Cervical osteoarthritis

A degenerative disorder, also known as cervical spondylitis, that affects the joints between the cervical vertebrae (bones in the neck). Cervical osteoarthritis mainly affects middle-aged and elderly people, but occasionally the degeneration begins earlier due to an injury. Symptoms of cervical osteoarthritis may include pain and stiffness in the neck, pain in the arms and shoulders, numbness and tingling in the hands, and a weak grip. Other symptoms such as dizziness, unsteadiness, and double vision when turning the head may also occur. Rarely, pressure on the spinal cord can cause weakness or paralysis in the legs and loss of bladder control. Treatments include heat treatment and analgesics. Physiotherapy may improve neck posture and movement. Pressure on the spinal cord may be relieved by surgery (see decompression, spinal canal).