Cervical Neck Pain

Anatomy of the Neck

Cervical Neck Pain is Not Fun.  The neck is the cervical part of the spine. The cervical spine contains vertebrae. The vertebrae are bones. These vertebrae house the spinal cord. The spinal cord sends signals to the brain. The signals help the brain to control all aspects of the body. Nerves extend from the spinal cord. The nerves help relay messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The cervical spine is a complex structure. This can put it at risk for developing a number of painful conditions.

Cervical Neck Pain

Common Neck Pain

The most common form of cervical neck pain are strains and sprains. These heal within a few days or weeks. Strains occur through overuse of the muscle or tendon. Sprains occur when a ligament has been irritated or overused. Some common causes of neck strains or sprains include sleeping in the wrong position, sports injury, poor posture, or whiplash. Sometimes a strain or sprain is not a soft tissue injury. In some cases the cervical vertebrae are injured. This can cause the muscles to spasm in response.

Cervical Herniated Disc

A cervical herniated disc can cause cervical neck pain. In between each vertebrae is a fibrous disc. Disc herniation occurs when the fluid in the disc leaks. This can also happen with age. A herniated disc can put pressure on the nerve. This can cause cervical neck pain. Herniated disc can be more than just neck pain. One may also feel pain in the arms. They may also feel pain in the shoulders.

Cervical Degeneration

In between each vertebrae is a fibrous disc. With age, these discs can thin out. This is known as arthritis or degenerative disc disorder. If the neck has suffered an injury it can cause arthritis to develop sooner. Bone spurs can develop with arthritis.  Bone spurs grow on the bone and cause the joints to enlarge. This usually happens in adults over sixty. Symptoms of bone spurs include neck pain. They also include pain and weakness in the arms and legs. Arthritis can be treated with rest, pain medication and chiropractic treatments.

Treatment

Treatment for cervical neck pain varies. If pain is not severe there are self-care methods. Rest is one of those methods. Strains and sprains should go away within a few days. This allows the muscle and tendons to heal on their own. Applying ice or heat may also be helpful. It’s better to apply ice initially. Applying continuous heat can cause increased swelling. Massages can soothe muscle tension. Cervical neck pain should not last from more than four weeks. If pain lasts longer it is essential to see a medical professional.

An evaluation may determine a more serious condition. In our office we utilize the pulstar proadjuster. This will help determine if chiropractic care is the right option for you. The proadjuster is a computerized instrument. This instrument detects if there is movement in the joint. If there is a lack of movement then the proadjuster will be able to help. The proadjuster will help tap the vertebra back into place. This will help restore mobility in the spine. The Proadjuster will help alleviate pressure on the nerve and properly align the spine. This will help alleviate cervical neck pain.

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