What are the clinical manifestations of cervical spondylosis?

This article discusses the corresponding knowledge points of the clinical manifestations of cervical spondylosis, hoping to be helpful to you. Let's start the formal explanation! What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis? Cervical spondylosis refers to the cervical vertebrae in the neck. When cervical spondylosis occurs, corresponding symptoms will appear. The main symptoms caused by cervical spondylosis include stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders, dizziness, and pain or numbness in the upper limbs. Cervical spondylosis can be classified into 6 types based on its symptoms and imaging examinations.

1. Cervical type cervical spondylosis: The main symptom is stiffness in the neck and shoulders. 2. Vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis: Due to insufficient blood supply to the brain, patients often experience dizziness. 3. Radicular type cervical spondylosis: Due to nerve compression, patients mainly experience neck and shoulder pain accompanied by pain or numbness in the upper limbs.

4. Sympathetic type cervical spondylosis: It manifests as discomfort in the neck and shoulders, accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and increased heart rate. 5. Spinal cord type cervical spondylosis: Compression of the spinal cord often leads to symptoms such as feeling like stepping on cotton, weakness in the lower limbs, etc.

6. Mixed type cervical spondylosis: Patients experience two or more types of cervical spondylosis, so the aforementioned symptoms can all occur. If corresponding symptoms occur, it is recommended that patients seek medical attention promptly to avoid worsening of the condition. What symptoms are usually seen in patients with cervical spondylosis in the hospital?

Patients with cervical spondylosis often exhibit the following symptoms: 1) Headaches: intermittent headaches caused by spasm of the vertebral artery, accompanied by a burning sensation. 2) Shoulder and neck pain: both shoulders feel heavy, back muscles are tense and stiff, and neck movement is restricted. 3) Blurred vision: cervical strain leads to ischemia in the visual center, resulting in decreased vision and blurred vision. 4) Upper limb paralysis: temporary heaviness and numbness in the arms, limited arm movement. 5) Dizziness: changing positions of the neck, such as stretching or rotating, can induce dizziness symptoms.

The clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis are relatively complex. In the early stage of cervical spondylosis, there may be a feeling of soreness, stiffness, and pain in the neck and shoulder area. When bending down, looking up, or turning the head, the neck may feel stiff. If the nerve root is compressed, there may be pain or numbness in the arm or fingers. If the nerves in the head are affected, there may be headaches. Compression of the vertebral artery may cause dizziness, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision. If the sympathetic nerves are compressed, it may cause chest tightness, palpitations, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, if the spinal cord is affected, there may be unsteady walking and a feeling of walking on cotton. X-rays may show bone hyperplasia in the posterior edge of the vertebral body and spinal canal stenosis. Imaging studies confirm the presence of spinal cord compression.

Cervical spondylosis is a common disease that often occurs in the elderly population. This is because the cervical bones of the elderly become osteoporotic and decalcified, resulting in decreased elasticity of the cervical intervertebral discs. The fibrous rings become dehydrated and hardened, making it easy for the nucleus pulposus to protrude and stimulate the spinal cord, leading to a series of neurological damage symptoms.

After developing cervical spondylosis, it is important to pay attention to proper and scientific self-care. For example, it is recommended to maintain a good sleeping posture and avoid using high pillows. Sleeping with a high pillow can cause tension in the neck muscles and muscle groups, leading to soreness and discomfort in the neck muscles after a night's sleep, thus exacerbating the severity of cervical spondylosis. Using a high pillow can also cause excessive flexion of the cervical spine, reducing the volume of the vertebral canal and increasing the compression on the spinal cord.

Patients should develop correct exercise habits and perform gentle movements during exercise. Avoid engaging in vigorous activities and follow the guidance of rehabilitation doctors to engage in healthy training, such as beneficial cervical exercises. It is important to seek timely medical treatment after developing cervical spondylosis, avoiding delays in treatment or adopting inappropriate methods such as traction, massage, or manipulation.

What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis? Many people are familiar with cervical spondylosis. It can cause significant harm to health, and active treatment should be sought once it occurs. Cervical spondylosis can be divided into various types, including myelopathic, radicular, sympathetic, and vertebral artery types, each with different symptoms. Let's learn about the symptoms of cervical spondylosis!

