When there is wear in the cervical spine joint we have a case of cervical uncoarthrosis. We are talking about a natural and progressive degenerative process, that is, it is part of the natural aging of our joints. But, there are some habits that can worsen the condition and demand specific treatments. Understand it below.

Main symptoms of cervical uncoarthrosis

Pain and a burning sensation in the cervical region are the first symptoms of cervical uncoarthrosis. In severe cases, the patient may present more severe symptoms, such as pain radiating to the arms, tingling, and difficulty in performing fine movements (fine movements are those involving small muscles, such as in the palm and fingers of the hand - for example, using scissors).

Treatment

Pain control and posture correction are the main goals of the initial treatment for cervical uncoarthrosis, so the doctor may prescribe drugs such as painkillers and anti-inflammatories, and also indicate physical therapy.

In addition, there are cases that require surgery, which occurs in more severe situations, to decompress nerve components that end up being affected by the condition.

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What can it cause?

Cervical uncoarthrosis is a type of arthrosis, which is nothing more than the degenerative process of a joint, so, as mentioned before, aging itself leads us to this condition in a natural way.

But there are also cases of genetic pre-disposition to cervical uncoarthrosis. And there is also the warning that bad posture and ergonomic habits can accentuate the progression of the condition. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to details of the routine, such as working position and handling of objects.

For those who work sitting down, for example, the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics (SBOT) indicates the use of chairs with an adequate backrest and that support the back. The feet should be placed on the floor or on an appropriate support. The care is to keep the knees at an angle greater than 90°. And the wrists should stay in a straight position when typing on the computer.

According to the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology (SBR), reading on the equipment should not exceed 20 consecutive minutes.

Source: Dr. Bruno Vieira Motter (CRM 142047), orthopedic and traumatologist specialized in spine surgery, member of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics (SBOT), the Brazilian Spine Society (SBC), the spine surgery group at the ABC School of Medicine, and preceptor of the Orthopedics residency and spine surgery group at the ABC School of Medicine