What are the Causes of Cervical Spondylosis?

Chronic wear on the cervical spine causes cervical spondylosis. This includes the intervertebral discs or cushions between the neck vertebrae and the joints between the bones of the cervical spine.

Abnormal growths or ‘spurs’ on the vertebrae can, over time, compress one or more of the nerve roots. In advanced cases of cervical spondylosis, the spinal cord becomes involved. This can affect the arms and the legs.

Everyday wear and tear may trigger these changes.

The major risk factor for cervical spondylosis is aging. Other factors that increase a person’s likelihood to develop spondylosis are-

Injury- Cervical spondylosis can be caused by previous injury, repeated fractures or dislocations of the joints of neck. These cause abnormal tear of joints, ligaments and the structures surrounding the joints.
Occupational strain- The physical strain, intensity of work and duration of working hours all constitutes the occupational strain. Having a job that requires heavy lifting or a lot of bending and twisting increases the wear and tear.
Bad posture- Incorrect posture adapted by habit or due to poor skeletal set up in the neck predisposes abnormal tear of the neck joints.
Body type- Being overweight and not exercising increases the chances of cervical spondylosis.
Past spine surgery
Severeosteoarthritis
Osteoporosis- It results in small fractures to the spine.

Published on Feb 18, 2016
Last Updated on Feb 18, 2016

csrehman Sunday, July 8, 2018

I have coped with pain from multilevel degenerative cervical spondylosis for 10 years and now it has become more constant and much more nagging. There are periods when pain isn't as sever but it is constantly present. This makes it difficult to concentrate and focus on anything else and do normal things in life. I am very depressed over this and do not know what to do. I sought counselling, but it is not helping because I can not detach my mind from the pain in the back. Has anybody else had same experience and how have overcome this.

srikanth544 Sunday, February 9, 2014

dear sir,,for the past 2 months i under go the treatment for cervical spondylosis. now i feel that i got paining in the legs for the past 10 days .. and doctor said that i have to go for a surgery but i under go heart surgery in the year july 2012...sir can u suggest me the best option

samvedna.pathak Wednesday, October 30, 2013

which type of diet must be given and must be restricted for cervical spondylitis ?

lovashyam1166 Thursday, October 17, 2013

I Lova Raju i am suffering with cervical spine as per MRI report small osteophytes noted over C5 and C6 vertebral bodies diffuse annular bulging and postero-central protresion of C5/C6 interverterbral disc causing compression on cord and bilateral neural foramina. diffuse annular bulging and right posterior para central protrusion of C3/C4 and C4/C5 intervetbral discs causing diffuse compression on cord. diffuse annular bulging of C6/C7 intervetbral discs causing compression on cord and neural foramen. Please suggest me a better solution.

jamal_khan Saturday, October 5, 2013

Is cervical spondylosis curable completly or what level we can recover. plz reply