Osteoarthritis in the neck, also called cervical spondylosis, is a condition where the cartilage, bones and discs of the cervical spine are broken down by excessive wear and tear, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cervical spondylosis is not a disease, but is rather caused by abnormal stress and strain on the joints and soft tissues of the neck. As the joints degenerate, they may develop bone spurs, called osteophytes, which can put pressure on nearby soft tissues.
Pain
Localized neck pain is one of the most common first symptoms experienced by a patient with cervical osteoarthritis. In the case of osteoarthritis, pain is not usually caused by inflammation, but is related to joint dysfunction. The joints of the spine are covered with articular cartilage that is worn out with osteoarthritis, allowing bones to rub directly on other bones. This causes improper motion and leads to neck pain. Some people find that osteoarthritis in the neck is worse in the morning and improves with activity, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In response to excessive joint stress, bone spurs may develop and compress delicate spinal nerves. If this occurs, pain may travel down one or both of the arms into the fingers. This type of pain is called radiating, or radicular, pain.
Loss of Sensation
In addition to radiating pain, bone spurs or disc herniations related to osteoarthritis can cause abnormal sensations along the course of spinal nerves. At each vertebral level in the neck, spinal nerves branch off of the spinal cord and travel down the arms, supplying sensations such as touch, vibration and pain. When the spinal nerves are compressed, they cause a loss of these sensations, or in some cases, can cause an increase in sensation. According to MayoClinic.com, symptoms of numbness and tingling, or pinprick can be felt in the shoulder, arms and hands.
Muscle Weakness
Each of the spinal nerves also provides motor function to a variety of muscles in the neck, shoulder girdle, arm, hand and fingers. When a herniated disc or bone spur pinches a spinal nerve, it can affect the flow of information along that nerve and lead to muscle weakness or dysfunction, according to MedlinePlus. One of the most common places to recognize muscle weakness is in the muscles that control grip strength. Many people do not realize that they have muscle weakness until a doctor examines them and discovers it.
Stiffness
Another very common symptom of cervical spondylosis is stiffness in the joints of the neck. An individual may find that they are not able to rotate or laterally bend their head as far to the side as normal. MedlinePlus says that neck stiffness may get worse over time as degeneration continues to cause joint dysfunction.
