Browsing Category: "Neck Pain"
Neck and back pain are common, particularly with aging. Low back pain affects 50% of adults > 60. Symptoms may simply be local pain, which can be sharp or dull, continuous or intermittent, depending on the cause and the degree of concomitant muscle spasms. The reflex tightening of paraspinal muscles in response to a painful vertebral column disorder may be more excruciating than the primary condition. If the spinal cord or nerve roots are affected, a variety of neurologic symptoms may result, including paresthesias and weakness. Pain may radiate distally along the distribution of affected nerve roots (radicular pain or, in the low back, sciatica).
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The Cervical Spine
Your neck is part of a long flexible column, known as the spinal column or backbone, which extends through most of your body. The cervical spine (neck region) consists of seven bones (C1-C7 vertebrae), which are separated from one another by intervertebral discs. These discs allow the spine to move freely and act as shock absorbers during activity.
Attached to the back of each vertebral body is an arch of bone that forms a continuous hollow longitudinal space, which runs the whole length of your back. This space, called the spinal canal, is the area through which the spinal cord and nerve bundles pass. The spinal cord is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and surrounded by three protective layers called the meninges (dura, arachnoid, and pia mater).
At each vertebral level, a pair of spinal nerves exit through small openings called foramina (one to the left and one to the right). These nerves serve the muscles, skin and tissues of the body and thus provide sensation and movement to all parts of the body. The delicate spinal cord and nerves are further supported by strong muscles and ligaments that are attached to the vertebrae.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
You may have been referred to a neurosurgeon because of pain in your neck or shoulder, or tingling and numbness in your arms. You may also have experienced some weakness in your arms or hands.
Neck pain may be caused by disc degeneration, narrowing of the spinal canal, arthritis, and, in rare cases, cancer or meningitis. For serious neck problems, a primary care physician and often a specialist, such as a neurosurgeon, should be consulted to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
You should consult a neurosurgeon for neck pain if:
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Age, injury, poor posture, or diseases such as arthritis can lead to degeneration of the bones or joints of the cervical spine, causing disc herniation or bone spurs to form. Sudden severe injury to the neck may also contribute to disc herniation, whiplash, blood vessel destruction, vertebral injury, and, in extreme cases, permanent paralysis. Herniated discs or bone spurs may cause a narrowing of the spinal canal or the small openings through which spinal nerve roots exit. Pressure on a nerve root by a herniated disc or a bone spur may result in:
- Pain in the arm and neck
- Numbness or weakness in the arm or forearm
- Tingling in the fingers or hand
Pressure on the spinal cord in the cervical region can be a very serious problem because virtually all of the nerves to the rest of the body have to pass through the neck to reach their final destination (arms, chest, abdomen, legs). This can potentially compromise the function of many important organs.
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Top 7 Tips To Ease Neck Pain
By Raymond Geok Seng Lee
There is no question that the human body is one amazing machine. But sometimes you have to wonder why nature could not come up with a better way of attaching your head to your shoulders. With such a delicate design, your neck is exceptionally vulnerable to sprains, strains, and other injuries. Probably the best - known condition is whiplash, which occurs when your neck is abruptly thrust forward or snapped backward. But neck pain can also result from a ruptured disk, overuse, or even poor posture. Nearly everyone can expect to have neck pain at some point in their lives. The good news is that between 70 to 80 percent of all aching necks get better on their own within a few hours or days. To keep your pain from coming back, here are some tips that you can consider to adopt.
1. Avoid Sedatives
While you are sound asleep, your body turns continuously to make itself more comfortable. Sedatives diminish this self-adjusting ability, so your body does not move around as much. As a result, you may stay in an awkward position for a long period of time and wake up with an aching neck.
2. Exercise
You can do this simple exercise to relieve your muscle tension. Sit up straight and bend your head forward so that your chin rests against your chest. Slowly turn your head to the left. Look up as far as you can, as though you were trying to see directly above your head. Return to your chin to your chest, then turn your head to the right. Again, look up as far as you can. Do a repetition of three whenever you feel tension in your neck.
3. Move Around
It is recommended not to sit in the same position for too long. Looking down at the desk or staring at a computer screen all day puts a great amount of stress on your neck. Suggest changing positions from time to time and taking a stretch break at least every 30 minutes.
