Ask The Doctors: April 2011

Cervical spondylosis is another name for degenerative osteoarthritis that affects the vertebrae in the upper spine. It causes narrowing of the space between the vertebrae and development of benign bony growths, called osteophytes, on the vertebrae. Pressure on nerves by these osteophytes can cause shooting pain from the shoulders to the hands and numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms and hands.