Neck Pain

Neck pain is something that most of us will experience at one time or another in our lives. Although the term “neck pain” is very simple and straight forward, it is a very individual experience and the diagnosis, assessment and treatment must also be individually based.

There are a whole range of causes for neck pain. As basic as this might sound it is important to remember that the neck supports the head. The human head can weigh more than 15 pounds. If you imagine yourself carrying around a 15 pound weight all day it is not surprising that in the normal day to day activities of life you create stress on the neck and spine. Someone sitting at a keyboard all day with their head tilted in a particular angle can suffer neck pain. Sleeping in a strange position can cause neck pain. Lifting, twisting, bending, reaching and other normal day to day activities can cause strain and neck pain.

Simply growing older is often a cause of neck pain. Degenerative Disc Disease and other degenerative disease processes such as osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis are not uncommon in our aging population. These can cause serious neck pain problems for people.

When trauma such as whiplash type injuries in car accidents or slip and fall type accidents occur neck pain be spontaneous and very intense. The trauma can create a new medical condition such as a herniated disc that causes severe neck pain and sometimes neurological deficit. Tingling and numbness in down the arms can occur. In addition to causing a new medical condition the trauma can affect existing medical conditions. For example a person who had pre-existing degenerative disc disease from the normal aging process might have been absolutely pain free prior to the trauma. The trauma of a car accident, while not causing the degenerative disc disease, might superimpose stresses that trigger neck pain. What was previously pain free now becomes painful and debilitating.

Although each of us might suffer from neck pain at some point during our lifetime, the way we feel it, experience it and perceive neck pain will be different. Some people will find that their neck pain only occurs when they tilt their heads backwards or forward. Others will feel neck pain when they turn their head to the left or to the right. Still others will suffer from headaches, dizziness and/or vertigo. Some people’s neck pain will last a day or two. Other people will have neck pain for a week or two. Still others will suffer ongoing chronic neck pain.

Treatment for neck pain can include medications and physical interventions. Medications include simple, common pain killers such as acetominiphine, anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. Physical treatment can include physiotherapy, massage therapy, heat treatment, TENS treatment, acupuncture treatment and /or chiropractic treatment. Regular physical exercise is typically recommended as well.

Heat and cold are the two most common passive treatments for neck pain. Often people self prescribe these types of treatment for their own neck pain. Physiotherapy is often suggested to the person with neck pain. Physiotherapy by a licensed and qualified physiotherapist has a number of objectives. One of the primary objectives of physiotherapy for neck pain is to reduce the level of neck pain being experienced. Another objective is to increase the range of motion of the neck. A third objective is the education of the person suffering neck pain regarding proper bio-mechanics in order to prevent further neck pain issues in the future.

In addition to the above types of treatment, surgery is performed in some of the more severe cases of neck pain. Discectomy is on procedure that is sometimes performed due to persistent and severe neck pain. Discectomy is the surgical removal or part (or the whole) of the problem disc in the neck. Fusion is also performed at times. Fusion is intended to provide a permanent stability to the spinal column.

When neck pain becomes chronic a multidisciplinary treatment approach is often required. This multidisciplinary assessment and treatment plan is typically spearheaded by one physician who has, through both education and through experience, acquired special knowledge in the treatment of chronic pain. Chronic pain programs are available throughout the US and Canada. Because of the impact the chronic and persistent neck pain can have on an individual, depression and other psychological problems frequently accompany the chronic neck pain. Psychological counseling is therefore frequently required together with the physical modalities of treatment and the pharmacological (medication) treatment for chronic neck pain.

As can be seen from this very basic overview, neck pain, its causes and its treatments is a very complex issue. Because neck pain is so common in our society, however, it is and will remain, a very important issue.