4. Drive Using The Right Way
Adjust your car seat so that you can see over the steering wheel without straining. You should not have to thrust your neck forward for a clear view of the road. In addition, you need to adjust your headrest so that your neck will not snap forward if you stop suddenly or are involved in an accident.
5. Try Aspirin
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be effective in the treatment of neck pain. However, none has proved to work better than aspirin. No matter which product you choose, it is recommended to take the smallest does needed to control your pain.
6. Ask For A Raise
Your desk can give you a pain in the neck. And not because your In box is piled high with papers. It should be the desk that comes to you and not the other way round. If it is too low, then find a way either to raise it or bring your work closer to eye level. Do not lean forward all day. If you must lean forward, do it from your hips rather than from your back or neck.
7. Button Up Your Overcoat
Cold can stiffen your muscles, including those in your neck. Therefore, when you head outside in a frigid weather, try to keep your neck warm. Just by wearing a turtle-neck or a scarf can make a difference.
Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of “Neck Exercises and Workouts.” Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.
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What causes chronic, debilitating back pain, one of the most common–and expensive to treat–ailments in the world? According to Robin McKenzie, a New Zealand physiotherapist for over 40 years and author of the wildly popular self-help manuals Treat Your Own Back
More richly detailed and in-depth than his previous books, this volume is illustrated with over 100 photos and liberally peppered with real-life case histories. Starting with an analysis of how the back and neck work, it moves on to a discussion of the common causes of pain–bad posture is most often to blame. At the core is a detailed explanation of how to do the McKenzie Method exercises, when to apply them, and how to adjust your personal program over time. Included are instructions for people who suffer with acute back and neck pain (with appropriate cautions regarding when to call a medical professional) as well as for people in special situations like pregnant women, athletes, and seniors. An impassioned introduction by coauthor Craig Kubey, a satisfied convert after suffering intense back and neck pain as a result of several auto accidents, could very well make a believer out of anyone. –Marianne Painter –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
In 7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life: How to Rapidly Relieve Back and Neck Pain Using the McKenzie Method, Robin McKenzie (Treat Your Own Back) explains that people suffer from lower back and neck pain when their lumbar and cervical lordosis (the curvature of the lower back and neck) is strained by poor posture or bending incorrectly to lift something. Through exercises that extend and flex the back and neck, he maintains, the reader can eliminate pain and the cost of frequent visits to a physical therapist or chiropractor.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
The phenomenon known as the McKenzie Method has helped millions of people with chronic back and neck pain. In 7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life, its founder, world-renowned physical therapist Robin McKenzie, shares the innovative program that can save you from a life of pain. 7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life combines and enhances McKenzie’s back and neck books that have sold more than 5.5 million copies worldwide.
The 7 essential steps that make up the McKenzie Method have become the keystone for back and neck care in 35 countries, including the United States. In this easy-to-follow, fully illustrated book, you’ll read about:
* Common causes of lower-back and neck pain
* The vital role discs play in back and neck health
* Easy exercises that alleviate pain immediately
* How to stay out of pain
Complete with more than 150 photos and illustrations, and considered the treatment of choice by health care professionals throughout the world, 7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life will help you get out of pain-and stay out of pain. It is an invaluable tool for better health.
About the Author
Robin McKenzie is a world-renowned physical therapist who has spent the last 40 years perfecting the McKenzie Method. He was named Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990. In January 2000, the Queen named him to an even higher order, a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Craig Kubey is the author of seven previous books.
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Introduction
Neck pain has become one of the most common problems in our society. In fact, neck pain is so prevalent that we have come to accept it as a normal part of a busy fife. Neck pain can affect anyone — office workers, computer scientists, writers, athletes, and manual laborers. Because you are reading this book, either you or someone you know probably has neck pain and may be frustrated by the lack of good information available. But help is at hand. Although there are some gaps in our scientific understanding of neck pain, we have sufficient knowledge to make useful recommendations about diagnosis and treatment to help most people.
