Neck problems start in the cervical vertebrae in the neck and are common among people of all ages. Because of its position and mobility, the neck often remains unprotected and therefore vulnerable. Acute neck pain can spread to the head, shoulders, arms, and hands. The pain usually goes away in days, or at least weeks, when people use self-help, such as massage, and rest. Patients report mild to severe headaches .
Table of Contents
- Types of Neck Pain
- The most common pain in the neck
- Neck anatomy
- Causes of Neck Problems
- Fear in the neck
- Home remedies for neck problems
- Body therapy
- Acupuncture for neck pain
- The cervical spine
- Ruff
- Neck problems from surgery
- Neck pain from whiplash
Women are more likely to experience neck pain than men. They are also more likely to report signs and symptoms that are typical of this condition. This tendency applies to many types of pain, and a lot of sociological, cultural, and physical explanations try to explain it. So far, none of these theories has prevailed as the only valid one.
Neck problems are a common pain problem. To blame: poor work posture, insufficient movement, rigid sitting. Image: © underdogstudios – fotolia
The smaller size as well as the lower strength in the shoulder muscles could biologically explain the greater tendency of women to develop neck pain. For example, comparative studies show that women use their muscles more when they put pressure on the computer mouse.
Types of Neck Pain
This pain can be as mild as it is severe, and as acute as it is chronic. Acute pain arises suddenly as a result of injury or stress. Mostly it lies down after 7-10 days at the latest, when those affected have rest and put ice on the painful region.
However, if neck problems persist for more than a few weeks, an examination by a doctor is due. He uses X-rays to determine whether there are any internal injuries and usually begins conservative therapy. This includes, for example, drugs that inhibit inflammation, combat pain, and body therapy such as massages or acupuncture.
Chronic neck pain lasts longer than 3 months; those affected can suffer from it day and night, or the symptoms worsen with certain actions. The exact causes are often difficult to pin down, but general factors that trigger the agony include nerve damage, arthritis, or the effects of emotional crisis. Anyone suffering from chronic symptoms should see a pain specialist.
The most common pain in the neck
1) Muscle pain: The muscles in the neck and shoulder can hurt when we use them too much – as well as when we are stressed, both physically and emotionally. The neck muscles can form hard knots that are sensitive to touch – the so-called trigger points.
2) Muscle spasms: Here the muscles suddenly tense. This can injure the neck, the muscles feel “knotted”, and it is often impossible to turn your head. If someone wakes up with a stiff neck, they are likely to have muscle spasms. The cause can be an injury, but also a nerve problem or even psychological stress. But often there is no clear cause.
3) Headache: Headache as a result of neck discomfort is usually rampant at the back of the head and upper neck and usually results from a muscle spasm. This pain is mostly numb instead of sharp; the neck may also feel stiff or tender and will get worse when people move their necks.
Facet joint pain is sharp and even worsens when people turn their heads toward the appropriate side. Arthritis in the facet joints feels worse in the morning and after a period of rest.
Nerve Pain: Pinching the back nerves causes pain that feels like pinpricks. The pain can extend into the arms, depending on which nerve is affected.
A slipped disc in the neck can cause severe pain. Image: © Henrie – fotolia
Displaced Pain: This refers to pain in one part of the body that originated in another. For example, such a pain in the neck stems from a heart problem, while a sore neck while eating indicates discomfort in the esophagus.
Bone Pain: Pain in the cervical vertebrae is much less common than in soft tissue. They should be under the supervision of a doctor, because they can indicate a serious illness.
Neck anatomy
The neck is one of the most flexible regions of the back; it consists of vertebrae, seven intervertebral discs that absorb shocks, muscles and ligaments that hold the vertebrae in place. The uppermost intervertebral disc connects the spine with the base of the skull.
The spinal cord, which sends nerve impulses to every part of the body, runs through a canal into the cervical vertebrae and continues through the spine. The cervical nerves propagate into the arms, and therefore pain in the arms is often indicative of discomfort in the neck.
