QI Spine Studies and Research


Chronic Neck Pain: Causes & Treatment

Chronic Neck Pain: Causes & Treatment

Dr. Garima Anandani, 5 years ago

From mild discomfort in performing neck movements to persistent debilitating pain, chronic neck pain can cause severe consequences if left unchecked.

Neck pain:

Chronic neck pain is inflammation around the neck. It can vary among individuals showing stiffness, soreness around neck and shoulder, pain which may radiate down the shoulder and arm till fingers, or up to head.

What causes it?

Neck pain arises from numerous different conditions and is sometimes referred to as cervical pain. Neck pain can result from disorders of any of the structures in the neck, including the cervical vertebrae and intervertebral discs, nerves, muscles. Sometimes related to blood vessels, organs and glands. Some common causes of neck pain include :
  • Muscular strain is one of the most common causes.
  • Prolonged postures including Poor sleeping posture
  • Minor injuries and falls/ Whiplash
  • Head injuries
  • Wrong posture while using smart phones
  • Upper back problems
  • Pinched nerve
  • Upper back problems
  • Stress – physical, mental and emotional
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Trauma to blood vessels or glands
  • Infections: retropharyngeal abscess,epiglottitis
  • Degenerative disc diseases
Neck pain ensues abruptly or gradually due to injury to the complex arrangement of muscles, ligaments, nerves, discs, and bones of neck.

What are its symptoms ?

Common symptoms are as follows:
  • Pain in neck, upper back, shoulders, or arms.
  • Stiffness in neck and shoulders
  • Tenderness in the neck area
  • Headaches.
Nerve-related symptoms caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots or spinal cord include: Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or hands.
  • A burning sensation when touched on the skin of the arms or hands.
  • A pain that feels like a shock and extends into your arm or hand.
  • Leg numbness or weakness, and loss of the ability to control urination (bladder control) or bowel movements. This can occur when there is pressure on or injury to the spinal cord (Cervical Myelopathy).

When is neck pain dangerous?

Chronic neck pain may occur due to systemic illnesses or arthropathy, meriting immediate attention. It can be due to an underlying pathological condition such as meningitis, myelopathy, or cancer. Addressing chronic neck pain is of utmost importance when it is accompanied by persistent pain and numbness, weakness of limbs, loss of control over bowel and bladder, difficulty in maintaining balance and walking.

How is it treated?

Treatment of neck pain depends on the cause. For majority of people, neck pain can be treated conservatively with Specialised Spine Physiotherapy through advanced spine rehabilitation.

Accurate Diagnosis

Treatment of neck pain depends on the cause. Digital Spine Analysis (DSA) which is the most technologically advanced spine function test to pinpoint weakened muscles that are the underlying cause of headaches with neck pain. The DSA test is very different from conventional tests such as MRIs and X-rays as these tests are only able to detect bone and tissue damage but they cannot identify loss of muscle function. Based on the findings of this test, QI spine physiotherapists are able to determine the ideal treatment protocols for a patient.

Pain Management & healing

Painkillers are not advised as they have serious side effects. Recommendations which help alleviate symptoms at home include applying heat or cold. The latest Spine cell repair technology using Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM), is the safest method of pain management that utilizes reduces pain and promote tissue repair at a cellular level. This is available at a Modern Spine Therapy clinic like QI Spine. Neck pain is treated non-surgically by conservative device based therapy. Surgery should be prescribed only after conservative methods are explored.

Precision treatment & prevention

After a complete physical assessment a Spine Specialist can help create targeted medical movements, kinetic control, Mulligan mobilization movements, and the McKenzie can reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent recurrence.

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