We do not know exactly how many people suffer from neck pain, but the number is in the tens of millions. One study estimated that in any year, at least one-third of adults has an episode of neck pain! Even worse, approximately 15 percent of those people have chronic or recurrent neck pain. The goal of this book is to help you understand the causes of neck pain, and to provide you with effective and safe techniques to relieve it. Another goal is to provide you with guidelines to determine when or if you need professional care. And if you need help, the facts in this book should enable you to communicate better with your doctor, chiropractor, or physical therapist in order to optimize your care, and to become an active participant in it.
Neck pain is usually due to mechanical problems with one or more parts of the neck. It is rare for neck pain to be due to a serious illness like cancer or infection, but that said, the consequences of chronic and severe neck pain can be very serious. Some people are unable to work and may lose their jobs. Others cannot enjoy a social life, travel, or sports. Others may become irritable or depressed and develop marital and family problems. The financial consequences can also be dire: large amounts of money are spent on health care and disability payments each year because of neck pain.
Fortunately, there is hope for neck pain sufferers. There are highly qualified physicians, chiropractors, and physical therapists who specialize in spine problems. However, much of the upto-date knowledge needed to help patients has not yet filtered down to the general orthopedist, family practitioner, or neurologist. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the person with neck pain to be informed. Even more important, the information and techniques in this book will help most people with neck pain get better without professional care.
People with chronic neck pain may initially try massage therapists, chiropractors, or acupuncturists. If they don’t get better, they will see physical therapists, physicians, and finally surgeons. Frequently the initial treatment works and their condition improves. However, too often, pain recurs and the patient seeks help elsewhere.
In my practice, I see this pattern all the time and have learned that there are no quick and easy solutions to neck pain. It takes work and time to get better, and the patient must be an active participant. Treatment must be both aggressive and active. Too often, patients have had only passive treatment. They have been treated with massage and manual therapy, heat packs and cold packs, and vitamins and herbs, but they have not been given the skills, knowledge, and training to play an active role in getting better. Fortunately, most people will respond to good conservative care that is scientifically based and sensitive to the needs of each patient.
However, even with excellent care, a small number of people still do not get better. Then the patient will need more aggressive forms of treatment that require the expertise of a spine specialist. Some patients will need spinal injections; some may even need surgery. Because each person is different, we need individualized treatment options. It is best to start simple and get more complex if necessary.
I never tell people to learn to live with the pain. Instead, I teach people how to overcome the pain. In this book, I will offer active and safe treatments that usually lead to improvement, or even total relief. I will offer advice based on my own extensive experience, coupled with the best scientific information available. However, I do not have any secrets or miracles. My treatment plan requires hard work and a commitment of time and energy. No single treatment works for everyone, so I will provide several treatment options. I will start with the fundamentals of strength training and body mechanics. If done correctly and diligently, these methods will often be effective treatment for most people. If not, these basic elements will provide the background necessary for the more aggressive treatments that I will recommend, most of which require professional care.
The premise of this book is simple. A person with neck pain must understand the anatomy and function of the neck. It is also very useful to know how our bodies transmit pain messages from the neck or other site of injury to the brain. Knowledge is power — power over pain. When you know the cause of the pain, you can develop treatment strategies that are specific for you. Some will be simple, such as rearranging your desk, workstation, and computer height or using your chair properly. Other strategies will be more complex, and will require a daily exercise routine and perhaps a few changes in lifestyle.
Most patients with long-standing neck pain will have flareups, despite being faithful to their programs. There are ways to help alleviate these intermittent flares, which I call “neck first aid.” I will discuss the posture of the neck rest position, use of over-the-counter medications, proper use of ice, and a series of pain neutralization exercises, all geared to relieving the pain of flares.
In the remainder of this introductory chapter, I will present an overview of the problem of neck pain. I will introduce the subjects that I will discuss in detail later in the book. I recommend that you initially read or scan the book from beginning to end, and then return to the specific chapters that seem most important for you. This is especially true for the reader who is not familiar with medical or anatomic words and terms.
NECK PAIN IN THE GENERAL POPULATION
Almost everybody has had pain or stiffness in the neck at one time or another. In fact, we tend to accept neck pain as a normal part of life, and usually it goes away in a day or two without treatment. To try and determine the prevalence of neck pain in the general population, a group of medical researchers sent questionnaires to 10,000 people and asked if they had troublesome neck pain in the previous year, and, if so, how long it lasted. They found that 34 percent of those who answered the questionnaires had troublesome neck pain in the past year, and 14 percent had pain that lasted for more than six months!
