Neck (Cervical Spine) Pain
Your neck is made up of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the upper torso. Cervical discs absorb shock between the bones. The bones, ligaments, and muscles of your neck support your head and allow for motion. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness. Many people experience neck pain or stiffness occasionally. In many cases, it’s due to poor posture or overuse. Sometimes, neck pain is caused by injury from a fall, contact sports, or as a result of a motor vehicle or work accident (commonly referred to as “whiplash”). Many times, neck pain is not a serious condition and can be relieved within a few days. But in some cases, neck pain can indicate serious injury or illness and require a specialist’s care. If you have neck pain that continues for more than a week, is severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms, call Aptiva Health immediately.
At Aptiva Health, we offer same-day and walk-in appointments for spine injuries and conditions to evaluate, diagnose, and make the appropriate referral for additional treatment based upon your specific spine injury or condition. We treat spine injuries and conditions in our Spine, Pain Management, General Medicine, Orthopedics, and Physical Therapy departments.
Causes
Neck pain or stiffness can happen for a variety of reasons.
Muscle tension and strain
This is usually due to activities and behaviors such as:
poor posture
working at a desk for too long without changing position
sleeping with your neck in a bad position
jerking your neck during exercise
Injury
The neck is particularly vulnerable to injury, especially in falls, car accidents, and sports, where the muscles and ligaments of the neck are forced to move outside of their normal range.
If the neck bones (cervical vertebrae) are fractured, the spinal cord may also be damaged. Neck injury due to sudden jerking of the head is commonly called whiplash.
common cervical spine Conditions and injuries
Cervical herniated/bugle/ruptured disc - a herniated disc (also called bulged, slipped or ruptured dependent upon the level of herniation) is a fragment of the disc nucleus that is pushed out of the annulus, into the spinal canal through a tear or rupture in the annulus.
Cervical radiculopathy - is a condition due to a compressed nerve in the spine that can cause pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness along the course of the nerve. In the cervical spine, pain is typically distributed down the upper extremities (arms) on a specific path depending upon the affected nerve root.
Cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) - is a condition where one or more discs in the back lose their strength and break down. Degenerative disc disease, despite the name, isn’t technically a disease. DDD is a progressive condition that can occur over time from wear and tear, or from injury.
Cervical myelopathy - CSM, or Cervical (concerning the neck) Spondylotic (“wear and tear” arthritis of the spine) Myelopathy (injury to the spinal cord) is a common spinal cord disorder. It results from degenerative changes in the spinal column which reduce the space for the spinal cord and thus cause compression and hence a spinal cord injury.
Cervical spinal stenosis - is a narrowing of the spaces within your cervical spine (neck), which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine.
Cervical spondylosis - describes the general degeneration of the spine that can occur in joints, discs, and bones of the spine as we age. Technically, spondylosis is a form of arthritis—spinal osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis) to be exact. Many associate arthritis as something they get in their hands and knees, but the spine, and all of its bones and joints, can be subject to arthritis.
Treatments
You spine specialist will perform a physical exam and take your complete medical history. Be prepared to tell your doctor about the specifics of your symptoms. You should also let them know about all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements you’ve been taking.
Even if it doesn’t seem related, you should also let your doctor know about any recent injuries or accidents you’ve had.
Treatment for neck pain depends on the diagnosis. In addition to a thorough history and physical exam by your doctor, you may also need one or more of the following imaging studies and tests to help your doctor determine the cause of your neck pain:
blood tests
X-rays
CT scans
MRI scans
electromyography, which allows your doctor to check the health of your muscles and the nerves that control your muscles
Treatment for cervical spine (neck) injuries and conditions depends on the causes and other underlying conditions. The Aptiva Health Spine team will create an individualized treatment plan to help relieve symptoms and slow down progression. These treatment options may involve non-surgical treatment, surgery or a combination of both.
Non-surgical treatments may include:
Bracing
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Interventional techniques such as nerve blocks (spinal injections)
Cervical medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablation
Activity modification
The Aptiva Health Spine Team will determine whether surgical treatment is necessary to remove any abnormalities and to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. Our Spine Team at Aptiva Health is highly experienced in performing the latest surgical techniques for the treatment of cervical spine conditions and injuries.
Surgical treatment for cervical spondylosis includes:
Spinal decompression surgery
Foraminotomy