Cervical pain
occurs in the neck when there is some type of abnormality or deviation in one
or more discs that lie between the vertebrae in the cervical region of the
spine. In the majority of cases, the symptoms are temporary and get resolved
after a period of time and with proper, consistent non-surgical treatment.
There are times, however, when the pain is a sign of infection or disease.
What Causes It?
Cervical pain can
be caused by a variety of things. Most temporary or acute episodes are caused
by a sudden muscle strain or perhaps a sprain in the ligaments or tendons of
the neck. This can happen when sudden violent force is encountered, such as
that experienced in a car crash or from calling from a great height. It can
also result from strain due to sleeping in the wrong position or from lifting a
heavy object. Repetitive neck motion or a large amount of overhead work can
also put stress in this region and cause the typical symptoms.
Sometimes the
underlying cause is more serious. Bone spurs, for example, can cause symptoms
that are typical of this condition. In this case, the pain is caused due to
pinching the spinal cord and nerve roots. It often tends to happen when the
discs in the neck are dehydrated or herniated.
The symptoms that
sometimes show up are similar to several other diseases such as meningitis,
tuberculosis, fibromyalgia, and even cancer. Even genetics can play a part -
you may be more likely to experience the symptoms if there is a history of
cervical spondylosis in your family.
How Do You Treat
Cervical Pain?
The steps needed
for effective treatment will depend largely on the cause. In order to get to
the root of the problem your doctor may refer you to a specialist depending on
the initial tests and diagnosis.
If the symptoms are
caused due to muscle or ligament strain, you may be advised to try rest, heat
and cold therapy, massage therapy and to do neck-strengthening exercises as a
precaution against future trouble.
If these options
are not effective enough to alleviate the symptoms, you may be prescribed muscle
relaxants. Your doctor may also suggest soft-collar traction or local
injections of cortisol or anesthetics to help manage the pain so that you can
still go about your daily routine.
For more serious
cases, surgery may be your best option. If the symptoms are caused by disease,
part of your treatment will involve dealing with the underlying problem. This
is where talking with a specialist can help enormously.
