| If you are wondering whether that pain on your neck | | | | headaches are still commonly found in patients with |
| could be caused by cervical spondylitis, then read on. I | | | | cervical spondylitis. |
| will be presenting the top 5 signs and symptoms of this | | | | Lhermitte's symptom |
| condition. | | | | Patients with cervical spondylitis would report pain, |
| Intermittent neck and/or shoulder pain | | | | described as like a bolt of electricity passing from the |
| Intermittent neck and shoulder pain is the most | | | | neck down to the legs, when they are asked to flex |
| common symptom associated with cervical spondylitis. | | | | their neck. This sensation, called Lhermitte's symptom, |
| This syndrome, called cervicalgia, is one of the top | | | | usually indicate that there is compression in the level of |
| reasons which prompt patients to consult their doctors. | | | | the cervical or upper thoracic (T1-T2) vertebrae. |
| In fact, almost all patients with cervical spondylitis would | | | | However, this symptom is not exclusive for cervical |
| complain of pain. Some patients would complain of pain | | | | spondylitis. Lhermitte's symptom may also be seen in |
| radiating to the shoulder, arm or hand. A third of patient | | | | patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple |
| would complain of pain on bilateral shoulders. | | | | sclerosis, or spinal cord tumors causing compressioin |
| The pain of cervical spondylitis is due to compression | | | | on the cervical or thoracic nerves. |
| of the spinal cord at the level of the neck (or cervical | | | | Signs of cervical radiculopathy |
| spine level) or upper back (or thoracic spine level) or | | | | Patients with cervical spondylitis would present with |
| the nerve roots as they exit the spinal column. This | | | | signs and symptoms suggestive of cervical |
| compression may be due to the narrowing of the | | | | radiculopathy. Radiculopathy is a condition wherein the |
| spinal canal, hardening (a process called ossification) of | | | | affected nerves or nerve roots are not working |
| the posterior ligaments which stabilize the spine, or | | | | properly, resulting pain, weakness, numbness, and |
| displacement of a large central disc (called the nucleus | | | | difficulty in controlling specific muscles. Patients with |
| pulposus). Degeneration of the bone of the spinal | | | | cervical radiculopathy may complain of pain, weakness, |
| column at the cervical or upper thoracic level is usually | | | | or numbness of the shoulder, forearm, and/or hands. |
| the culprit behind this narrowing. | | | | Some patients would report clumsiness in their hands. |
| In most cases, the pain would be non-specific. There | | | | Not infrequently, pain or weakness may be felt in the |
| may or may not be any neurologic signs, which | | | | chest or breast area. Compression of the cervical |
| confounds diagnosis. Your doctor may request for | | | | nerve roots as they exit the spine account for this |
| imaging studies such as computed | | | | syndrome. |
| tomography-myelography (CT-myelography) or | | | | Non-specific signs of spinal cord compression |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for possible | | | | Lastly, signs of spinal cord compression not limited to |
| causes of the neck and shoulder pain. However, in the | | | | the neck, shoulder, and upper limbs may also be seen |
| absence of neurologic deficits, your doctor may find it | | | | in patients with cervical spondylitis. Some patients may |
| difficult to diagnose this condition based on the results | | | | complain of urinary retention, urgency, frequency, or |
| of imaging studies alone. | | | | incontinence. These may be caused by large |
| Headaches | | | | compressions on the C5-C6 level of the cervical spine. |
| Compression of the nerve as they exit the spinal canal | | | | Some would experience difficulty in swallowing, also |
| causes headaches. These headaches are most often | | | | called dysphagia. Some complain of airway |
| felt at the base of the skull and may radiate to the | | | | dysfunction. Usually, these patients are elderly. These |
| vertex and the occipital area. The reasons for this | | | | symptoms are in turn, caused by huge osteophyte |
| headache are poorly understood. This area is supplied | | | | deposits causing mechanical obstruction on the |
| by the nerve roots exiting the C2 to C4 cervical | | | | esophagus. |
| vertebrae. However, the occipital nerve is rarely | | | | After knowing all these things, isn't it time for you to |
| compressed, even in the presence of bony | | | | see your doctor? That pain in your neck won't simply |
| degenerations in the affected joints. Regardless, | | | | go away without proper medication and therapy. |