What is Cervical Pain?

The pain that occurs in your neck area, between the shoulders and the base of your skull, is called cervical pain. Factors like poor posture, injury and strain in the muscle, degenerative changes in your cervical spine, etc, often cause cervical pain. Knowing the symptoms and causes of cervical pain helps to adopt preventive measures and proper care at the right time.

Learn more about cervical pain, its types, symptoms, causes, and treatment options!

What are the Different Types of Cervical Pain?

The following are the different types of cervical pain:

Acute Cervical Pain

Acute pain occurs suddenly and causes severe pain in the neck. This type of pain does not last more than six weeks. Injury, muscle strain, or accident often cause this type of cervical pain.

Chronic Cervical Pain

Chronic pain lasts more than three months and causes persistent discomfort in your neck area. A herniated disc, arthritis, or other degenerative changes in the cervical spine cause this pain.

Radicular Pain

Irritation or compression in the nerve root of the cervical spine causes radicular pain. It is called so as this pain radiates down your arm or into the fingers.

Myofascial Pain

The trigger points in your shoulder and neck muscles cause stiffness and pain in the upper back, neck, and shoulder.

Whiplash-associated Disorders

This pain occurs when a sudden impact forces the neck to jerk back and forth, often during car accidents, leading to stiffness, discomfort, and reduced neck mobility.

Cervicalgia

This refers to neck pain arising without a clear injury or medical condition, often linked to strain, posture, or muscle tension.

What are the Symptoms of Cervical Pain?

Here are some of the common symptoms of cervical pain:

• Stiffness in the neck
• Pain in neck
• Muscle spasms
• Headache
• Knot or bump in the neck
• Dizziness
• A grinding sound while moving your neck back

What are the Causes of Cervical Pain?

Here are some of the factors that cause cervical pain:

• Muscle Strain

Overuse or misuse of neck muscles, often due to poor posture, prolonged sitting, or repetitive movements, can lead to tension and pain.

• Cervical Spondylosis

Age-related wear and tear degenerates the cervical spine, affecting discs and joints.

• Osteoarthritis

This degenerative joint disease affects the cervical vertebrae, causing pain and stiffness.

• Poor Ergonomics

Incorrect positioning during work or activities strains neck muscles, contributing to discomfort.

• Spinal Stenosis

Narrowing of the spinal canal compresses the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to pain.

• Herniated Discs

When intervertebral discs rupture or bulge, they can press on nerves, causing pain.

• Inflammatory Conditions

Diseases like meningitis or rheumatoid arthritis can contribute to cervical pain.

• Trauma

Accidents or injuries damage the neck structures and cause pain due to the trauma.

• Tumors

In rare cases, tumours in your cervical area can cause pain and discomfort in the neck.

• Improper Sleeping Position

Awkward sleeping positions strain the neck and cause pain in your cervical area.

• Referred Pain

Pain from other areas, like the jaw or shoulder, may be felt in the neck.

How to Diagnose Cervical Pain?

A healthcare provider conducts a physical examination to assess neck pain, checking for abnormalities like bumps or knots. They recommend the following tests:

• Neck flexibility
• Muscle strength and reflexes in the hands, arms, and legs
• Gait assessment may also be included.

For a detailed assessment, they can recommend imaging tests such as:

• X-rays
• Computed Tomography (CT) scans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans
• Myelograms
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Nerve conduction studies are used to visualize the spine, muscles, and nerves.

These tests help diagnose underlying conditions affecting the skeletal and nervous systems.

How is Cervical Pain Treated?

Here are some of the treatment procedures for cervical pain:

1.Physiotherapeutic Treatment

Here is an overview of the physiotherapeutic treatment process for cervical pain:

• It is crucial in managing cervical discomfort by promoting muscle relaxation and improving cervical mobility.
• Techniques such as neck massage and local heat therapies are commonly used to achieve these goals.

For instance, taking high-pressure showers on the neck and shoulder area for 10-15 minutes daily, followed by gentle flexion, extension, and lateralization movements, can help relieve tension and enhance mobility.

2.Postural Hygiene

When it comes to maintaining postural hygiene for relieving cervical pain it involves the following:

• Practices like sitting on chairs with vertical backs to maintain proper posture.
• Avoiding heavy lifting.
• Applying local dry heat using an electric pad to provide additional pain relief throughout the day.
• Cervical tractions, typically performed in rehabilitation centres, can further aid in reducing spinal pressure.

In addition to these methods, certain medications may be prescribed under medical supervision to complement the treatment. They include: 

• Analgesics
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Muscle relaxants

It is essential to seek medical attention for a comprehensive evaluation and a personalized treatment plan tailored to individual needs.

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