Symptoms:

• Headaches, particularly in the back of the head
• Loss of balance
• Loss of control over the bladder or bowels (if spinal cord is compressed)
• Loss of sensation or abnormal sensations of the shoulders, arms, or (rarely) legs
• Neck pain (may radiate to the arms or shoulder)
• Neck stiffness that gets worse over time
• Weakness of the arms or (rarely) legs

Signs and tests:

Examination often shows limited ability to bend the head toward the shoulder and rotate the head.

Weakness or loss of sensation can be signs of damage to specific nerve roots or to the spinal cord. Reflexes are often reduced.

The following tests may be done:

• CT scan or spine MRI
• EMG
• Spine or neck x-ray
• X-ray of the lower (lumbar) spine
• X-ray or CT scan after dye is injected into the spinal column (myelogram)