Dear Doctor: Causes, complications of neck arthritis

By Gerard Werries, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery

Q. Will I become paralyzed from my neck arthritis?

A. Arthritis of the neck is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction in patients 55 years and older. It affects men twice as much as women and can consist of bone spurs, disc bulges/herniations or thickened ligaments of the spine. Risk factors include frequent lifting, excessive driving and genetic and autoimmune factors.

Symptoms of neck arthritis can be neck pain, decreased motion, arm pain, numbness and weakness. Patients with significant spinal cord compression caused by severe neck arthritis often develop leg weakness, experience difficulty writing and walking and develop bowel and bladder difficulties.

If you have neck arthritis, you should have a thorough history taken and a physical done by a trained spinal surgeon. Routine X-rays of the neck should be done, after which additional imaging tests may be required to check the severity of spinal cord compression. Nerve conduction studies also may be required.

Patients with mild neck arthritis and minimal symptoms often respond well to physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections. When conservative treatment fails or severe spinal cord compression from neck arthritis develops, surgery may be required to make room for the spinal cord and nerve roots. It is important for patients with severe spinal cord compression and significant neurological problems to seek immediate consultation with a spinal surgeon to avoid permanent damage to the spinal cord.