Neck Pain

Neck pain is not far behind low back pain in terms of the amount of disruption and problems it causes to both individuals and society. From a purely theoretical view point problems with the neck are more serious than those of the back if looked at in terms of the severity of the worst case scenario of a spinal cord injury. Here, however, we are talking about injuries that although painful and problematic are of a considerably less serious nature.

What we shall do here is cover the general anatomy of the neck, or cervical spine as it is called, before moving on to discuss common problems affecting the area.



Anatomy

The neck is a simple yet complex arrangement of seven blocks of bone called vertebrae stacked on top of each other. They move relative to each other via joints. One set of joint being between the bodies of the vertabrae separated by the intervertebral discs and the others via facet joints at either side of each vertebra allowing movement with the vertebra above and below.

From each side of the spine pass the nerves that branch off the spinal cord and travel to different parts of the body. Covering the whole spine are the muscles and intricate ligament systems for both stability and movement.

Causes of Neck Problems

The majority of neck problems can be narrowed down to three causative factors.

* Degenerative This is where the natural ageing process results in thinner discs and cartilage and less flexible muscles and ligaments, amongst other things. Such changes cause normal movements and activities to become limited and painful as a result of the neck's reduced ability to absorb shock and control the weight of the head.

* Postural. Poor or abnormal postures where the spine is out of alignment and loses its natural curvature over a prolonged period of time results in certain segments and structures of the spine being worn and damaged.

* Traumatic. This can be any type of injury or incident and can have a variety of effects across the whole spectrum of trauma. Falls, vehicle and sporting activities are the commonest causes of traumatic neck injury.

Neck Pain

As with all areas of the body there are common patterns of problems in the neck region that relate to both the anatomical structures and the causes mentioned above.

Neck Pain With No Trauma or Injury - This will commonly be due to a postural or degenerative problem. You may well be able to work out the cause by analysing when the onset of pain was. Awaking with it signifies an awkward sleeping position. Other causes may be excessive sitting, studying or driving.

Neck Pain with Radiation of Symptoms into the Arm - This normally signifies that the root of at least one of the nerves passing out from the cervical spine is irritated or compressed. Compression can result from 'pinching' of the nerve by the facet joint or part of the disc.

If you have pain, pins and needles or numbness IN BOTH ARMS you should seek URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION.This is because symptoms on both sides may indicate the pressure on the spinal cord itself which obviously has serious consequences if not rectified.

Neck Pain with Radiation into the Shoulder Blade - Pain that runs down along the inside of the shoulder blade indicates a problem with the lower part of the neck. This pain can be very troublesome and may also indicate that the THORACIC SPINE, the part of the spine between the neck and the back, is involved.

Pain in the Neck Due to Trauma - This type of neck pain can be due to injury or inflammation in any of the structures of the neck: THE DISCS; THE FACET JOINTS; THE VERTEBRAE; THE LIGAMENTS; THE MUSCLES OR THE NERVES. Many of these structures are easily damaged and can take many months to recover from injury. This is why so many 'whiplash' injuries from road traffic accidents take so long to resolve. The forces can cause the structures to be COMPRESSED, STRETCHED, CRUSHED or ROTATED in any combination.

Treatment

Treatment of the neck is such a massive subject with so many variables and discussion points. It is to be covered in greater detail in a downloadable e book that will be available soon.