Cervical Spine Neck Pain

The spine is made up of 33 vertebrae, which are classified into 5 groups. The top 7 are known as the cervical vertebrae and make up what is commonly known as the neck. Between these vertebrae are discs and nerves run close by. Within the neck there are muscles, glands, the oesophagus, larynx and trachea. All of these can be affected by diseases or conditions that causeneck pain. Cervical neck pain refers to pain and stiffness in and around the cervical vertebrae although neck pain can include pain and stiffness in the back and arms. A person suffering from neck pain can have sore, tense muscles and headaches.  Cervical neck pain most commonly occurs as a result of the aging of the spine. As this occurs the cervical vertebrae and discs can degenerate and become herniated. This causes joints to become arthritic. Narrowing of the spine, known as steosis, can also occur causing instability. There are three types of neck pain:

1. Firstly, axial neck pain is purely soft tissue pain, caused by whiplash or muscle strain. Axial pain is known as Musculoskeletal.
2. Cervical Radiculopathy is a second type of neck pain, caused by nerve root compression. Sufferers experience weakness and numbness along with the pain.
3. Finally,pressure along the spinal cord causes neck and often leg pain, weakness and walking problems. It is known as Myelopathy or spinal cord compression.

All three types of pain can be classified as acute or chronic. Acute pain is the result of an injury or stress and occurs suddenly. In most cases the pain lasts for a maximum of 10 days with rest and pain killers. If symptoms continue it is recommended a patient see a physician for a thorough evaluation. X rays are likely to be taken and the physician can prescribe conservative therapy such as anti inflammatories, injections, acupuncture or chiropractic care. Chronic pain is define as pain that lasts over 3 months. In this case pain management or surgical  intervention could be useful to a patient whose condition has not improved through conservative  care. Diagnosing neck pain involves looking into the history of a patient’s suffering. This entails a doctor taking notes on the location of the pain, how intense the pain is, how long the pains lasts, at what time of day it occurs the most and the size of the painful area. Past trauma or injury to the patient’s neck is discussed along with painful or relieving motions of positions and tender or sore points are found. Nerve damage may also be investigated. This can be done through a number of methods including X rays, CAT scans, MRI scans, myelogram tests and nerve conduction velocity tests. It is estimated that 80% of people will suffer from neck pain at some point during their lives. It can be a result of something as simple as poor body mechanics, for example holding a telephone between the shoulder and ear, to the way a person sleeps. It can, of course, be the result of something much more obvious like a car accident, slip, trip or fall.