A series of degenerative changes in the cervical spine, a very common in people above 45 and by 65 practically in every person, is the most common cause of pain in the neck and shoulders. Pain can be so severe that it can restrict neck movements.

Many times, wear and tear is related to one's profession. Take, for instance, a car driver who has to move his neck constantly in various directions, and at the same time, bear the brunt of shocks and jerks experienced on uneven roads.

Due to this, the internal structure of the disc gets deranged, resulting in the loss of the substance that cushions the disc.


Occupational drawbacks, such as tension or a sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercises, which makes muscles flabby, can lead to a damaged spine.

The pain originating in the neck can be due to:

a) Damaged ligaments of the joints.

b) Over-stretching of various ligaments, causing abnormal stiffness in the neck.

c) Formation of osteophytes, which compress the nerve roots as they leave the spinal canal, causing pain. Sometimes, pain may travel all along the nerve to the organs in which it spreads.


Generally, patients complain of discomfort in the neck and shoulders, and at times, in the chest muscles. Exact location of such specific damage of the nerve root in compression can be identified and treated. Nerve damage can also cause numbness or a tingling sensation in the limbs, accompanied with poor reflex responses.

d) In very severe cervical spondylosis, spinal osteophites may often project backward, beyond the intervertebral disc, thereby pressing on the spinal cord. This can lead to weakness and loss of sensation in the entire lower part of the body.

At times, the degenerated disc between two vertebrae can compress the nerves causing pain. Such a situation can be easily identified and diagnosed by modern devices, such as magnetic resonance imaging, CT Scan, etc. In severe cases of disc protrusion, the disc can be removed through surgery to reduce pressure on the nerve. Such an operation, when it becomes absolutely necessary, can give relief, but one should take extreme caution as improper diagnosis or careless surgery could lead to other major problems.