“Cervical” refers to the seven small vertebrae in your neck. “Spondylosis” means degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae.

Typically, cervical spondylosis begins around age 40 and gets worse over time. Men tend to develop it earlier than women.

Cervical spondylosis is also called:

Neck osteoarthritis Neck arthritis Degenerative disc disease of the neck

Neck and Head Symptoms

It’s possible to have cervical spondylosis without any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they generally include:

Intermittent neck pain (cervicalgia) Neck stiffness Dizziness Muscle spasms Weakness in the limbs Trouble walking Clicking, grinding, or popping sounds when moving the neck

Radiculopathy Symptoms

Radiculopathy is a disease process that affects the spinal nerve root, which is the part of the nerve that branches off from the main spinal cord. Symptoms affect the part of the body supplied by that nerve and may include:

PainWeaknessNumbnessElectrical-shock sensations down an arm

Most of the time, radiculopathy symptoms result from something putting pressure on the spinal nerve root.

Myelopathy Symptoms

Myelopathy is a condition involving compression of the spinal cord itself. While cervical spondylosis is very common, congenital cervical stenosis is the most common neck condition leading to myelopathy.

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that runs down the length of the spine. It’s housed in the spinal canal, which is a passageway located in the center of your spinal column. The spinal cord and the brain are the two components of the central nervous system.

While myelopathy tends to develop over time, it is frequently characterized by periods of rapid neurological deterioration, usually followed by a plateau. It is characterized by several symptoms:

Issues with balanceIssues with manual dexterityPersistent numbness or tingling in one or both hands

Hand problems, such as difficulty writing, can be caused by cervical myelopathy.

As they grow, bone spurs can narrow the spaces that the nerves and spinal cord pass through.

Risk factors for neck arthritis include:

AgeGeneticsSmokingDepression and anxietyOccupations with repetitive physical workInjury

Age

A major risk factor for cervical spondylosis is age. Once you reach 40, your likelihood of developing neck arthritis increases. By age 60, according to The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, more than 85% of people have cervical spondylosis.

Genetics

If you have relatives with cervical spondylosis, you have a higher risk of developing it yourself. Some researchers think this may be due to inherited factors such as a naturally narrow spinal canal or smaller-than-average passages between vertebrae.

Those narrow passages make it more likely that the spinal cord or nerves will come into contact with other structures, leading to myelopathy and radiculopathy.

Not all research agrees, though. A 2014 study found that the diameter of the spinal canal and vertebral bodies was not associated with an increased risk of cervical spondylosis.

Smoking

Studies show that smoking is a risk factor for neck pain. Researchers suspect smoking could speed up the process of cervical disc degeneration, especially in the lower discs.

This is just one of many reasons you should quit smoking.

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are psychological risk factors for neck pain in general, and research shows depression may increase your risk of developing cervical spondylosis.

Additionally, these mental health conditions have been linked to worse outcomes after disc replacement surgery. On a more positive note, though, having less neck pain after the surgery can help alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Occupation

Your occupation can be a significant risk factor for cervical spondylosis if it involves repetitive neck motions, working above your head, heavy lifting, poor ergonomics, or exposure to vibration.

Those at high risk because of their jobs include:

PaintersPlumbersFlooring installersConstruction workersTruck or bus driversAnyone who stares at a computer screen that’s at the wrong height

Injury

While most people with neck arthritis haven’t had previous neck injuries, trauma to your neck—and especially repeated trauma—increases your risk for cervical spondylosis.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

When it comes to imaging tests for cervical spondylosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard.

An MRI may help your healthcare provider see your bones, soft tissues, and nerves, and it may help them to accurately see how much space is surrounding your spinal cord and/or nerve roots.

X-Rays

X-rays are also used for diagnosing cervical spondylosis, as they allow visualization of the bony passageways that contain the spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots. If you don’t have nerve symptoms, you may only need an X-ray. 

An X-ray can alert your healthcare provider to things like narrowing in your disc space, the presence of bone spurs, and any decrease in your spinal canal diameter that could lead to myelopathy.

It may also help your healthcare provider classify cervical spondylosis as mild, moderate, or severe.

Computed Tomography Scans

A computed tomography (CT) scan is another diagnostic imaging test commonly given to people with cervical spondylosis. A CT scan is like an X-ray, except that it takes multiple images and puts them together to display a cross-section of the area.

The image quality is better than that of an X-ray, so it may allow your healthcare provider to better study your spinal canal and, down the road, any changes in your bones that have occurred since your last CT scan.

Myelography

Myelography is a type of CT scan that involves injecting dye into your body to see certain structures better. Healthcare providers use it to visualize your spinal nerve roots and track down obstructions that could lead to radiculopathy symptoms. 

Nerve Conduction Study

Another test healthcare providers use to diagnose (or confirm a diagnosis of) radiculopathy is a nerve conduction study. It measures how well your nerves are functioning.

Nerve conduction studies sometimes are done in conjunction with an electromyography test, which measures nerve-to-muscle functioning during contraction and relaxation. During the study, electrodes will be placed on your skin that deliver electrical stimulation to your nerves. Some people find this to be uncomfortable.

Rheumatologists Neurologists Orthopedic surgeons Neurosurgeons

Conservative management may help you control pain and slow the progression of the disease. For more severe cases, surgery may be an option.

Conservative Management

While you can’t stop age-related joint degeneration from occurring, it is possible to slow down its rate of development. 

If your symptoms are mild or moderate and you don’t have progressive nerve problems, conservative care may be all you need. This may involve some combination of:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, Aleve (naproxen), or Advil (ibuprofen), to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain Analgesics, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), for pain relief only Corticosteroid injections to treat radiating pain and to reduce inflammation Nerve blocks for temporary pain relief Use of a cervical collar for support and stabilization during the healing period Exercise, or, in other cases, restriction (but not elimination) of physical activity Physical therapy, which can be tailored to your specific symptoms and problems

Surgery

Surgery is not generally necessary for cervical spondylosis. Signs you may need surgery include:

Pain that is difficult or impossible to control Radiculopathy symptoms that worsen over time

If you do happen to need surgery, there are several surgical options.

If you believe you’re at risk of developing neck arthritis, talk to your healthcare provider about how you may be able to prevent or delay it.