Cervical spondylosis
This information may be useful for those who have been diagnosed with cervical spondylosis. People who are experiencing new or ongoing symptoms should visit their healthcare professional for assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
What is cervical spondylosis?
Cervical spondylosis is the medical term for neck pain caused by age-related changes to bones and tissues.
Apart from age, there are several other risk factors that may increase the likelihood of developing cervical spondylosis. These include:
Symptoms of cervical spondylosis
Many people experience no noticeable symptoms. It's common to experience some or all of these symptoms including:
- neck pain
- stiffness
- headaches which usually start at the back of the head, just above the neck, and travel over the top to the forehead.
Pain usually comes and goes, with flare-ups followed by symptom-free periods.
Rarely, it can irritate a nerve in the neck, which can cause symptoms such as pain and or altered sensation in your arm for example pins and needles or numbness. If any of these occur, it’s a good idea to talk to a health care professional.
Diagnosing cervical spondylosis
In order for cervical spondylosis to be diagnosed you will need an assessment from a healthcare professional.
They'll initially ask you questions about your neck issue and then carry out a physical examination. This may include checking your range of movement and strength.
You may sometimes need to have a further examination to rule out other possible health conditions.
Treatment of cervical spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis is a long term condition, and symptoms are often variable from day to day. Many patients have found that managing their symptoms can help improve their quality of life.
There are some things you can do to help manage this condition yourself.
Help and support
Following this advice, you should see gradual improvements over time.
You should see the biggest change in your symptoms within the first couple of weeks. Most problems should have improved within 6 weeks.
If your neck pain hasn’t improved within 6 weeks of following this advice, or if your symptoms get worse at any time, talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.
Read about how to access MSK services
When dealing with any health condition it's important to also look after your mental wellbeing as this can impact your recovery.
Last updated:
22 March 2023