Neck Pain (Cervical Pain)
Overview
Cervical pain is a very common medical condition found in people these days. Neck pain can arise from a number of disorders and diseases of any tissues in the neck. Common neck pain conditions are whiplash, a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve.
Neck Pain is pain posteriorly anywhere between the skull base and thoracic spine. It is the largest cause of musculoskeletal disability after low back pain. Approximately two-thirds of the population will suffer from neck pain at some time in their life. Fortunately for most people the acute pain resolves within days or weeks although in some it may reoccur or become chronic.
Neck pain usually has a multifactorial etiology -poor posture, neck strain/injuries, anxiety and depression, stress can play a role in magnifying the perceived pain. Pain from the upper part of the neck can radiate to the head leading to frequent headaches and that from the lower part of the neck can radiate to the shoulder, arm, chest wall and the scapula. It is not uncommon for patients to have reduced neck movement along with localized areas of muscle tenderness commonly known as trigger points.
The cervical pain symptoms are:
- Pain around neck
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Color changes
- Deformity
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Dizziness
Major causes of neck pain include:
- Head and neck cancer
- Spinal disc herniation
- Spondylosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Carotid artery dissection
- Stress
- Pinched nerve
- Prolonged postures
On your first visit to the physiotherapist, he or she will first determine exactly how serious the problem is. Once the most likely cause of your problem has been determined (your diagnosis has been made), you and your healthcare professional can decide on a treatment plan. One of the keys to managing back pain or neck pain is to actively engage in rehabilitation and exercise. Physical therapy helps place patients on the right track by exercising weak points and regaining strength that may have been lost.
An exercise programme should be tailored to the individual's condition and pain level, and include a combination of stretching, strengthening and aerobic conditioning. Knowing the right exercises and how to find the right trainers can be the difference between recovery and chronic pain.
The neck pain and cervical pain doctors works to remove the cause of the damage to the spine and prevent further occurrence. Physiotherapy, therefore, aims to identify:
- Faulty movement patterns, for example, excessive mobility in the lumbar spine and insufficient participation in the hips and thoracic spine results in segmental overstrain and pain.
- Associated imbalance between muscles that have become too overactive and those that have become too weak, as a result of faulty movement patterns.
- Joint stiffness, soft tissue tightness and tension in the nerve structures, contributing to and resulting in faulty movement patterns.
Physiotherapy then aims to correct these problems by:
- Developing the tonic function of the deep stabiliser muscles (i.e. deep abdominals, and the gluteal/buttock muscles) to stabilise the spine initially, then
- Re-educating the body to perform new and corrected movement patterns to redistribute the forces of movement more economically, and away from the overused vulnerable segments, and
- Elongating shortened structures and mobilising neural tissues and facet joints in order to restore full and correct range of movement
Find the best physiotherapist who treats neck/cervical pain.
Like with many other chronic pain conditions, multi-disciplinary management based on the biopsychosocial model of pain is the preferred approach. Commonly used modalities for pain management include:
- Medications optimisation– this involves using a combination of different types of drugs to maximise the pain relief. The combination is selected based on the type of pain, its severity and other medical problems. Different types of medicines may be used including anti-inflammatory medications, neuropathic agents, weak or strong opioids and other drugs like muscle relaxants, topical agents- creams, gels, patches etc.
- Injections under x ray, ultrasound guidance such as
- Facet joint injections, Medial Branch blocks, Radiofrequency ablation
- Epidural
- Trigger point injections
- Third Occipital Nerve Block & Radiofrequency
- Atlantoaxial joint injection
- Stellate Ganglion block, upper limb peripheral nerve blocks
- Physiotherapy tailored to your goals and functional status. A combination or proprioceptive, mobilisation and strengthening exercise are used based on your requirements. It forms an essential pillar of treatment and helps to prolong the benefits of other interventions.
- Psychology input including cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques; self-help strategies and addressing any coexisting anxiety, depression.
- Complimentary therapies such as acupuncture, TENS, meditation, Ayurveda and wellness