DEGENERATIVE CERVICAL SPINE

DEGENERATIVE CERVICAL SPINE - Degenerative cervical spine conditions are age-related issues affecting the neck and upper back. This area is vulnerable to damage because your cervical (upper) spine not only supports your head, but it also facilitates movement between your neck and head. The cervical spine is made up of seven vertebrae, labeled C1 – C7. These vertebrae are linked by facet joints and cushioned by round discs made of cartilage. As we age, the joints and discs in the spine can dry out and lose their ability to withstand everyday activity, leading to conditions like arthritis and degenerative disc disease. Symptoms will usually be experienced in relation to nerve compression caused by displaced anatomy like herniated disc material or an arthritic bone spur.

• Pain — A compressed nerve in the cervical spine can cause pain that begins in the neck or upper back and then feels as if it is radiating or shooting down through your shoulders, arms and hands.

• Numbness — Since spinal nerves in the cervical spine control sensation in the upper neck, back, shoulders, arms and hands, numbness in the upper body could be a sign of a degenerative spine disease in the cervical region.

• Tingling — You may get a pins-and-needles feeling due to certain spinal nerves being partially restricted.