How’s your neck? Is it stiff, or do you feel constant pain? If you’ve felt some aches and immobility in your neck, you may be diagnosed with cervical spondylosis. This condition is essentially arthritis of the neck and is often due to aging.
When the joints in the neck begin to degenerate, it can lead to arthritis. As many as 85 percent of people 60 years old or older are affected with arthritis of the cervical spine.
When the discs in your neck degenerate and lose water, arthritis often results afterward. What occurs is loss of height between the discs and increased pressure. Additionally, the cartilage often wears out. Some of the symptoms you may experience if you are diagnosed with cervical spondylosis includes neck stiffness, numbness or weakness in arms and hands, loss of balance, headaches, muscle spasms and a grinding sound when moving your neck.
If you think you might have arthritis of the neck, make an appointment to see your doctor. Expect a physical exam that includes checking your shoulders, arms, legs, and, of course, neck. Your reflexes, flexibility and even walking may need to be examined.
If the arthritis in your neck is completely debilitating, a spinal surgeon may recommend artificial disc replacement surgery. Your affected disc would be removed from your cervical spine and the operation would prevent degeneration of the discs above and below the damaged one.
Additionally, cervical disc replacement is a better option than fusion surgery because it is a less invasive procedure and has less risk, less blood loss and less pain for the patient. If you were diagnosed with arthritis of the neck, ask your doctor about artificial disc replacement.