Neck Pain
What is it?
Neck pain is pain that starts in the neck and can be associated with radiating pain down one or both of the arms. Neck pain is common, mostly associated with poor posture combined with age-related wear and tear, but it can occur from a number of disorders or diseases that involve any of the tissues in the neck. The cervical spine consists of seven bones (C1-C7 vertebrae), which are separated from one another by intervertebral discs, allowing the spine to move freely. Neck pain can be caused by muscle strains, worn joints, nerve compression, injuries, and certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Pain that’s often worsened by holding the head in one place for long periods
- Muscle tightness and spasms
- Decreased ability to move the head
- Headache
Diagnosis
Most neck problems can be diagnosed and treated based on the symptoms and an examination. Occasionally, doctor may ask for an x-ray, a blood test, electromyography (EMG) or an MRI scan to rule out other important causes of neck pain.
Treatment
The most common types of mild to moderate neck pain usually respond very well within two or three weeks to the pain relievers and self-care. There are many ways to ease neck pain:
- taking over-the-counter pain relief medication
- placing warm or cold packs on the neck to reduce pain symptoms
- avoiding contact sports and heavy lifting
- doing gentle neck stretches
- keeping good posture
- engaging in light exercises
- using supportive neck pillows for sleep
Surgery to relieve neck-related pain is typically performed for one or more of the following reasons:
- To decompress a nerve root
- To decompress the spinal cord
- To stabilize the cervical spine
If imaging and diagnostic tests cannot confirm one of these reasons for the neck pain, surgery is unlikely to help and is not recommended. The two most common surgery options for neck pain are Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and Cervical artificial disc replacement.