Another survey found that at any one time, 22 percent of people have neck pain that is bothersome and two-thirds of people have had significant neck pain at some time in their lives. These studies make it clear that neck pain is a major health problem.
THE CAUSES OF NECK PAIN: WHAT HURTS AND WHY
The neck serves two basic functions. It is a pipeline for blood, nerves, food, and air, and it is a pedestal to hold up and support the head. Most of the problems that cause neck pain are due to damage to the pedestal and involve injuries to discs or joints. In addition, neck muscles may tire out and fatigue because of poor posture or overuse, contributing to the pain, but rarely being the underlying problem. When a person keeps his or her head in one position all day, there are stresses placed on the discs, joints, and/or muscles, resulting in pain.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR
Many people are reluctant to go to a medical doctor for neck pain, partly because it seems like such a trivial problem, and are more likely to go to a massage therapist or chiropractor. However, if the pain persists, is very severe, or does not respond to chiropractic care or over-the-counter medications, it is time to see a physician.
There are also situations when you should go to a physician directly, rather than seeing another kind of health care provider first. If the neck pain is mild or absent, but there is severe pain in one or both arms, there may be pressure on a nerve in the neck, usually due to a disc herniation. This requires the evaluation of a doctor. If one or both arms become weak and you drop things or have difficulty lifting light objects, it is time to see a physician. The same is true if the neck pain becomes so severe that you are not able to go to work or do even simple household tasks. If there is a loss of bowel or bladder control, you should go to an emergency room immediately. None of these symptoms necessarily means that there is an emergency or that surgery is necessary, but they do mean that medical evaluation is required.
In other instances, it is optional to see a physician, and I make specific recommendations in chapter 11. However, if you are not getting better after three to six weeks of alternative health care, it is time to see a doctor. The doctor may need to order tests such as X-rays or an MRI scan. In addition, the doctor may be able to offer short-term relief by prescribing antiinflammatory medications or other medications for pain. If the condition still does not improve, it may be necessary to do spinal injections, which can be very effective.
It is rare to need surgery for neck problems, but occasionally surgery is the best answer. Only a spine specialist can help you make this decision.
NECK-RELATED HEADACHES
It is estimated that about 16 percent of people suffer from headaches that occur sufficiently often to interfere with their lives. There are many types of headaches, including migraine headache, tension headache, cluster headache, and headache due to neck problems. A headache that occurs as a result of a disorder of the neck is properly called cervicogenic headache, but I use the term “neck-related headache” in this book.
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Book Description
Hurt No More
No one who works at a computer or drives a car will be surprised to learn that neck pain is on the rise. About 70 million people in the United States have had neck pain, and the incidence is increasing. Like back pain, neck pain can become a constant plague that is both mysterious and difficult to treat.
Here at last is help. In What to Do for a Pain in the Neck, one of today’s leading experts on neck pain provides a broad range of treatments and preventive measures so that you do not have to learn how to live with pain — you can banish it.
Combining his own extensive experience with the best scientific information available, Dr. Jerome Schofferman presents strategies ranging from such simple tips as rearranging your desk, workstation, and computer height to daily exercise routines to aggressive treatments requiring professional care. Among the areas he explores in depth are
- Potential causes of neck pain
- Neck-related headaches
- Whiplash (including the effects of litigation on the rate of recovery)
- What to expect from a chiropractor or physical therapist
- Over-the-counter and prescription pain medications
- Acupuncture, meditation, magnet healing, massage, and other complementary therapies
- First aid for intermittent flare-upsBook Info
(Fireside Books) San Francisco Spine Institute, CA. Consumer guide to prevention and treatment of neck pain, providing a broad range of treatments and therapeutic measures. Covers common conditions such as whiplash and neck-related headaches. Also covers alternative therapies such as magnet healing, meditation, acupuncture, and massage. Softcover.About the Author
Jerome Schofferman, M.D., is a member of the SpineCare Medical Group, a nationally known center for the treatment of disorders of the spine, and the director of research and education for the San Francisco Spine Institute. An associate editor of Spine, he has lectured to orthopedic and neurosurgeons, pain specialists, and other physician groups, as well as to the insurance industry and the general public. He lives in Sausalito, California.
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