Prevent cervical spondylosis from daily life!

With the acceleration of social pace and changes in living and working environment, the number of people engaged in working with their heads down has increased, the incidence of cervical spondylosis has continued to rise, and the age of onset has become younger.

According to the different tissues and structures involved, cervical spondylosis is divided into: cervical type, nerve root type, spinal cord type, sympathetic type, vertebral artery type, and other types (mainly esophageal compression type). If two or more types exist at the same time, it is called a "mixed type".

01Cervical spondylosis

The neck is stiff and painful, and the whole shoulder and back are painful and stiff. The patient cannot nod, look up or turn his head, and has a torticollis posture. When the neck needs to be turned, the trunk must be turned at the same time, and dizziness may also occur. A small number of patients experience reflex pain, swelling and numbness in the shoulders, arms and hands, and the symptoms do not worsen when coughing or sneezing.

02 Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy

Neck pain and stiffness are the first symptoms. Pain in the shoulder and the inner edge of the scapula, radiating pain or numbness in the upper limbs may also occur. Symptoms worsen when the neck moves, coughs, sneezes, exerts force, or takes deep breaths. The affected upper limb feels heavy, the grip strength decreases, and sometimes objects fall. There may be vasomotor symptoms, such as swelling of the hands. Muscle atrophy may occur in the later stages.

03Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Most patients first experience numbness and heaviness in one or both lower limbs, followed by difficulty walking, tight lower limb muscles, slow steps, inability to walk fast, and need to hold handrails when going up and down stairs. In severe cases, gait is unstable and walking is difficult. Both feet feel like stepping on cotton. Some patients experience bladder and rectal dysfunction, such as urination disorders such as weak urination, frequent urination, urgency, incomplete urination, urinary incontinence or urinary retention, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. If the disease progresses further, the patient must walk with crutches or with the help of others, until both lower limbs become spastic and paralyzed, bedridden, and unable to take care of themselves.

04Sympathetic cervical spondylosis

There are many symptoms, such as dizziness or vertigo, headache or migraine, heavy head, occipital pain, poor sleep, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, eye swelling, dryness or excessive tears, vision changes, blurred vision (fog in front of the eyes), tinnitus, ear blockage, hearing loss, nasal congestion, allergic rhinitis, foreign body sensation in the throat, dry mouth, palpitations, chest tightness, heart rate changes, arrhythmia, blood pressure changes, etc. The neck is active, and it is more obvious when bowing the head for a long time, working on the computer or being tired, and it gets better after rest.

05Vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis

Paroxysmal vertigo may occur, with diplopia and nystagmus. Sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, tinnitus or hearing loss, which is related to changes in the position of the neck. Sudden weakness and collapse of the lower limbs, but clear consciousness, often occurs when the head and neck are in a certain position. Occasionally, there is numbness of the limbs and abnormal sensation. Transient paralysis and paroxysmal coma may occur.

"Neck pain" does not mean cervical spondylosis. Medical experts believe that cervical spondylosis is suspected only when the following symptoms persist, such as frequent crooked neck, repeated "stiff neck", numbness of fingers, pain in the neck and occipital area, inability to turn the neck, etc. To confirm cervical spondylosis, please go to the hospital for a clear diagnosis.

How to prevent cervical spondylosis

01Prevent acute head, neck and shoulder injuries

Falls, collisions, and whiplash injuries to the head and neck can easily cause damage to the cervical spine and surrounding soft tissues, directly or indirectly causing cervical spondylosis, so they should be actively prevented.

02Correct bad posture in life

Avoid working with your head down for long periods of time, because this posture causes the neck muscles and ligaments to be stretched and strained for a long time, which can cause degeneration of the cervical intervertebral discs.

03Prevent chronic strain

People who engage in desk work for a long time should increase rest and activity time between work to enhance blood circulation throughout the body, eliminate local muscle fatigue, and prevent and relieve cervical strain.

04Avoid cold and humidity

In the summer, be careful to avoid fans or air conditioners blowing directly towards your neck. Do not blow cold air directly after sweating, or rinse your head and neck with cold water, or sleep on a cool pillow.

05Choose the correct pillow height

A suitable pillow is important for the prevention and treatment of cervical spondylosis. Generally, the pillow for supine sleepers is one fist high, and for side sleepers, it is one and a half fists high, about 10cm. Buckwheat husk is the best pillow core, and the filling amount should be appropriate to maintain a certain hardness and elasticity. Pillows with too much elasticity can easily cause fatigue and damage to the neck muscles. It is best for supine sleepers to put a small pillow under their neck to maintain the physiological curvature of the cervical spine. Side sleepers should fill the pillow into the gap between the face and shoulders to reduce the burden on the neck.

06Medical, sports and health care

Those without any symptoms of cervical spondylosis can do slow flexion, extension, left and right lateral flexion and rotation of the neck several times in the morning and evening every day, and strengthen isometric resistance contraction exercises of the neck and back muscles.