Cervical Osteoarthritis Newport Beach, CA

Cervical Osteoarthritis Treatment in Orange County

Cervical Osteoarthritis, also called cervical spondylosis or neck arthritis, is a common degenerative condition in the neck section of the spine. It is commonly caused by aging because as disks age, they fragment, lose fluid and collapse or become stiffer.

Causes

As part of our aging process, our bones, muscles, joints and soft tissues normally start to degenerate. As our spine degeneration begins on the spine, it can affect the discs that cushion and separate the vertebrae, leading to the formation of cracks and fissures in the disc walls.

Symptoms of Cervical Osteoarthritis is different for every person, but it generally causes neck pain. Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, are a common signs of cervical osteoarthritis, and may impinge on a nerve, producing the symptoms that radiate into the arms.

  • Intermittent pain radiating between the shoulder blades or just to the shoulder
  • Headaches around the back of the head
  • Stiffness and pain in the morning, then improves after getting up and moving around
  • Pain that goes away after resting

Initial treatment will involve thorough medical history and physical exam, including the patient’s symptoms. To help detect Cervical Osteoarthritis, Robert Louis, MD conducts a neurological exam and may request for diagnostic imaging to find the exact location of disc degeneration causing the symptoms of Cervical Osteoarthritis.

Computerized tomography (CT Scan): CT scan may aid in determining the exact location of disc causing the nerve root and spinal cord compression.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):Advanced cases of Cervical Osteoarthritis show abnormal signal within the spinal cord on MRI imaging. In case of atrophy of the spinal cord due to nerve cell loss, also referred to as myelomalacia, surgical outcomes may not be as promising.

Initial treatments for Cervical Osteoarthritis are usually medications, non-surgical, such as injections. Surgery may be needed to restore functionality and alleviate pain in the affected joints or discs.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Robert Louis, MD specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery, wherein he incorporates his education, experience and training in cutting edge technology and instrumentation.

Robert Louis, MD, a fellowship-trained Orange County Neurosurgeon, is the Director of the Skull Base and Pituitary Tumor Program at Hoag Memorial Hospital in Orange County, California. Dr. Louis has particular expertise in endoscopic and minimally invasive treatment of brain and spinal conditions.

Dr. Robert Louis specializes in minimally invasive spine surgery for the treatment of Cervical Osteoarthritis. For appointments, please call (949) 383-4185 or Contact Us.