I have stiff neck when I getup in the morning..I have to sit hrs on my desk and the pain in neck wnt go. I try to take breaks and do neck exercise..pain becomes less after it but wont go away.
I also do body building and I am very sure not to pickup heavy weight as it might worsen the pain in neck more.. Please advice if I should give up my gym for cervical spondylosis. I hope it is not life threatening!!!! 
Also if you can suggest if i go for X-ray or some medicen for the neck pain?
Posted by: Maria/MD Health Forum.com Team
Cervical spondylosis, also known as cervical osteoarthritis, is a disorder characterized by the abnormal wear and tear of the cartilage and joints in the neck. The bones and cartilage of the neck and backbone deteriorate gradually with increasing age. Sometimes as the disks of the spinal column degenerate, its individual bones develop irregular bony outgrowths (osteophytes). The degenerative changes might irritate the nearby structures such as muscles, nerves and ligaments and many symptoms such as pain, stiffness and muscle spasms may arise. The neck pain may spread to the base of the skull and shoulders and may worsen with movements. In some cases, the symptoms are persistent. If nerves are affected, numbness, weakness tingling and pinprick sensations in the upper or lower extremities may occur.
It would be best to consult your doctor to find out the extent of damage to your cervical spine. Your doctor may perform neurological exam to test your reflexes and check if you have sensation on your upper and lower extremities. Alteration in sensation my indicate pressure on the nerves. Imaging procedures are typically requested to confirm diagnosis. Presence of bone spurs or osteophytes in the neck x-ray indicate cervical spondylosis. Additional diagnostic procedures such as computerized tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging or myelogram may be ordered by the doctor to get a more detailed view of the cervical spine.
Cervical spondylosis is generally managed depending on severity. Treatment is focused on alleviating pain and preventing irreversible injury to the nerves and spinal cord. For mild
cases, physiotherapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be recommended. You should ask your doctor about the type of exercises that are contraindicated for condition. For more serious cases, non-surgical interventions may be employed depending on the evaluation of the doctor. Immobilization of the neck and spine can be done by neck traction to decrease the pressure on the nerves. Drugs such as muscle relaxants and steroids may be given to relieve symptoms. Surgery may be considered if patient fails to respond to drugs and other non-surgical treatment or shows evidence of worsening nerve-related symptoms.
This blog entry is for general information only. I recommend that you discuss your symptoms with your own doctor.
Tags: cervical, neck pain, osteophytes, Pain, spondylosis
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