The cervical spine is made up of seven bones called vertebrae that are separated by soft, spongy discs designed to absorb shock. Through injury, overuse, or even just aging, the joints and bones of the neck can degenerate and cause a variety of problems. This wear-and-tear breakdown of the cervical spine is called spondylosis or osteoarthritis. In this process the bones may develop new growths, called osteophytes or bone spurs. These bone spurs can put pressure on nearby spinal nerves or other structures and cause symptoms to occur.
Pain
According to the Mayo Clinic, bone spurs are not painful by themselves, but can cause pain by compressing nerves, soft tissues and blood vessels. Pain is often the first symptom recognized by those who have bone spurs. Pain can be localized in the neck or it may radiate down the shoulder, the arm and into the fingertips as it follows the course of the pinched nerve. The most common treatments for pain related to a bone spur include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ice or heat, rest and physical therapy. Rarely will surgery be recommended unless pain and other neurological symptoms become severe and do not respond to conservative treatments.
Numbness and Tingling
The cervical spine houses the spinal cord, and at each vertebral level, spinal nerves branch off the cord and travel to the periphery of the body. The spinal nerves carry information related to sensations such as touch. When a bone spur grows large enough to put pressure on one of these delicate spinal nerves, the ability of the nerve to carry appropriate information is compromised, and altered sensations may occur, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center. Numbness and tingling are common altered sensations and can occur anywhere between the neck and fingertips.
Muscle Weakness
The same pattern of nerve compression by the bone spur that causes numbness and tingling can also contribute to muscle weakness, according to Spine-Health.com. The spinal nerves, in addition to carrying information about sensation, also carry motor signals that control how muscles work. Muscles that do not receive complete nervous input can be compromised and get weak. Some patients do not even realize that they have muscle weakness until a doctor examines them and discovers it.
Range of Motion
The cervical spine has a very large range of motion under normal circumstances. This contributes to the high instance of spondylosis and bone spur formation. When a bone spur grows off the surface of a normal vertebra, it can cause stiffness or a decreased range of motion in the neck, according to MedlinePlus. Stretching and exercise can help return some range of motion and can also help ease other symptoms.
