Myth 1: Turning the neck with a ring is cervical spondylosis Turning the neck with a ring does not necessarily mean cervical spondylosis. If the neck has always rattled recently, how can you screen whether this rattling is a problem or not? If there is a popping sound in the cervical spine accompanied by some symptoms, such as pain, numbness or weakness, then you should be alert to the fact that this may be an early symptom of cervical spondylosis. However, if it is just a simple “physiological popping”, there is no need to be too nervous. There are two main sources of “physiological ringing”: one is from the joints of the cervical spine, the joints in the flexion and extension and rotation of the cervical spine will emit ringing, of course, there are also theories that there are small bubbles in the joints or abnormal misalignment of the joints or even joint wear, in short, the joints are often the most important cause of ringing. The second is from the back of the neck developed muscles and ligaments, muscles and ligaments between the tissue in flexion and extension activities will also have abnormal friction, resulting in a popping sound. Myth 2: Neck and shoulder pain is cervical spondylosis Occasional neck and shoulder pain or soreness may be caused by fasciitis or cold or strain. If the pain and soreness always strikes, it is a warning signal from the body that it may be cervical cervical spondylosis (see the five manifestations of cervical spondylosis, please take the right number), and it is strictly speaking a manifestation of the early stages of cervical spondylosis. Myth 3: Having symptoms of hand numbness and dizziness is cervical spondylosis Having symptoms of dizziness and hand numbness is not necessarily cervical spondylosis and requires further screening by a doctor. Many diseases can cause dizziness. If dizziness is accompanied by symptoms of blackness and confusion in front of the eyes, it suggests that the patient may have insufficient blood supply to the brain; if dizziness is related to body position, we should suspect whether it is Meniere’s syndrome or otoliths; cervical vertigo caused by cervical spondylosis is related to the neck, and dizziness will occur when the patient turns his neck or leans back, and it is rare to have severe vertigo, such as feeling spinning and unable to get up from bed. If hand numbness occurs, the doctor will first consider whether there is a problem with the cervical spine, whether it is caused by cervical spondylosis compressing the nerve roots. But other conditions may also cause hand numbness, if the nerve in the arm or wrist is compressed, it will also produce the symptoms of hand numbness, such as thoracic outlet syndrome, elbow tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome (mouse hand), and so on. Therefore, we cannot generalize that hand numbness is cervical spondylosis, and need a specialist to differentiate. Myth 4: Cervical spine with osteophytes is cervical spondylosis Osteophytes are commonly known as bone spurs. If the x-ray film shows that the cervical spine has a bone spur, the report will write osteophytes. However, a bone spur in the cervical spine does not necessarily mean that the spur is compressing the nerves and spinal cord. Clinically, some patients with cervical spine spurs do not have any symptoms. Only when the spinal cord, nerves or sympathetic nerves are compressed and stimulated, and clinical symptoms are produced, can a diagnosis of cervical spondylosis be made, not that cervical spondylosis is diagnosed when X-rays show osteophytes. Myth 5: Cervical spondylosis is a disease of the elderly and young people do not get it. Many people feel uncomfortable with their necks after working for a long time next to the computer, or playing with the cell phone with their heads down for too long, or driving for a long time, which are early manifestations of cervical spondylosis, and we should be alert and pay attention to them. The pressure and rhythm of modern work life has led to a younger and younger cervical spondylosis population, and many young cervical spondylosis patients are often admitted clinically, so we must abandon the misconception that cervical spondylosis is a disease of the elderly, and prevent cervical spondylosis should start with young people.