Cervical Spondylosis in Vacaville

Cervical spondylosis in Vacaville is the term used for the age-related wear and tear that affects the spinal disks in the neck. Signs of osteoarthritis are going to develop when the disks start to dehydrate and shrink along with the bony projections on the edges of the bones.

This condition is quite common, and it worsens with age. About 85% of people beyond age 60 are affected by cervical spondylosis.

Some people do not experience any symptoms from these problems. But once it does, nonsurgical treatments are often effective.

Symptoms in Vacaville

If ever you have cervical spondylosis, you may experience symptoms that involve pain and stiffness in the neck.

Cervical spondylosis is sometimes caused by a narrowing of the space needed by the spinal cord and the nerve roots passing through the spine to the rest of the body. Once the spinal cord or nerve roots become pinched, you may experience the following:

• Balance and walking difficulties
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms, hands, feet, or legs

Causes

As you age, you will experience wear and tear that starts on the bones and cartilage that make up your neck and backbone. These are the changes that can occur:

• Dehydrated Disks - Disks are like cushions that act as shock absorbers between each vertebra of the spine. By age 40, our spinal disks start to shrink and dry out, which causes bone-on-bone contact between the vertebrae.
• Bone Spurs - Disk degeneration can cause the spine to produce extra amounts of bone in a misguided effort to strengthen the spine. Bone spurs can pinch the spinal cord and nerve roots.
• Herniated Disks - Age can affect the spinal disks' exterior. Cracks may show up that lead to bulging disks - which can press on the spinal cord and nerve roots.
• Stiff Ligaments - Ligaments are tissue cords that connect bone to bone. As you age, spinal ligaments start to become stiff, which makes your neck less flexible.

Risk Factors

You become at risk of cervical spondylosis when you have the following:

• Age - Cervical spondylosis can happen to anyone, especially as you age.
• Smoking - This habit has been linked to increased pain.
• Occupation - Working on a job that involves repetitive neck motions, awkward positioning or overhead work can put excessive stress on the neck.
• Neck Injuries - Any neck injuries that you have can increase the risk of cervical spondylosis.
• Genetic Factors - There are individuals, depending on their families, who will experience more changes over time while some do not.

Complications

If cervical spondylosis has severely compressed your spinal cord or nerve roots, then the damage can become permanent.

When to See A Doctor

Once you experience a sudden onset of numbness or weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control, you should seek medical attention right away.