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Not to be confused with spondylitis, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis. Spondylosis is the degeneration of the vertebral processes and formation of osteophytes. It commonly occurs with aging. Often there is herniation of the nucleus pulposus. Compression of the nerve roots is accompanied with sensory system and motor system disturbances and pain. Spondylosis is a deformity of the joint of two vertebrae, particularly of the neck, where as the space between the two adjacent vertebrae narrows, this result in pressing upon the nerves emerging from the spinal cord and result in severe pain in the neck, shoulder and upperlimbs etc.
Treatment The pain can be relieved by wearing a hard collar around the neck which keeps the affected vertebrae slightly apart, and hence the pressure on the nerves is released. However, the use of a collar is not recommended these days as it can weaken the muscles supporting the vertebrae and hence exacerbate the problem in the long term. Physiotherapy where the neck is exercised is now generally used as the preferred treatment. Chiropractic treatment of mild cases of the disease is not the preferred method of treatment by conventional medicine. Evidentiary support for mobility (physiotherapy) or manipulative (chiropractic) therapies has shown an observed improvement in perceived pain and immobility in mechanical neck disorders. However such therapies are not supported as being of greater use in relieving pain and inflammation than conventional medicine and neither was identified as being superior to the other. * | ||||||||
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