused by other factors. Alternative names for this condition include cervical spondylosis, cervical osteoarthritis and/or arthritis of the neck.

Sayúin the investigationón, this conditionón isá present in meás of the 90 percent of people older than 65 años, although some have it smallñThe degrees that never experienceíntomas.

for some, can cause cr painónico, although many people who have cervical osteoarthritis, todavía are able to carry out normal daily activities.

Causes of cervical osteoarthritis and risk factors

Aging

Cervical osteoarthritis develops as a result of changes in the joints of the neck as one ages.

The spinal discs can lose líliquids and begin to reduce once it reaches theños 40, which reduces dampingón between the neck bones.

The discs tooén may develop cracks as it ages. This causes them to swell or become herniated.

Spaghettién dewclaws can develop óseos, or growths óadditional seos. The herniated discs and spurs óyou can put pressureóadditional n on the méspinal cord and raínervous stop, causing joint pain.

The spinal ligaments, which are strips of tissue that connect bones, spaghettiécan'tíyet to become más rístiff as you get older. This makes it más difíeasy or painful for the patient to move their neck.

Other factors

Cervical osteoarthritis can develop due to factors other than aging. These include:

• neck injuries.
• Work-related activities that put pressureóExtra n on the neck when lifting heavy objects.
• To be in a positionón incóneck fashion for long periods of time, or repeat itón of the same neck movements throughout the dayía (from repetitive stress)
• Gene factorséticos (family history of cervical spondylosis)
• smoking
• overweight and inactivity

main sísymptoms of cervical osteoarthritis

The biggestía of people with cervical osteoarthritis do not present síobservable ntomas. If they show upíntomas, éThese can range from mild to severe and can develop gradually or occur suddenly..

a yesíntoma withún is the pain around the omóplato. Patients complain of arm and finger pain. Pain may increase when standing, before the sneezes, cough, or tilt itón backwardsás neck.

Othersíntoma withún is muscle weakness. Muscle weakness makes it difficultíeasy to raise arms or hold objects firmly.

Othersícommon symptoms include:

• Neck stiffness that worsens.
• Headaches occurring mostly on the back of the head.
• Tingling or numbness mainly affecting the shoulders and arms, although alsoécan not occur in the legs.
• The síLess frequently occurring symptoms often include a péloss of balance and péloss of control of sphyínteres.

If you have the sudden onsetóNo numbness or tingling in the shoulder, your arms or legs, or if you lose control of your bowels or bladder, talk to your mésay and look for attentionón métell meás soon possible.

Diagnócervical spondylosis stico

exam fíphysical

youéI say startá for asking you various questions about youríntomas. Depotés, carryá run a set of tests.

The exesáis meant tíspikes include tests of your reflexes, the verificationóNo muscle weakness, and test the range of motion of the neck.

youéI say también may want to observe cómo walk. All this helps your méI say to determine if your nerves and the méspinal cordán under too much pressureón.

If the médico suspicion of cervical osteoarthritis, then orderá im testságenes and tests of functionón nervous to confirm the diagnosisóstico.

tests with imágenes

The X-rays can be used to detect moles óbone and other abnormalities.

A Scannerícomputerized axial (TAC) can i provideágenes más detailed of your neck.

The magn resonanceética (IRM), is a studio that produces imágenes using radio waves and a magnetic fieldético, to help locate pinched nerves.

In a myelogram an injection is usedóNo contrast medium to highlight certain áareas of the spine; CT or X-raysías are used to provide imágenes más detailed of these áreas.

Function testsón nervous

a electromiograma (EMG) used to check if the nerves areán working normally when sentían señales to the múdogs; This study measures the activityénerve center.

a driving studyón nervous with ​​used to check the speed and intensity of signalsñales that env nervesían; this is done by placingón of electrodes on the skin where the nerve is located.

Treatment Options for Cervical Osteoarthritis

Treatments for cervical osteoarthritis focus on providing pain relief, the reductionón the risk of dañthe permanent, and help lead a normal life. The Méeveryone does not wantúrgic agents are usually very effective.

Physiotherapy

youédico caníto send you to a therapist fíphysical for treatment. Physiotherapy helps to stretch the múneck and shoulder muscles and makes them moreábe strong, which helps relieve pain.

Spaghettiécan'tístill prescribe the traction treatmentóno of the neck, which implies the use of devices to increase the space between the cervical joints, to relieve the pressureón in the cervical discs and raínervous stop.

Medicines

Su médoctor can prescribe certain medications if therapies don't work.

These include:

• Muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine, to treat muscle spasms.
• Narcóticos, like hydrocodone, to alleviate the pain.
• anticonvulsants, like gabapentin, to ease the pain caused by dañor nerves.
• steroid injections, like prednisone, to alleviate the pain.

Cirugía

Yes you conditionón is severe and does not respond to other forms of treatment, you may need surgeryía. This may involve removingóno of the spurs óseos, neck bone parts, the herniated disc to give más space to you méspinal cord and adjacent nerves. the surgeryía rarely needed for cervical spondylosis.

Make lifestyle changes to address minor pain. if your affectionón is mild, you can try some things at home to treat it.

You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or an anti-inflammatory such as naproxen. The use of a pad térmica or one including fríon the neck tooéThey can alleviate the pain of the músore centuries.

Exercising regularly can help you recover más ráI ask. The use of a collarín soft can give you temporary relief.

Although you should not use it for long periods of time.íears of time, since I caníto make your múscules become más débiles.

Remember that the use of a necklaceín should only be through supervisionón of méI say, he knows withál is the máIt is suitable for your particular case.