Causes of Neck Problems
The neck supports the weight of the head, which can be 4.5 kg. Although the head should be centered over the spine when we are sitting or standing upright, a myriad of actions cause your head to be stretched forward to round your neck – sitting in front of the computer, reading, watching TV, or eating.
This can lead to muscle tension – or strains. Glasses wearers who constantly look over or under the glasses run this risk as well as harmful positions while sleeping or long car journeys can be the cause.
Everyday clothing and age-related wear and tear can change the intervertebral discs in such a way that a stiff neck follows. If the discs get caught between the vertebrae in the neck, this narrows the space for the nerves that go out of the spinal canal. Those affected feel nerve pinching and persistent pain.
Bone growths in the vertebrae, the osteophytes, can pinch the nerves as well. Spinal stenoses put pressure on the spinal cord and cause not only pain, but even paralysis. They narrow the small nerve tracts in the vertebrae and compress the nerve roots in the process.
Stenoses cause pain in the neck, shoulders, and arms, and also a feeling of numbness when the affected nerves stop working normally. Damaged intervertebral discs, osteophytes and spinal stenosis are only rarely responsible for neck complaints. Typical triggers, on the other hand, are muscle spasms – and strains.
Injuries and accidents also result in neck problems. If the neck moves abruptly in one direction and jumps back harshly in the opposite direction, we speak of whiplash.
This injures tissue in the neck and head. The muscles tighten and contract, muscle exhaustion occurs, which in turn manifests as a stiff neck that is very painful.
Serious whiplash injuries also damage the joints between the cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles and nerve roots. The main cause of such trauma are car accidents: as a result of the collision, the heads of those affected hit the headrests with a jerk backwards and then fling backwards again.
Pain in the vertebrae. Image: animgoberlin – fotolia
In addition to neck pain, the following are typical of whiplash trauma: tense muscles and headaches, but also dizziness, nausea, sweating and visual disturbances.
A whiplash is difficult to prove, however, as the fine injuries to the cervical vertebrae can hardly be proven with X-rays. The medical diagnosis is therefore mainly based on circumstantial evidence: How did the accident go? What happened to the heads of those affected? Which pain occurred when? How are the complaints expressed in detail?
Fear in the neck
The main cause of neck pain is tension. Stress factors, worry, and fear all produce muscle tension – especially in the shoulders, back, and neck. The more fearful the experience, the more tension can cause pain and discomfort.
For many people, the neck muscles tense in times of stress. But people in fear feel it more intensely and focus on it. Fearful people have a natural tendency to fixate on negative sensations, so the same neck pain feels worse than someone without that fear – even if the pain is objectively the same.
We are all familiar with mild to moderate neck problems, even without increased anxiety or health problems, for example because we sit in a chair all day, sleep in unfavorable positions, look down too often and do not stretch.
People without exaggerated fear usually perceive these complaints as normal – an experience they often have in life. However, anxious people, especially those with panic attacks, are usually sensitive to physical sensations and unable to focus on anything other than pain. The amount of mental energy that they invest in experiencing pain can increase the pain – and that in turn increases the fear.
Anxiety, confusion, and depression are common when someone is in pain and diminish wellbeing. That is why anti-depressants are a good method for treating neck problems.
Doctors usually prescribe lower doses of anti-depressants for neck pain than for depression.
Home remedies for neck problems
For some people, ice reduces discomfort. It can be placed directly on the affected area. Ice cream can be frozen in a paper cup. The ice should be moved continuously on the neck muscles for five to seven minutes.
However, excessive use of ice can damage the skin, especially in people whose skin is very sensitive.
Not only cold, but heat also helps to relieve muscle pain. People can expose the painful area to moderate heat for 10 to 15 minutes, be it in the shower, hot bath, or with a damp towel that they warm up in the microwave.
However, acute injuries should be treated with ice first. Heat is especially helpful for people who are cold intolerant.
