Doctor Brad's Letter
This month we'll take a look at Common Causes of Neck Pain
While neck pain is not quite as common as lower back pain, many
people experience neck pain or related arm pain at some point in
their life. The good news is that most cases of neck pain will
improve with time and those that can't are usually successfully
managed with non-surgical treatments.
This issue of the newsletter provides a brief overview of common
conditions that cause neck pain, including the primary symptoms
and treatment options.
Acute neck pain:
Most episodes of neck pain are due to a joint dysfunction,
associated muscle strain and/or injury to ligaments or tendons.
These types of injuries are usually caused by a sudden force (such
as from a fall or impact from a car accident), or from straining
the neck (such as cradling the phone or your shoulder for too
long, sleeping with your neck at an odd angle, or a strain from
carrying a heavy package or suitcase on one side). Stomach
sleeping may also often lead to these dysfunctions.
Most minor injuries to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the
neck will heal within a couple of days or weeks, as blood supply
to these structures carries nutrients and proteins to help heal
the injury. There is a range of treatment options that can
significantly reduce the pain and discomfort while healing is
taking place.
Typical treatments include applying ice and/or heat to the
affected area( in acute cases, ice should be used for the first 48
hours before introducing heat), over-the-counter or prescription
pain medications, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulations,
and/or physical therapy.
For patients with neck pain that lasts longer than two weeks to
three months, or who have arm pain, numbness or tingling, there
may be a diagnosable condition causing the pain.
Chronic neck pain:
There are a number of conditions that may cause ongoing pain in
the neck and/or arm. A few of the most common conditions
include:
- A herniated disc or foraminal stenosis may cause pain that
radiates down the arm (or into the hands and fingers). The
symptoms are often temporary and can usually be treated with
medication, physical therapy, and/or chiropractic or osteopathic
manipulation. If the pain does not respond within 6 to 12 weeks of
these treatments, then surgery may be recommended.
- Foraminal stenosis, i.e. a narrowing of the opening for nerve
roots where they exit the vertebral column, may be characterized
by pain that develops slowly (e.g. over years) and tends to occur
during or after certain activities or neck positions. If the
pain is severe or prolonged, or if it causes difficulty with daily
activities, then surgery may be recommended to get rid of the
pinching on the nerve.
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is often associated with neck
complaints and also may cause pain or numbness in the arm/hand,
chest pain and arm weakness. Most of the time this is a condition
caused by shortening of the pectoralis minor (chest muscle
underneath the collarbone) which actually impinges on the
nerve/artery complex going down the arm. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
may usually be treated conservative by chiropractic and or
physical medicine. It is quite common for those who work at a desk
with slumping shoulders or those who go to the gym and work their
chest a lot more than the opposing back muscles. However, there
are origins of this condition which can require surgical
intervention.
- Cervical stenosis with myelopathy may cause pain that radiates
down the arm along with lack of coordination in the arms and legs,
difficulty with fine motor skills (such as writing), and/or
occasional intermittent shooting pains. Symptoms may come and
go over a long period (e.g. several years). Because this is an
actual narrowing of the spinal cord canal, non-surgical treatments
may help relieve the arm pain, but surgery may be needed to treat
the spinal cord compression (which causes the coordination
difficulties).
Finally, it is important to caution that if someone experiences
weakness in the arms, or loss of feeling and coordination in the
arms or legs, there could be nerve damage and it is important to
seek immediate medical attention. Similarly, symptoms that
include prolonged/increasing pain accompanied by loss of appetite,
weight loss, nausea, vomiting, or fever/chills/shakes, could
indicate a spinal tumor or infection and requires immediate
medical attention.
As a general rule of thumb, if you are worried about your
symptoms, or if the symptoms seem to be getting worse, it is
always advisable to consult with your doctor. Also, don't
forget that a balanced exercise program is a must in the overall
treatment program of just about any musculo-skeletal condition.
Therefore, if your physician doesn't recommend exercises, you
might ask for them to do so.
We hope that a better understanding of different types of back and
neck pain and related symptoms will help you better manage your
health. At Back Be Nimble, We bend over backwards to help your
back be nimble again...
Best Wishes,
Dr. Brad Lustick
CEO and Ergonomic Supervisor
http://www.backbenimble.com/ |
