What condition could lead to neck and shoulder pain with numbness in the forearm but without trauma history in a man with a long history of neck pain?

Cervical spondylosis is a degenerative condition that commonly affects older adults, characterized by the wear and tear of the cervical spine. It involves the degeneration of intervertebral discs, formation of bone spurs, and other changes that can lead to narrowing of the spinal canal and foramina.

In this scenario, the man's long history of neck pain suggests a chronic condition, and the new symptoms of neck and shoulder pain with numbness in the forearm can be attributed to nerve root compression caused by cervical spondylosis. This condition can elicit radicular symptoms—pain or numbness radiating down the arm—due to the compression of cervical nerve roots, which is consistent with the clinical presentation described.

Other conditions like dislocation or fracture would typically be associated with a history of trauma, which is absent here. Cervical stenosis, while it can cause similar symptoms, is often secondary to conditions like spondylosis, making it a less likely primary diagnosis in this context given the patient's long-standing neck pain. Cervical spondylosis is therefore the most appropriate explanation for the combination of chronic neck pain and the new neurological symptoms without any recent trauma.