Cervical Spondylosis

Diagnosis

To diagnose cervical spondylosis, your healthcare professional will usually begin with a physical examination that includes:

• Checking the range of motion in your neck

• Testing reflexes and muscle strength to determine if there’s pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord

• Observing how you walk to see if spinal compression is affecting your balance or gait

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests can provide detailed information to help guide diagnosis and treatment. These may include:

• Neck X-ray – Shows changes in the spine, such as bone spurs, that indicate cervical spondylosis. It can also help rule out other causes of neck pain and stiffness, such as tumors, infections, or fractures.

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – Uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of the spine, helping pinpoint areas where nerves may be compressed.

• Computerized tomography (CT) myelography – Involves injecting a dye into the spinal canal before a CT scan to get clearer images of the spinal cord, spinal canal, and nerve roots.

Nerve Function Tests

Your doctor may recommend nerve studies to check if signals are traveling properly between your nerves and muscles. These can include:

• Electromyography (EMG) – Measures the electrical activity in your nerves as they send messages to your muscles during movement and rest.

• Nerve conduction study – Uses small electrodes placed on the skin above the nerve. A mild electrical pulse is passed through to measure the strength and speed of nerve signals.

More Information

CT scan
Electromyography (EMG)
MRI
X-ray

Treatment

Treatment for cervical spondylosis depends on the severity of your condition. The main goals are to relieve pain, help you stay active, and prevent permanent damage to the spinal cord and nerves.

Medicines

Your healthcare provider may prescribe:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium to reduce pain and inflammation.

• Corticosteroids such as a short course of oral prednisone or, in more severe cases, steroid injections to relieve pain.

• Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine to reduce muscle spasms in the neck.

• Anti-seizure medications to help relieve nerve-related pain.

• Antidepressants to help manage chronic pain.

Therapy

Physical therapy is often one of the most effective treatments for pain and stiffness. A physical therapist can teach exercises to stretch and strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles.
Some people also benefit from spinal traction, which can help relieve pressure on pinched nerves by gently stretching the neck.

Surgery

If conservative treatments do not relieve symptoms or if neurological issues such as weakness in the arms or legs worsen, surgery may be necessary to create more space for the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Surgical options may include:

• Removing a herniated disk, bone spurs, or part of a vertebra

• Fusing a segment of the neck using bone grafts and hardware to stabilize the spine