We’re lucky to have such big brains – but it can be a pain in the neck

YOUR brain is remarkable. It can recall information learned decades ago, calculate complicated maths, and even remind you to pick up the milk on the way home.

While other animals have brains, none has a thinking organ as talented as ours – possibly why you never see llamas picking up a pint of semi-skimmed in Tesco after work.

However, carrying such a weighty organ puts pressure on our necks which, over time, can lead to wear and tear. This is known as cervical spondylosis and starts after the age of 30 or so.

A lifetime of holding the brain up puts pressure on the top of the spine.

The bony parts, the vertebrae, develop wee bony spurs, called osteophytes, while the discs get a bit thinner and may start to bulge.

Either of these may annoy the surrounding ligaments and muscles.

Many people have cervical spondylosis without any symptoms, but some aren’t so lucky.

A pain in the neck, which is irritated with movement, is most common, and it can spread to the shoulders and back of the head. Neck stiffness and headaches can occur too. Cervical spondylosis may lead to two more serious conditions, which may require scans and surgery. In cervical radiculopathy, the damage presses on a nerve root, causing pain, numbness and weakness in the arm or hand.

More rarely, the damage presses on the spinal cord, which passes through the central canal of the vertebrae. This is called cervical myelopathy and can lead to clumsiness, problems walking and bladder weakness.

In garden-variety cervical spondylosis, however, keeping the neck active, using painkillers and physiotherapy are all good ideas.

A good posture and a firm, supporting pillow will also help.