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.
There are a number of treatments that can be considered once cervical spondylosis has been diagnosed. The objective of treatment is to provide symptomatic relief and prevents further damage of the affected structures. The options include conservative and invasive (surgical approaches). One of the most effective non-surgical approaches is physical therapy. It involves both passive and active exercises designed to stretch neck and shoulder muscles. Traction may be applied as part of this treatment.
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.
Spinal stenosis is another common cause of pain whose effects are similar to those of spondylosis. Stenosis denotes the narrowing of the spinal canal for one reason or the other. For most cases, there is underlying arthritis of the affected regions. Bony spurs are also a common finding in some of the persons suffering from the problem. Stenosis usually results in compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
To diagnose spinal stenosis, a clinical history, a physical examination and investigations are needed. X-rays are useful in the assessment of bony structures and can easily reveal an area with excess narrowing. More specifically, X-rays provide vital information on conditions such as infections, fractures and tumors. If the problem is related to soft tissues then they are of little value. MRI and CT scan images are more important in this instance.
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.
Pain affecting the shoulder and the neck may originate from a number of areas. Fortunately, a majority of cases can be easily managed using non-surgical means without any complications. The first step is usually to start with home based treatments but one must consult with a doctor if there is no response after two to three days.
There are a number of treatments that can be considered once cervical spondylosis has been diagnosed. The objective of treatment is to provide symptomatic relief and prevents further damage of the affected structures. The options include conservative and invasive (surgical approaches). One of the most effective non-surgical approaches is physical therapy. It involves both passive and active exercises designed to stretch neck and shoulder muscles. Traction may be applied as part of this treatment.
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.
Spinal stenosis is another common cause of pain whose effects are similar to those of spondylosis. Stenosis denotes the narrowing of the spinal canal for one reason or the other. For most cases, there is underlying arthritis of the affected regions. Bony spurs are also a common finding in some of the persons suffering from the problem. Stenosis usually results in compression of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
To diagnose spinal stenosis, a clinical history, a physical examination and investigations are needed. X-rays are useful in the assessment of bony structures and can easily reveal an area with excess narrowing. More specifically, X-rays provide vital information on conditions such as infections, fractures and tumors. If the problem is related to soft tissues then they are of little value. MRI and CT scan images are more important in this instance.
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.
Pain affecting the shoulder and the neck may originate from a number of areas. Fortunately, a majority of cases can be easily managed using non-surgical means without any complications. The first step is usually to start with home based treatments but one must consult with a doctor if there is no response after two to three days.
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