Cervical
spondylosis is one of the cause of pain in the neck that may be
referred to the shoulder. It is also referred to as neck arthritis or
cervical osteoarthritis. It is regarded as a degenerative condition
resulting from the wear and tear of connective tissues of the neck
including the bones and the cartilage. It is estimated that at least 85%
of persons aged above 60 years in Greenbelt, MD, have varying degrees
of shoulder and spinal pain but the majority do not show any symptoms.
When cervical spondylosis is diagnosed, there are a number of treatments that one may benefit from. All are aimed at not only relieving the symptoms but also preventing further damage to the affected structures. The treatment modalities include both non-surgical and surgical options. Physical therapy is one of the most commonly used and most effective conservative interventions. It consists of both active and passive neck and shoulder stretching exercises. Traction is considered part of physical therapy.
There are several pharmacological agents that are used either singly or in combination. They include, for example, muscle relaxants, anti-epileptic drugs, narcotics and steroids among others. Surgical options are only considered if the medical therapies fail to yield the expected results. Surgery is most effective for conditions such as abnormal anatomical structure of vertebral bones, prolapsed discs and bony spurs among others.
Another common cause of pain is a condition known as spinal stenosis. This simply refers to the narrowing of the spine in a background of arthritis. The main cause of the narrowing is the presence of bony spurs in the canal. The consequence of this is compression of the spinal cord and associated nerve roots. One will typically experience pain in the limbs associated with numbness and a tingling sensation.
A clinical history, a physical examination and several investigations are needed to make a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. X-rays are particularly useful here. They help in assessing the bony components for conditions such as fractures, bony spurs and bone infections among others. If there is a need to evaluate the soft tissues as well, other modalities such as CT scan and MRI have to be used.
Although conservative therapies often provide relief, surgery appears to be the definitive management of most cases. The objective of surgery is to enlarge the canal and to relieve the pressure on the cord and nerve roots. The general term for this procedure is spinal decompression surgery. If the vertebral body has to be removed, it will be referred to as corpectomy, if a lamina is removed it is known as laminectomy and so on.
Inter-vertebral disc prolapse is a fairly common problem that may result in pain as well. A prolapsed disc compresses nerve roots and causes symptoms along the region that supplied by affected nerve or nerves. If the disc affected is found in the cervical region, possible symptoms include a tingling sensation and numbness in the shoulder, the arm, forearm and the hand. Traction or surgery may be required.
There are many other causes of pain on the shoulder and neck regions. The good news is that many of them can be managed successfully through conservative approaches. You need to see a doctor if your symptoms fail to respond to home remedies such as over the counter pain relievers, hot and cold compression and physical exercise.
When cervical spondylosis is diagnosed, there are a number of treatments that one may benefit from. All are aimed at not only relieving the symptoms but also preventing further damage to the affected structures. The treatment modalities include both non-surgical and surgical options. Physical therapy is one of the most commonly used and most effective conservative interventions. It consists of both active and passive neck and shoulder stretching exercises. Traction is considered part of physical therapy.
There are several pharmacological agents that are used either singly or in combination. They include, for example, muscle relaxants, anti-epileptic drugs, narcotics and steroids among others. Surgical options are only considered if the medical therapies fail to yield the expected results. Surgery is most effective for conditions such as abnormal anatomical structure of vertebral bones, prolapsed discs and bony spurs among others.
Another common cause of pain is a condition known as spinal stenosis. This simply refers to the narrowing of the spine in a background of arthritis. The main cause of the narrowing is the presence of bony spurs in the canal. The consequence of this is compression of the spinal cord and associated nerve roots. One will typically experience pain in the limbs associated with numbness and a tingling sensation.
A clinical history, a physical examination and several investigations are needed to make a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. X-rays are particularly useful here. They help in assessing the bony components for conditions such as fractures, bony spurs and bone infections among others. If there is a need to evaluate the soft tissues as well, other modalities such as CT scan and MRI have to be used.
Although conservative therapies often provide relief, surgery appears to be the definitive management of most cases. The objective of surgery is to enlarge the canal and to relieve the pressure on the cord and nerve roots. The general term for this procedure is spinal decompression surgery. If the vertebral body has to be removed, it will be referred to as corpectomy, if a lamina is removed it is known as laminectomy and so on.
Inter-vertebral disc prolapse is a fairly common problem that may result in pain as well. A prolapsed disc compresses nerve roots and causes symptoms along the region that supplied by affected nerve or nerves. If the disc affected is found in the cervical region, possible symptoms include a tingling sensation and numbness in the shoulder, the arm, forearm and the hand. Traction or surgery may be required.
There are many other causes of pain on the shoulder and neck regions. The good news is that many of them can be managed successfully through conservative approaches. You need to see a doctor if your symptoms fail to respond to home remedies such as over the counter pain relievers, hot and cold compression and physical exercise.
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