Useful Information and Advice about Neck Pain
Many of us, sooner or later, have experienced neck pain, of varying intensity, in various situations. The goal of this text is to get to know this unpleasant phenomenon and to find out some useful information about neck pain. Of course, this is not an expert, medical review, but, in any case, it can help us to learn the basic characteristics of this, not so rare, problem.
Anatomy of the neck
Basically, the neck consists of the cervical part of the spinal column and the soft tissues that surround it. Soft tissues consist of muscles, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. The cervical spine consists of the first 7 vertebrae of the spine. The main function of the entire spinal column is to protect the spinal cord and to provide support to the skeleton and thereby enable upright posture.
Possible causes of pain
- Stretched muscle – this problem usually occurs when we feel that the neck is more or less stiff. The reason for this phenomenon may be a “cold” of the muscles. But pain can also occur during sudden head turns, as well as during training.
However, these symptoms can, unfortunately, be the first sign of a more serious ligament or cervical spine injury. - Mechanical injury to the neck – most often occurs due to damage to the disc, or arthritis in the vertebral joints. This pain is chronic and increases with more use of this part of the body. Also, muscle spasm occurs very often, because the body tries to block movements that cause pain.
- Pinched nerve – represents another phenomenon that can cause pain in the neck. The reasons for entrapment can be different. For example, there can be damage to the intervertebral disc, which presses on the nerve and causes weakness. This phenomenon affects the young and the old alike. In addition, a good example of disc damage is a car accident. In other words, a sudden and great force acts on the whole body, and of course also on the spine, i.e. the disc, which is unable to absorb the shock.
Of course, in older people, these problems occur due to degenerative changes in the joints, as well as due to ossification.
Also, we should mention one of the most serious conditions that occur in this region, which is spinal stenosis. In the advanced stage of this disease, the spinal canal narrows and puts pressure on the nerve roots. As a result of this phenomenon, pain and tingling in the hands and feet occur.
A few more tips for neck pain
We will try to round off this article with a few suggestions, or warnings. Therefore, in addition to the information we have provided, we also remind you of the symptoms that you should pay attention to. For example, in addition to pain in the neck itself, headaches, pain in the shoulders and arms, reduced range of motion in the cervical spine and slower reflexes in the arms and legs can also occur.
Treatment of neck pain
Basic methods of treatment can be carried out conservatively and operatively.
The conservative method involves the use of drugs, special anatomical pillows, as well as wearing hard or soft “collars” that fix the neck. But the basic weapon of conservative treatment is physical therapy aimed at strengthening the neck muscles.
Most often, all the mentioned methods are used in combination with each other.
Operative treatment is used for more serious conditions of the neck region and carries with it a certain risk, so it should be used when all other options have not given the desired result.