Mr. He, 55, had experienced neck pain for several years, but the symptoms were mild and went unnoticed. Recently, after work, he felt exhausted and uncomfortable in his neck. His wife massaged his shoulders and neck with her elbow to relieve the discomfort. Within minutes, Mr. He suddenly felt numbness and a stinging sensation in his right hand. They stopped the massage, but two or three days later, his right hand began to droop naturally, and several fingers could not be straightened. This alarmed him.
At the First Spine Surgery Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Dr. Yan Bo, who examined Mr. He, noted weakness and numbness in his right upper limb, along with restricted fine motor skills in his fingers. Imaging revealed multiple cervical spondylosis, cervical disc herniation, and secondary spinal canal stenosis.Associate Chief Physician Yin Ganghui from the Spine Surgery Department explained that Mr. He's condition involved cervical spinal cord injury with severe degeneration and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, leading to hand drop and paralysis of the four radial-side fingers (lombic muscles). Surgical intervention could create conditions for recovery of the incompletely damaged spinal cord.
Yin Ganghui's team then devised a surgical plan for Mr. He, performing decompression through a posterior approach.By the day after surgery, Mr. He regained partial movement in his right hand, with near-complete recovery achieved within three days.
Spinal Issues Should Not Be Addressed Casually with "Massage"
Doctors caution that cervical spondylosis is highly prevalent in daily life. While many seek massage for neck discomfort, not all cases benefit from this approach. In certain situations, massage may exacerbate symptoms or even lead to more severe consequences.
For instance, patients in the acute phase of radiculopathic cervical spondylosis experience nerve root compression, manifesting as numbness or radiating pain in the shoulders, arms, and hands. This pain may extend to the fingers with an electric shock-like sensation. Pressure on the affected area can trigger neck and shoulder pain, hand numbness, and muscle weakness, making massage inadvisable.
Patients with spinal cord-type cervical spondylosis should also avoid massage. Massage may cause spinal cord injury, potentially leading to urinary or fecal incontinence, and in severe cases, paralysis.
Spinal cord-type cervical spondylosis causes spinal cord compression and ischemia, disrupting spinal cord conduction—like having a "time bomb" inside the body.Yin Ganghui explains that in the early stages, patients with spinal cord-type cervical spondylosis typically experience symptoms like numbness in limbs or trunk, loss of muscle control, unintentional dropping of held objects, and urinary or bowel dysfunction. These symptoms often fluctuate, improving significantly with rest. Some patients mistakenly believe their condition is minor, neglecting it and delaying treatment.
If these symptoms appear,
be alert for cervical spondylosis.
Common clinical symptoms include neck stiffness and pain, shoulder and back pain or soreness, upper limb numbness and pain. Severe cases may involve limb weakness, restricted fine motor skills in hands, unsteady gait, a "walking on cotton" sensation, or even urinary/bowel dysfunction.
Yin Ganghui advises that if these symptoms appear, one should be vigilant about cervical spondylosis. If there are serious spinal issues, it is imperative to seek timely treatment at a reputable hospital without delay. It is crucial to clarify the condition of the spinal canal promptly, as otherwise, falls, collisions, or sudden braking while riding in a vehicle could lead to severe consequences.
It is particularly important to note that massage therapy should be approached with caution for cervical spondylosis patients. With pre-existing spinal cord or nerve compression, external force can easily cause further damage to these structures, leading to unimaginable consequences. Every year, there are cases of cervical spondylosis patients becoming paralyzed due to massage therapy.
Additionally, Yin Ganghui advises that most cases of dizziness and headaches are not caused by cervical spondylosis. If dizziness is accompanied by tinnitus, consult an ENT specialist. For isolated dizziness, neurology is the primary department to visit.