The symptoms of cervical spondylosis are varied. Due to degeneration and protrusion of the cervical disc, osteophyte formation at the posterior margin of the vertebral body, hypertrophy of the uncovertebral joint, hypertrophy of the facet joints, thickening of the yellow ligament or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, etc., the cervical canal, intervertebral foramen or transverse foramen may become deformed and narrowed, and cervical instability occurs, which stimulates or compresses the spinal cord, nerve roots, vertebral artery, and sympathetic nerves, resulting in a series of related symptoms of cervical spondylosis.
Among these, when the nerve root is stimulated or compressed, it can lead to radiculopathy type cervical spondylosis. The typical symptoms mainly manifest as pain or numbness in the neck or neck-shoulder area, either persistent or intermittent, radiating to the upper limbs and fingers, accompanied by a sensation like needle pricks or electric shocks. When the neck moves, or during coughing, sneezing, or excessive force, the pain and tingling sensation may worsen. There may also be muscle atrophy in the upper limbs, heaviness, soreness, weakness, lack of flexibility, and more severe pain in the neck-shoulder area and upper limbs at night, making it difficult to sleep.
When the cervical spinal cord is stimulated or compressed, or when the arteries supplying the spinal cord are stimulated or compressed, leading to insufficient blood supply to the spinal cord, it can result in myelopathy type cervical spondylosis. The typical symptoms mainly include progressive numbness, weakness, stiffness, and lack of flexibility in the limbs, a feeling of walking on cotton, and even paralysis of the limbs, a sensation of being bound around the chest or abdomen, and difficulty or loss of control in urination and defecation.
When the sympathetic nerves in the neck are stimulated or compressed, it can lead to sympathetic type cervical spondylosis. The typical symptoms mainly include headache or migraine, dizziness, possibly accompanied by nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, decreased vision, dilated or constricted pupils, posterior eye pain, accelerated heartbeat, arrhythmia, chest pain, elevated blood pressure, abnormal sweating in the head, neck, and limbs, as well as tinnitus, hearing loss, and speech disorders. It may also present with eye strain, tearing, nasal congestion, bradycardia, decreased blood pressure, bloating, and other complex symptoms.
When the vertebral artery in the neck is stimulated or compressed, it can lead to vertebral artery type cervical spondylosis. The typical symptoms mainly include episodic vertigo, sudden visual impairment or blindness, double vision, etc., which can recover within a short period. There may also be sudden falls. Most of these symptoms occur when the head rotates suddenly or flexes and extends.
It can be seen that the symptoms of cervical spondylosis are extraordinarily complicated and varied.
Therefore, the symptoms of cervical spondylosis should attract more attention from clinical doctors and patients.
Source: Cervical Spondylosis Symptoms Treatment Network http://www.chinakry.com/jingzhuibingzhengzhuang.asp