Date updated: January 25, 2010
Content provided by National Institute of Health

Also called: Cervical Spondylosis, Cervical osteoarthritis, Arthritis neck, Neck arthritis, Cervical Arthritis

Degenerative neck disease better known as cervical spondylosis is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder. It is precipitated by the erosion of the cartilage and bones of the neck. The situation is further compounded by the deposition of minerals like calcium on the spine making neck movements extremely difficult, gritty and painful. The deposition which is in the form of bone spurs starts compressing the nerve roots leading to the loss of sensation to the regions where these nerves serves. In advanced stages of the disease the spine also becomes involved and loss of sensation extends to the leg and other parts of the body. A previous neck injury can predispose cervical spondylosis. 70% of persons above 70 suffer from some form or other of neck or spinal degeneration.

Degenerative neck disease is also termed as Neck arthritis, Arthritis - neck and Cervical Osteoarthritis.

Symptoms include "neck pain, loss of sensation or abnormal sensations of the shoulders, arms, or (rarely) legs, weakness of the arms or (rarely) legs, neck stiffness that progressively worsens, loss of balance, headaches, particularly in the back of the head and loss of control of the bladder or bowels".