1. Myelopathic cervical spondylosis: Myelopathic cervical spondylosis is caused by bone hyperplasia and intervertebral disc protrusion compressing the spinal cord. Its clinical manifestations include weakness in the limbs, lack of agility in movement, and in severe cases, it can cause unsteady walking or difficulty walking. The motor function of the upper limbs may also be impaired, initially manifested as lack of dexterity in the upper limbs, inability to hold chopsticks while eating, and in advanced stages, partial or complete paralysis.

2. Radicular cervical spondylosis: Radicular cervical spondylosis is caused by cervical intervertebral disc protrusion compressing the nerve roots. Its main symptoms include pain and numbness in the upper limbs, including the upper arm and forearm, and in severe cases, it can affect the patient's rest. Cervical nerve roots mainly supply the upper limbs, and symptoms in the lower limbs generally do not occur. In severe cases, muscle atrophy may occur in these patients.

3. Sympathetic cervical spondylosis: The sympathetic nerves are widely distributed in the neck. When cervical spondylosis occurs, the sympathetic nerves can be stimulated, causing various symptoms. Common symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, and eye symptoms such as eye swelling and dryness. In some cases, arrhythmia and changes in blood pressure may also occur. The incidence of sympathetic cervical spondylosis is relatively high, and its symptoms can easily be mistaken for other diseases, so it should be taken seriously.

4. Vertebral artery cervical spondylosis: Vertebral artery cervical spondylosis is caused by cervical lesions compressing the vertebral artery. Its main symptom is dizziness. The occurrence of these symptoms is related to neck movements. For example, when a patient turns their head, the compression of the vertebral artery can cause dizziness, and in severe cases, sudden fainting may occur.

In addition to the above types of cervical spondylosis, there is also a mixed type, in which patients may experience two or more of the above symptoms, which should also be taken seriously. What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis? The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are complex and diverse. Most patients have mild symptoms when the disease first occurs, such as neck and shoulder fatigue, soreness, etc. These symptoms gradually worsen over time, but there are also some patients who experience severe symptoms from the beginning, depending on the type of cervical spondylosis. Purely one type of cervical spondylosis is rare in clinical practice. Generally, several types are mixed together, with one type as the main type and mixed with other types of cervical spondylosis, which is called mixed type cervical spondylosis and is more common. The main symptoms of cervical spondylosis include the following:

1. Soreness in the neck and shoulders, which can radiate to the occiput, even the head, or upper limbs. 2. One side of the neck and shoulders is more sore, painful, and may even feel numb, swollen, and can radiate to the upper limbs, arms, forearms, and even fingers. Some patients may experience numbness in the fingers, sensory disorders, and even weakness. The most severe type of cervical spondylosis is myelopathy-type cervical spondylosis, which can cause limb weakness, walking weakness, numbness in both feet, and in some cases, even urinary and fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and even quadriplegia.

3. Some patients may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. If cervical spondylosis compresses the sympathetic nerves, symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and tinnitus may occur. What are the symptoms of cervical spondylosis? Cervical spondylosis presents as pain and discomfort in the neck, as well as radiating pain and numbness in the upper limbs, functional impairments, weakness in the lower limbs, and abnormal sensations. Different clinical symptoms are manifested based on specific subtypes. For example, in myelopathic cervical spondylosis, the intervertebral disc compresses the spinal cord centrally, resulting in sensory nerve disorders. As the condition worsens, sensory and motor nerve impairments occur. Typical symptoms include weakness in both lower limbs and a cotton-like sensation in the soles of the feet, which are characteristic of myelopathic cervical spondylosis. Radicular cervical spondylosis has the same etiology as nerve symptoms caused by lumbar disc herniation. The protruding intervertebral disc compresses the nerve root, leading to sensory and motor impairments in the innervated area. When the affected segment of the nerve is excessively compressed due to the deviation of the head to one side, numbness in one side of the body is observed. In addition, vascular cervical spondylosis is caused by hypertrophy and vascular lesions leading to posterior circulation ischemia. If transient vascular spasms occur, patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) may suddenly collapse and lose consciousness, but the symptoms are generally relatively short-lived and quickly alleviate.

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