Massage helps relieve muscle spasms and is best done after the neck has been warmed up or cooled down. We massage with our hands and apply pressure on both sides of the neck and upper back – or we use an electric vibrator that we hold in our hand. We should relax the neck muscles during the massage, be it by supporting the head or by laying it down
Bathing with bath salts can reduce muscle pain, as well as stress. Magnesium sulfate in salt relaxes muscles and relieves swelling such as pain.
Ginger tea with honey stimulates the blood flow in the affected body region. This helps against both pain and inflammation.
The freedom of movement of the neck must be restored after an injury; this is done with exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles. Such exercises also reduce pain after an injury to the muscles. We stretch the muscles best when they are warm, for example after a bath or after a few minutes of warm-up exercise.
Body therapy
Body therapists can help patients reduce pain and restore mobility – without expensive surgery or the side effects of medication.
Physiotherapy, warmth and massages help alleviate the symptoms. (Image: animgoberlin / fotolia.com)
Body therapy always begins with a history of the disease. The therapist records circumstances such as age, general health and lifestyle. When a trauma or illness is a factor, body therapists work with the appropriate doctors.
Once diagnosed, the therapist will choose from a range of methods to manage the pain – including exercises to improve flexibility, strength, stability and freedom of movement.
Other options are ice, heat, electrical stimulation, and massage. The body therapist also analyzes the situation in the home and workplace of those affected and finds out which stresses have their origin here.
Low-level aerobic exercise, swimming, hiking, and cycling also help relieve neck discomfort.
Acupuncture for neck pain
Acupuncture also helps relieve pain. To do this, small needles are inserted into certain areas of the body, the so-called acupuncture points – just under the surface of the skin.
Clinical studies do not prove the effectiveness of acupuncture, but many sufferers report success with this treatment.
The cervical spine
Cervical spine pain can indicate serious problems, such as disc disease or pinched nerves. Most of the pain around the cervical vertebrae affects the fascia system.
Thickening, hardening or solidification (fibrosis) or drying out of the connective tissue lead to the fact that the fasciae shorten. The connective tissue loses mobility and lubricity. The consequences are fibromyalgia or myofascial pain syndrome.
Specialized body therapists look for twists and disorders in the body segments and visible changes in the connective tissue.
They know special fascia grip techniques to manipulate the deep tissue and also use ankles and elbows to reach the hardened tissue. Mostly, however, they use stretch grips with a gentle pull and hold them until the tissue loosens.
There are also extra Pilates neck exercises and breathing techniques to relieve the discomfort.
Treatment for neck pain focuses on all of the body segments that are related to the neck: the upper arm muscles, shoulder girdle, rib cage, spine, and even the skull.
Dysfunction in movements in any of these regions can affect the biomechanics of the cervical vertebrae – through kinetic relationships between the muscle connections.
Sitting positions, breathing and ergonomic conditions are all put to the test. The therapists advise those affected to reduce the use of portable devices to a minimum, as these perpetuate abnormal stereotypes of movement that affect the upper quarter of the body.
If the patient is sitting for a long time, he or she should take short breaks in order to complete physiotherapy exercises that reduce the strain on the neck, which leads to desk and computer work.
Ruff
Hard frills are rigid and are usually made of plastic. They hold the head and neck very tight. They are usually only used after major surgery or serious injury, such as a broken neck.
Soft frills are made of foam or rubber. They allow the head and neck to move a little. These collars are sometimes considered after surgery, but their value in other treatments for neck problems is limited.
Neck problems from surgery
Neck problems alone rarely justify an operation. However, if someone suffers from a pinched spinal cord, i.e. from a jammed cervical vertebra, then an operation should be done as soon as possible.
An operation only relieves pain that is related to the nervous system – it does little to relieve tissue and muscle pain. Here conservative therapy, whether body therapy or medication, is the better choice. Only every 20th patient with neck pain needs an operation.
There are generally two methods of operating on the cervical vertebrae. The first is decompression, in which doctors remove tissue that is pressing against a nerve structure. In the second case, they stabilize the vertebrae and thus limit movement between them.
