Cervical Pain

Symptoms:

• Pain localized in the cervical (neck) area of the spine.
• Pain or numbness that travels down the shoulder, arm or hand.
• Stiffness and limited mobility in the neck area.
• Weakness in the arm or hand when there is damage to a cervical nerve.
• In severe cases difficulty with balance or coordination (spinal cord damage).

Causes:

• Degeneration of the cervical discs and joints over time.
• Herniated cervical disc compressing a nerve root.
• Cervical spinal stenosis constricting the spinal cord or nerves.
• Muscle strain from improper neck positioning or repetitive movement.
• Whiplash or trauma to the cervical area of the spine.

Risk Factors:

• Frequent screen use with improper neck positioning.
• Careers that require repeated neck movement or vibration.
• Older age and cervical disc degeneration.
• Previous neck injury.
• Smoking, leading to disc degeneration.

Ways to Manage:

• Postural adjustment and ergonomic modifications at work and home.
• Therapy using heat or cold for pain and tightness in muscles.
• Physical therapy to increase strength, flexibility and proper posture in the neck.
• Pain killers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as required.
• Cervical epidural or nerve root injection for nerve pain that persists.

Exercises Suggested:

• Chin tucks to increase strength of deep neck flexors.
• Range of motion exercises for the cervical spine.
• Scapular squeeze exercise for relaxation of the upper back and neck.
• Isometric strengthening exercises for the neck.
• Stretching exercises of the upper trapezius and levator scapulae.

Surgical Options Suggested:

For nerve/spinal cord compression leading to pain in the neck, surgery might be required particularly when weakness or incoordination occurs due to non-surgical treatment failing to relieve pain.

• Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)
• Cervical disc replacement.
• Posterior cervical laminectomy or laminoplasty – spinal cord decompression..