Pain in the cervical spine

definition

Pain in the area of Cervical spine affect many people several times in their life. Just like that Lumbar spine the cervical spine is a weak point in human anatomy.

Today's lifestyle and reduced physical activity make it more common Incorrect loads exposed. In most cases, however, the symptoms lie no serious causes which is why medical treatment is not always necessary immediately (uncomplicated neck pain).

However, since neck pain can be a major nuisance for those affected, it is important to look for triggering factors and possible causes. In general, cervical spine pain is also referred to as a Cervical spine syndrome or Cervical syndrome.

The term is used when the pain radiates into the head area Cervicocephalic syndrome (cephalus Latin = head), if it radiates into the arms, the clinical picture is also called Cervicobrachial syndrome (brachium lat. = arm).

One speaks of acute pain if it does not last longer than three weeks. Subacute pain lasts between four weeks and three months, and chronic pain lasts longer than three months.

causes

Common causes of neck pain are stress and poor posture.

The causes of pain in the area Cervical spine are diverse. Most often the complaints are caused by stress or depressive mood With Bad posture conditionally.

The psychological stress leads to subconscious tension the muscles and improper strain, so that the neck begins to hurt.

Obesity and Sedentary lifestyle can favor the symptoms. Mere wear and tear on the vertebral joints can also cause pain in this area.

More serious causes of cervical spine pain that should definitely see a doctor are pain through Injuries / trauma.

A typical example are rear-end collisions with the car, in which the driver's head first hits forward and then hits the headrest.
The Cervical spine first overstretched and then compressed, which can lead to long-lasting, severe pain. These must be clarified by a doctor, as this is the case Spinal whiplash the vertebrae themselves and the surrounding soft tissue can also be seriously injured.

Cervical spine complaints can also occur as part of some previous illnesses, e.g. at vertebral body fractures caused by osteoporosis.

Also Malformations of the vertebral bodies or inflammatory changes in the vertebral bodies (Spondylitis) can lead to neck pain.

Another cause that is often not recognized is that Grinding your teeth while sleeping. The sleeper unconsciously presses their teeth together with extreme force, which can then lead to tension in the neck muscles.
In the case of recurrent, severe neck pain, the dentist should be asked about this possible cause. A Bite splintthat is worn at night can help.

In addition to the neck pain, there will be other symptoms, such as fever, more unwanted Weight loss, increasing pain, extreme pain, Signs of paralysis or a Loss of sensitivity noticed in the skin, a doctor should be consulted.
Under certain circumstances, a malignant disease Be the cause of the complaints, e.g. Bone metastases by a malignant tumor, or a Primary tumor of the bone in the spine.

diagnosis

If the pain persists and does not improve, a visit to the doctor is recommended. This will be first Musculature and Cervical spine on agility and Functionality investigate.

Also psychosocial risk factors can be raised in conversation, e.g. professional and family situation, exposure to stress and depressive mood.

Additionally be Pre-existing illness asks who could contribute to the development of the symptoms, e.g. osteoporosis, Herniated discs of the cervical spine, malignant diseases, etc. If during this examination things are found that suggest a serious cause, the doctor will initiate further examinations.
This can, for example, be a Roentgen-, CT or MRI examination of the cervical spine be. This enables, for example, herniated discs or bone metastases to be recognized.

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Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
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The spine is difficult to treat. On the one hand it is exposed to high mechanical loads, on the other hand it has great mobility.

The treatment of the spine (e.g. herniated disc, facet syndrome, foramen stenosis, etc.) therefore requires a lot of experience.
I focus on a wide variety of diseases of the spine.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.

Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.

You can find me in:

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Frequency distribution

Overall are about 15% the population of complaints in the field of Cervical spine affected.

At 2/3 of all people they occur at some point in their life.

In general, women are more likely to be affected than men, especially if they have a predominantly sedentary job, e.g. office jobs.

If the pain has serious causes, it is through Underlying diseases of the patient, the frequency distribution depends on the frequency of the corresponding disease in the population.

Symptoms

The Cervical spine includes the Vertebral bodies 1-7. This corresponds to the area between Occiput and Shoulder base.

The pain often radiates to the back of the head, shoulders and arms. Headaches and dizziness can also occur.

Often a Tension of the muscles near the spine observe (Muscle tension).

Typically, the pain can be triggered by applying pressure to the hardened areas.
Certain movements of the head are also only possible with pain. The head can often no longer be turned or tilted far without this being perceived as painful for the patient.

therapy

The therapy for neck pain depends on its cause.
If the cause is serious illness, this illness must first be treated, which will then also lead to an improvement in the neck complaints.

are Muscle tension and stress the cause, there are some methods that can lead to an improvement in the symptoms.

