Spondylosis

The primary cause is age-related changes in the spine. These changes often involve certain medical conditions, such as:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Bone spurs (osteophytes)
• Spinal stenosis

In most cases, cervical spondylosis does not cause noticeable symptoms. However, when symptoms do appear, they usually involve pain and stiffness in the neck and other signs, including:

• Neck pain
• Stiffness in the neck
• A lump or tight area in the neck
• Muscle spasms
• A clicking, popping, or grinding sound when moving the neck
• Dizziness
• Headaches

Additionally, you may also experience these symptoms that are:

• Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

• Difficulty coordinating movements or walking
• Loss of bladder or bowel control

Diagnosis

To figure out if you have cervical spondylosis, your doctor will start with a physical check-up. This usually includes:

• Seeing how well you can move your neck
• Testing your strength and reflexes to check for nerve pressure
• Watching how you walk to spot any issues caused by spine compression

Imaging Tests

Scans can help confirm what's going on and guide your treatment. Common ones include:

• Neck X-ray: Shows any changes in your spine, like bone spurs, and helps rule out other problems such as fractures or infections.
• MRI: Uses magnets and radio waves to get detailed images of soft tissues, helping find pinched nerves.
• CT Myelography: A dye is injected into your spinal canal before a CT scan, so doctors can get a better look at your spinal cord and nerve roots.

Nerve Tests

To check if your nerves are working properly, your doctor might recommend:

• EMG (Electromyography): Measures how your muscles respond to nerve signals.
• Nerve Conduction Study: Sends small electrical pulses through your nerves to see how quickly they react.

Your treatment will depend on how severe your symptoms are. The main goals are to ease pain, keep you moving, and avoid long-term nerve damage.

Medications

If basic pain relievers aren’t helping, your doctor may suggest:

• NSAIDs: Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen can help with pain and swelling.
• Steroids: Short courses of oral steroids or injections may calm severe inflammation.
• Muscle Relaxants: These help relieve tight, spasming neck muscles.
• Antiseizure Drugs: Some are used to treat nerve pain.
• Antidepressants: Certain types can also help with chronic pain.

Physical Therapy

A physiotherapist can teach you gentle exercises to strengthen and stretch your neck and shoulder muscles. In some cases, they might use traction to relieve pressure on pinched nerves.

Surgery

If other treatments don’t work, or if symptoms like arm or leg weakness get worse, surgery might be needed. Procedures could involve:

• Removing a herniated disc, bone spur, or part of a vertebra
• Fusing part of your spine using bone grafts and hardware to keep it stable

Managing spondylosis isn't just about medicine—small daily habits can make a big difference. Here’s what helps:

• Keep moving – Try walking, swimming, or yoga to stay flexible.
• Sit and stand tall – Good posture eases pressure on your spine.
• Lift safely – Avoid heavy lifting, or use proper technique.
• Quit smoking – It slows healing and worsens spine health.
• Eat well – Get enough calcium and vitamin D for strong bones.
• Stay at a healthy weight – Less weight means less strain.
• Take regular breaks – Especially if you sit a lot.
• Use supportive furniture – Ergonomic chairs and desks can help.
• Making these changes early can prevent your symptoms from getting worse.

At Rukmani Birla Hospital (RBH) Jaipur, we provide expert and compassionate care for spondylosis through a skilled team of orthopaedic specialists, neurologists, and physiotherapists. With advanced diagnostic tools, personalised treatment plans, strong rehab support, and minimally invasive surgical options, we focus on patient comfort, clear communication, and faster recovery in a modern, healing environment.