Neck Pain

Neck pain can occur in anyone at any time. Sometimes this pain is severe and has an adverse effect on physical and mental health. Fortunately, it can be cured with pain relievers, physical therapy, neck traction, and surgery, depending on the seriousness of the condition.

What are the causes of neck pain?

Neck pain can occur in anyone at any time. Sometimes this pain is severe and has an adverse effect on physical and mental health. Fortunately, it can be cured with pain relievers, physical therapy, neck traction, and surgery, depending on the seriousness of the condition.

Neck pain can occur due to the following reasons:

Muscle strains – Neck pain often occurs due to muscle strains and poor posture. For example, slouching builds pressure in the neck muscles and head. The head-and-shoulders-forward posture is the most common example of poor posture that contributes to neck pain. Other activities that can result in neck muscle strains are jerking your neck during exercise and sleeping with your neck in a poor position.

Traumatic Injuries – Trauma, such as a broken neck, neck sprain, or whiplash, is the most common cause that causes neck injury. Whiplash injuries are the results of rear-end auto collisions, and occur when the head is jerked backward and then forward. They strain soft tissues injuries to the neck muscle. 

Degenerative Changes – Degenerative changes refer to the breakdown of cushioning discs in the cervical spine due to age-related wear and tear. This condition is also known as arthritis or osteoarthritis of the neck.

Nerve compression – Nerve compression is caused when a nerve is squeezed or pinched. For example, herniated discs or bone spurs in the cervical vertebrae can press on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord and result in neck pain.

Other Conditions – Health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis, and fibromyalgia can result in neck pain. In addition, osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, also causes pain and stiffness in the neck.

What are the symptoms of neck pain?

Neck pain is not a serious problem in most cases, and people get better within a maximum of four weeks. However, when it does not improve after this period, some medical treatment is needed to alleviate symptoms. Given below are some of the symptoms associated with neck pain that signals a severe injury or a serious underlying cause:

• Lump in neck
• Swollen glands
• Muscle tightness and spasms 
• Decreased ability to move the head
• Imbalance while walking
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache, numbness, weakness, or tingling
• Trouble swallowing or breathing
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction
• Difficulty in performing daily activities

Diagnosis performed for Neck Pain Treatment.

A medical diagnosis helps in setting up a more effective treatment plan. A thorough medical history is the first step in diagnosing the specific cause of neck pain. After this, a physical examination is performed that includes the range of motion test, reflexes, muscle strength, sensations, and palpation. Then the imaging tests are done, some of which are as follows:

• MRI: MRI is typically the first imaging option for viewing soft tissues because it does not have the risks associated with additional radiation dose and myelography. It uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create detailed cross-sections of the soft tissues and bones.
• X-ray: X-rays use electromagnetic radiation to get a good picture of the neck’s bone. They can be used to reveal areas in the neck where bone spurs or other degenerative changes might pinch your nerves or spinal cord. 
• BMD Dexa scan: A DEXA scan is used to measure bone density. It can provide helpful details about the risk for osteoporosis (bone loss) and fractures.
• CT scans: The CT (computerized tomography) scans generate detailed images of bones and soft tissues like muscles, ligaments, or intervertebral discs.
• Electromyography (EMG) tests: EMG tests electrical activity in the actual muscles by measuring the electrical impulses generated by nerves and the responses of the muscles.
• Blood tests: Blood and urine tests are performed to determine the underlying conditions, such as inflammation and infection, causing neck pain.
• Bone scan: A bone scan is performed in rare cases to look for abnormalities, such as tumors in bone tissue.

Neck Pain Treatment:

Given below are the treatment methods that are provided and advised to the patients with neck pain:

Medications 

Generally, the most prescribed medicines for neck pain are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Some NSAIDs can be applied on the skin topically, such as Aspercreme and Voltaren Gel, and other topical treatments include CBD ointments. In addition, doctors may prescribe epidural steroid injections for pain relief.

Therapy 

A physical therapist teaches you correct posture, alignment, and neck strengthening exercises. Given below are some of the therapies that are proved to be effective for curing neck pain:

• Chiropractic treatments: Cervical manipulations involve making adjustments to reduce joint restrictions or misalignments that may ease the pain.
• Massage: Massages not only relieve neck pain but also improves posture and flexibility, increases range of motion, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and relieve stress.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): TENS involves placing electrodes on your skin near the painful areas to deliver tiny electrical impulses that relieve pain.
• Physiotherapy: A physiotherapy course aims to restore the motor functions and alignment of bone joints through specialized exercise guided by a physiotherapist.

Rehab

Rehab refers to a guided physical therapy program under the supervision of a certified trainer. This process is designed to help a patient gain speedy recovery from neck pain. Rehabilitation also includes group counseling or drug treatment. Surgery

Surgery is typically formed for one or more of the following reasons:

• To decompress a nerve root
• To decompress the spinal cord
• To stabilize the cervical spine.

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Given below are the two most common surgeries performed for neck pain treatment:

Anterior Cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)

The most prevalent surgery for neck pain involves a discectomy. ACDF removes a herniated or degenerative disc in the neck. It involves making an incision in the throat area to reach and remove the disc. Then a graft is inserted to fuse the bones above and below the disc.

Artificial disc replacement (ADR):

Cervical artificial disc replacement is a newer type of spinal disc procedure. It involves removing the damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial disc rather than a fusion. Compared to ACDF, a potential benefit of cervical ADR is that it retains more natural neck mobility.