{"id":3958,"date":"2019-02-15T04:05:19","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T04:05:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=3958"},"modified":"2021-03-26T16:06:58","modified_gmt":"2021-03-26T16:06:58","slug":"14-signs-of-spondylosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-signs-of-spondylosis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs of Spondylosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cervical spondylosis is the technical term for \u2018age-related wear\u2019 to the spinal disks in the neck. This condition can cause some pain and discomfort, however in many cases it will actually remain asymptomatic with no obvious signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, it\u2019s important to be vigilant when looking out for tell-tale signs. After all, this problem is rife: affecting over 85 percent of people older than 60, and potentially leading to other more serious problems such as pain, discomfort, numbness, weakness, or even loss of bladder control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll take a look at how you can spot those early warning signs of spondylosis, such that you might be able to get it addressed before it develops into something more serious that requires more urgent treatment or that negatively impacts on your way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And of course, if you\u2019re unsure, then it always pays to see your physician and find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 signs of spondylosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Pain in the Neck<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spondylosis <\/a>is caused by the normal degradation, dehydration, and damage that occurs to the discs (vertebral discs) in the neck, between each vertebra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These discs have a range of different important roles, as we will see in a moment. One of the most important though is simply to help pad the vertebrae and to prevent them from chafing against each other and creating friction. When this happens, it can cause discomfort and damage to the neck over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, it can also lead to swelling, and it can irritate the nerves that live there. Thus, if you find yourself with regular neck pain, then it\u2019s possible that spondylosis is responsible \u2013 especially if you can\u2019t think of anything specific that you did that might have caused the discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2 Common Slipped Discs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another thing to look out for is slipped discs. Slipped discs occur when the damage to the discs is such that they move out from between the vertebrae <\/a>and allow them to compress together in response to gravity. This can then be much more irritating for the nerves and can lead to severe pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, slipped discs are self-limiting and will recover with rest (they are also known as bulging discs or herniated discs). However, if you find that you are particularly susceptible to this problem and that the discs are slipping continuously, you may wish to explore any potential underlying causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This could be due to something in your routine. Perhaps you have poor posture, maybe you\u2019re prone to hunching at your desk, or maybe you go to the gym and you don\u2019t use the best technique when lifting heavyweights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it might also be that you have a weakness caused by wear and tear \u2013 i.e. spondylosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3 Loss of Coordination<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the vertebral discs exist in order to help pad the vertebrae and prevent them from rubbing against each other. Not only that, but they also help to provide the necessary space for the nerves to run through without becoming irritated<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s useful to keep in mind then, is precisely what the role of these nerves is. Nerves don\u2019t just allow us to sense pain and other sensations, they also allow us to send signals to <\/em>the disparate parts of our body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you trapped a nerve then or irritated it in some way, you might find that the signals are interrupted going both ways \u2013 and that this can, therefore, leads to poor coordination and difficulty going about your normal tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4 Weakness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another similar issue is weakness. That is to say that while the signal might be getting through the compressed spine, it could be weaker than it normally would be. That is liable in turn to affect your ability to recruit muscle fiber: in other words, you might become less able to generate the kind of strength and power from your muscles <\/a>that you would normally need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The result is that you become weaker, with no real explanation or obvious reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And because the nerves traveling down the spine and neck can lead to any part of the body, this weakness may be felt anywhere<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every time that you want to move a muscle, lift your arm, or do anything else, your brain will first make the intention to do so by lighting up the relevant part of the motor cortex. This signal then needs to travel through the neck and to the relevant part of the body \u2013 so damage to the neck can be felt anywhere <\/em>in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5 Difficulty Walking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You may also find that if you suffer from spinal spondylosis, that you struggle with walking. This is simply a result of the combination of factors we\u2019ve already discussed: weakness and a lack of coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we take walking for granted, it does, in fact, involve a very precise and controlled movement of the limbs, which must be perfectly timed. Walking also requires a fair amount of strength, in order to bear the weight and hold the body upright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the reasons that it is so <\/em>important to get your spondylosis seen to early. This is a more advanced symptom and so by catching the issue early, you might be able to prevent it from progressing to that point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason that you might struggle walking if you suffer from spondylosis is dizziness. As well as nerves, it\u2019s also true that a lot of blood vessels<\/a> (veins and arteries) travel through your neck and carry blood to and from the brain. With this interrupted, the brain can become quickly starved of oxygen, which can, in turn, make you feel lightheaded and dizzy \u2013 just as you do when you hyperventilate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6 Numbness and Tingling in the Arms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another more common symptom of spondylosis which might provide an earlier clue is that you feel numbness<\/a>, coldness, or a tingling sensation. This could affect predominantly your arms most commonly, but it could alternatively also be felt throughout the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is once again a result of the \u2018signal\u2019 traveling through the neck being interfered with. It\u2019s key to remember here that your nerves send all kinds of signals. And if you\u2019ve ever slept on your arm in a strange position, or sat on a leg for too long, then you\u2019ll be all too familiar with the feeling of pins and needles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is caused <\/em>by blood and oxygen failing to get to the nerves, and as such it makes sense that it can also be caused by spondylosis\u2026 which is effectively almost the same thing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7 Loss of Bowel Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most unpleasant and potentially embarrassing spondylosis symptoms is the loss of bowel and bladder <\/a>control. As with so many other items on this list, this is a result of the signals traveling up and down the spine being interfered with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this case, it is a signal from the brain stem \u2013 the part of the body that is largely responsible for autonomic and unconscious processes such as breathing, urination, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you get to this point, it is very important that you be seen by a professional as soon as possible \u2013 before you lose other key functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8 Risk Factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Trying to diagnose any condition yourself can be very difficult and fraught with problems. This is particularly true when the condition is something that has a range of different symptoms that are similar to a lot of other illnesses and problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of spondylosis, you might find that the pain is caused by a range of types of backache or nerve <\/a>damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this reason, it helps to consider the risk factors and whether you are likely to have the complaint. For instance, if you are over 60, then your chances of spondylosis go up considerably. It\u2019s also true if you have had a bad posture for a long time, or if you have had an injury in the past such as whiplash. This could cause initial damage to the discs in the neck, which could then easily develop into something more serious over time and worsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>