NECK PAIN FROM SPINE RESULTS
There are three main reasons of spinal origin.
- Traumatic injuries of the spine and soft tissues
- Neck pain due to wear and tear on the vertebrae, neck calcification
- Cervical hernia
Neck Pain Caused by Trauma
The neck is one of the most important parts of the body and we know that some neck traumas cause vital problems. No matter how many precautions are taken for real protection, it will not be possible to fully achieve this goal. It should not be forgotten that our neck is easily affected by traumas, from small impacts to larger accidents that we encounter in daily life.
Traffic accidents
In in-car accidents, when the vehicle you are in hits another vehicle or object from behind, a problem called whiplash occurs in the neck. The heads of these people who are hit shake rapidly like a whip, first forward and then, on the contrary, backwards. If the vehicle you are in is hit by another vehicle from behind, the opposite situation occurs. The first is called hyperflexion trauma and the second is called hyperextension trauma. When the head moves in two different directions, excessive load is placed on the neck. The problem, which cannot be adequately understood in the first few hours due to the heat of the incident, gradually begins to escalate with neck stiffness and pain. It increases incredibly in a few days. It continues with decreasing severity for several months. If it is not treated properly in time, it can leave significant permanent scars on the neck.
Sports Injuries
Neck injuries occur many times during sporting activities. While some of these can be overcome lightly, some of them carry with them problems that will continue for many years. Cervical vertebrae fractures, which occur as a result of inversion of the neck due to diving into shallow waters, can cause serious events up to paralysis in the arms and legs in some people, and can cause different symptoms at different degrees as a result of excessive bending of the neck. There may be some injuries to the cervical vertebrae in sports played against opponents, especially football.
Industrial Accidents
If the neck is involved in trauma to the upper body, various problems may arise that may cause temporary or permanent neck pain. Some occupational groups are always at risk of trauma. It is essential to take protective measures in those lines of business and train employees on this subject. The treatment approach is not much different from traffic accidents.
Neck Pain Due to Wear in the Vertebrae (Neck Calcification)
The most mobile of the cervical vertebrae are between the 4th and 6th vertebrae. Therefore, signs of wear and tear begin to occur between these vertebrae after the age of 40. The first disorders start from the discs between the vertebrae. The amount of fluid contained in the discs decreases and they gradually begin to dry out and lose their elasticity. Undoubtedly, some disruptions in its functions may occur as a result of this. Discs, which act as shock absorbers, cannot perform this function and cause the vertebrae to come closer to each other. Of course, as a result of this, the nerve roots passing through narrow and sensitive channels are subjected to various pressures.
They can cause serious pressure, such as herniations that occur when the disc becomes dislodged as a result of wear. Again, the joints in the neck may show various degrees of wear and tear, similar to calcification in other joints of the body. Undoubtedly, some occupational groups and improper use of our neck can accelerate this wear and tear.
Long-distance drivers, painters who have to work by keeping their heads up, ceramicists who work by squatting on the ground, and occupational groups that have to constantly stand at a desk or in front of a computer are at high risk of neck pain. Athletes who participate in competitive sports share this risk with people who have had a traffic accident in the past.
Neck Pain Due to Hernias
Herniations may occur in the discs between the cervical vertebrae under some conditions. Here, the pain may be concentrated not only in the neck but sometimes on the shoulder blade. Pain in the neck also tends to radiate to the arm. Due to the anatomical structure of the region, hernias are not as common as in the lower back.
Cervical disc herniation may be caused by excessive strain on the vertebrae, but sometimes such strain may not be necessary. Hernia occurs between the 5th and 6th vertebrae in 70% of cases. Typical symptoms include increased pain when coughing and straining (valsalva test), pain in the neck when pressing down from the top of the head (compression test), and a decrease in this pain when lifting the head up by holding the chin (distraction test).
Depending on the severity of the hernia, reflexes may be lost. Numbness may be evident, muscle strength may be decreased, or arm circumference may be weakened. With treatment initiated as a result of early diagnosis, successful results can often be achieved without the need for surgery.