cervical spondylosis

Etiology

• mechanical neck pain
• cervical radiculopathy
• cervical degenerative myelopathy (least common, most worrisome)

Clinical manifestations

• mechanical neck pain
  • source of the pain often difficult for patient to pinpoint
  • pain often worsened by neck motion & relieved by rest & immobilization
• see cervical radiculopathy
• see cervical degenerative myelopathy

Management

• if no neurologic deficits, analgesia & physical therapy
  • refereal to a specialist in chronic pain management as needed
  • treat coexisting psychiatric disorders, including anxiety & depression
• also see degenerative cervical radiculopathy
  • nonsurgical care, including oral analgesics, epidural glucocorticoids, physical therapy, cervical traction or immobilization in a cervical orthosis, massage
  • surgery for progrwssion
• also see cervical degenerative myelopathy
  • referral to spine surgeon

More general terms

• spondylosis