If you have neck discomfort, beware of cervical spondylosis

If your neck is uncomfortable, is it a stiff neck or a problem with your cervical spine? Is your visual impairment caused by reading too much and watching too much TV, or is it your cervical spine asking for help? Who is to blame for the breathlessness? Who is causing the dizziness, vertigo, and numbness in your hands and feet? These may be single symptoms, but if you have several similar symptoms, you should consider whether there is a problem with your cervical spine.

According to the current international consensus, cervical spondylosis refers to the condition where the cervical vertebrae are in a flexed position or certain specific postures for a long time, which not only increases the pressure in the cervical intervertebral disc, but also causes the neck muscles to be in a state of uncoordinated stress for a long time. On this basis, the muscles and ligaments in the back of the neck are susceptible to traction and strain, the front edges of the vertebrae wear and proliferate against each other, and excessive torsion and lateral flexion further lead to damage, affecting the nerves, spinal cord or some important vascular structures, resulting in a series of clinical symptoms.

As the saying goes, "It takes time for ice to freeze three feet thick to form." Cervical spondylosis is a chronic disease. This disease is not formed in a day or two, but is caused by incorrect habits over many years. In fact, this also provides too many reference signals for diagnosis, but it is often ignored by busy people. So, in what cases should you consider having cervical spondylosis? The clinical symptoms of cervical spondylosis are relatively complex. The main manifestations are soreness in the head, neck, shoulders, back, and arms, stiff neck, and limited movement. In summary, there are mainly the following aspects:

1. Head symptoms

Neck and shoulder pain may radiate to the headrest and upper limbs. Mild cases are accompanied by dizziness, headache, and insomnia. Severe cases are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, deafness, and other symptoms. The patient is bedridden. A few may experience dizziness or cataplexy. Some may experience fever on one side of the face and sometimes abnormal sweating.

2. Neck symptoms

Neck discomfort and limited movement, manifested by neck pain, neck soreness, and neck stiffness, which are suddenly aggravated in the morning, after fatigue, incorrect posture, and cold stimulation; there is a distinct "clicking" sound when moving the neck; the neck is not flexible enough when turning; there are painful points when pressing the neck with hands.

3. Shoulder symptoms

The shoulders feel heavy, sore, swollen, and sometimes severe, especially when tired, sitting for a long time, or in an improper posture. The back muscles are stiff, which gets better after exercise or massage; there are pain points on the back, and the discomfort symptoms get worse when pressed, tired, or exposed to cold.