Strengthening Exercises:

As a general rule, Immobilization if there are complaints in the spinal area, it is more likely negative affects the pain symptoms.
Rather, it should be ensured that the normal mobility received or restored.

The posture should definitely be corrected and improved. People who do a predominantly sedentary job benefit from it.

A mere immobilization is to be avoided, because it comes to one Breakdown of the muscleswhich subsequently increases the susceptibility to pain in the cervical spine.

Directed Strengthening exerciseswhich are carried out regularly, e.g. however, with a physical therapist or with qualified staff at a fitness facility, the pain can improve or even prevent it in the long run.

Warmth:

Warmth promotes Blood circulation and can help to loosen tense muscles again.
Placing a hot water bottle or heat patch on the tense neck muscles can therefore help the pain to recede more quickly.

Electrotherapy:

Newer procedures try to relieve pain Nerve stimulation to alleviate. In this case, for example, electrical currents can be emitted by electrodes stuck to the skin, which lead to a Excitation of the nerves to lead.
These can then no longer pass on the original pain stimuli as well.

At chronic pain the cervical spine, which cannot be controlled otherwise, can also target nerves in the vertebral joints desolate if they are the cause of the symptoms.
This allows the patient lasting freedom from pain to reach.
However, this therapy is one of the last options that can be exhausted.

Trigger point massage:

As Trigger points denotes hardened areas in the muscles that cause pain when pressed.
Targeted massage of these points, e.g. using specially made trigger rollers or trigger balls, the tension can be released.
This often improves the pain in the neck area quickly.

Alternative procedures:

Especially with chronic pain conditions alternative healing methods provide relief to some patients.
This includes, for example acupuncture. In several sessions, small needles are placed at different points on the patient's body, making them loud traditional chinese medicine (TCM) activate the body's self-healing powers and relieve tension.

Chinese medicine also makes use of various mixtures Medicinal herbs. Preparations with Qishe and Peanuts have been shown to be potentially effective in treating neck pain.

Relaxation techniques:

Also with chronic pain it can be helpful to give the patient specific exercises that enable him to consciously relax.
yoga and autogenic training can provide such instructions and prevent unconscious tension.

Medical therapy:

Supportive therapy with medication can be helpful because the patient is free from pain original movement pattern can perform better again.
Otherwise it often happens Relief posturesthat can make the pain worse.

The cause of the neck pain is due to ingestion pain reliever medication but not eliminated. Only the symptoms are improved, but this can have a secondary positive effect on the healing process.

In this regard, the injection of local narcotics proven in the neck muscles. The local anesthetic is often used for this purpose Lidocaine used.
The doctor injects small amounts of the product into the muscles at various points in the painful area. This can relieve tension, relieve pain and prevent a relieving posture.

Alternatively, pain reliever medication can be taken in tablet form. Suitable are, for example. Paracetamol, Acetylsalicylic acid, Ibuprofen or Diclofenac.

With more severe pain you can also weak opioids administered. Muscle relaxing drugs, so-called Muscle relaxants, can also help relieve pain in the short term, but should only be administered for a short time due to the high risk of addiction.

prophylaxis

In order not to even have pain in the area Cervical spine to develop should definitely rely on the correct posture be respected.

Regular Strengthening exercises of the muscles in connection with Stretching exercises act protective.

Obesity should be dismantled.

Especially people who are frequently exposed to stress, which makes neck pain worse, should make sure that they find ways to cope with this stress.
This can be done through physical exercise, but also through Conversations with psychotherapists respectively.

Conscious Time out and Relaxation exercises can help avoid the neck pain.

Generally should Drafts and abrupt turning movements of the head should be avoided.

If you spend most of your time sitting at the computer, make sure that the screen is at eye level or slightly below so that the neck muscles are not constantly overstrained.
It should be best in between small relaxation breaks be inserted, in which the cervical spine and the corresponding muscles are consciously relaxed.

forecast

Since most neck complaints are of uncomplicated origin, they usually go away on their own after a maximum of three weeks.

People who however due mental tension and stress suffer from neck pain, but can be plagued by it at irregular intervals.

With appropriate prevention and change in lifestyle adequate exercise and Strengthening the muscles however, freedom from symptoms can often be achieved.

Is the pain already chronic it is often more difficult to treat them successfully. They come back more often and can be very persistent.
With intensive therapy, which also depends largely on the cooperation of the patient, an improvement can often be achieved.

The prognosis of complicated neck pain depends on the underlying condition.