Cervical spine syndrome, cervical syndrome or cervical spine syndrome is the name orthopedists give to painful complaints in the neck and shoulder that easily become chronic. Prevention through exercise is the best remedy for cervical spine syndrome.
What is cervical spine syndrome?
Shoulder and neck pain in cervical spine syndrome. Cervical spine syndrome stands for cervical spine syndrome. Symptoms are not limited to the neck region, but also occur as radiating pain that moves to the shoulders and arms. Similarly, headaches are part of cervical spine syndrome. In addition to muscle stiffness, dizziness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or visual disturbances can occur in extreme cases. A feeling of numbness and tingling in the arms and hands are typical of cervical spine syndrome. Patients even suffer from paralysis of the fingers and arm muscles. Sometimes those affected also complain of disturbed night sleep or difficulty swallowing. Depending on the localization of the focus of the disease, doctors differentiate between lower and upper cervical spine syndrome. Differentiation is also made between acute and chronic courses, and another classification is made according to the underlying causes of the cervical spine syndrome.
Causes
Cervical spine syndrome can have several triggers. Often, it is only a temporary postural defect that can be corrected without difficulty. More serious, however, is post-traumatic cervical spine syndrome, which occurs especially after car accidents. Whiplash (distortion) is one of the typical causes of cervical spine syndrome. Often there is also a wear and tear of the vertebral bodies, rarely this leads to a herniated disc in the neck area. Completely without any recognizable pathological change, it sometimes comes to the blockage of two cervical vertebrae, which are suddenly no longer movable against each other. Sometimes worn facet joints are also involved. This is because these intervertebral joints at the vertebral processes also play an important role in the statics and mobility of the cervical spine. Finally, possible causes include a number of malignant bone diseases such as tumors or inflammation of the cervical vertebrae in the context of cervical spine syndrome.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
In cervical spine syndrome, patients primarily suffer from very severe pain. This pain occurs mainly in the neck or shoulders and has a very negative effect on the quality of life of the affected person. They often also spread to the back or head and can lead to very unpleasant discomfort there as well. Often, cervical spine syndrome also leads to hardening of the muscles, so that tension can occur. Disturbances of the blood circulation also occur not infrequently and can lead to 8[sensory disturbances]] or numbness. Many patients also exhibit dizziness and nausea with cervical spine syndrome. If cervical spine syndrome is not treated, the circulatory disturbances usually worsen, and visual disturbances or hearing difficulties may occur. In the worst case, these complaints remain and can no longer be treated. Tingling may occur in the extremities. The affected person is considerably restricted in his everyday life by the complaints of the cervical spine syndrome, so that the syndrome can also lead to psychological upsets or depression. Due to the permanent pain, many sufferers also adopt a protective posture.
Diagnosis and course
The cervical spine syndrome has the doctor in suspicion, if the patient describes to him the symptoms mentioned. If hardening of the neck and shoulder muscles is noticeable and the mobility of the head is restricted, imaging methods are used. The physician uses X-ray methods or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect possible causes of cervical spine syndrome. If the cervical spine syndrome remains untreated for a long time or proves resistant to treatment, there is a risk of chronification. The patient involuntarily tries to avoid a painful position of the neck and becomes permanently accustomed to an incorrect posture. This, in turn, can lead to a permanent deformation of the cervical spine. With such manifestations of cervical spine syndrome, eventually only the symptoms can be combated. Therefore, medical consultation is a necessity even in the early stages of cervical spine syndrome.
Complications
Due to cervical spine syndrome, there is mainly severe and stabbing pain in the shoulder and neck area.This pain can occur in the form of pain at rest or pressure pain, whereby pain at rest always disturbs sleep and may lead to sleep complaints. The diagnosis of cervical spine syndrome is usually relatively simple, so that early treatment can be initiated. Due to the severe pain, it is not uncommon for the patient to become irritable and psychologically upset. It is not uncommon for the pain to spread to other regions, so that the patient also suffers from headaches or dizziness. Circulatory disorders generally develop, which can affect various regions of the body. This may eventually lead to paralysis or sensory disturbances throughout the body. Furthermore, there may be discomfort in the ears or eyes, which can greatly complicate the daily life of the affected person. The treatment of the cervical spine syndrome is usually carried out through sports or through various therapies. This always results in a positive course of the disease. However, the situation is different if a tumor is responsible for the cervical spine syndrome. In this case, it cannot be predicted whether a complete cure of the patient is possible.
When should you go to the doctor?
A doctor should generally be consulted whenever cervical spine syndrome is the result of a severe impact. This is most often the case in rear-end car accidents or sports injuries. If these triggers are present, it is advisable to see the family doctor and ask for a more detailed diagnosis. The family doctor will investigate the severity of the cervical spine syndrome and whether there are any other problems or damage caused by the incident. In some cases, the primary care physician will also refer the patient directly to the orthopedic surgeon. Mild forms of cervical spine syndrome, whose cause is not an accident or impact, do not necessarily require a medical checkup. If the cervical spine syndrome arises from tension in the back, neck and cervical muscles, it is usually temporary and heals after a few days without any intervention. Warmth and rest replace a visit to the doctor in this case. If, however, the symptoms worsen after a few days and there is also a severe headache, it is highly advisable to visit the family doctor. An indicator for a visit to the doctor is also the mobility, or the restriction of mobility of the neck. If the neck can not be moved or turned even after a few days, it is advisable to see a doctor.
Treatment and therapy
Physiotherapeutic treatment is of utmost importance in cervical spine syndrome. Massages loosen the tense muscles of the neck and shoulder. Special gymnastic exercises are used to strengthen them, which also help promote circulation. Careful hyperextension of the cervical spine by the physiotherapist stretches the ligaments and relieves the intervertebral discs. In back school, the patient learns new movement sequences and postures that also counteract cervical spine syndrome. To relieve the symptoms, the doctor prescribes painkillers and medications that cause muscle relaxation. Caution is advised, however, when taking Valium and other tranquilizers for prolonged periods, because of the risk of dependence. Helpful and harmless, on the other hand, is the application of heat through red light radiation, mud packs or even grain pillows. Radical interventions, however, require underlying diseases such as tumors or other tissue-consuming processes. Here, the surgeon may have to intervene surgically. Chemotherapy may also be inevitable in the causal treatment of cervical spine syndrome.
Outlook and prognosis
The prognosis in cervical spine syndrome depends mainly on three factors: the severity, the cause, and the options for treatment, as well as the patient’s willingness to cooperate in recovery through behavioral changes. In general, the earlier a cervical spine syndrome is detected and treated, the better the prognosis. Therefore, it is up to the patient to prevent cervical spine syndrome from becoming chronic by seeing a doctor early. The cause also plays a role in the prospects for relief. If a cervical spine syndrome develops because the patient has been exposed to drafts or because he or she has had a one-sided load in the arm, shoulder and cervical spine area for several days, the prospects for spontaneous healing are usually very good.The situation is different if damage has occurred to the bony structures of the cervical spine, the ligament and the nerves in the spinal canal as a result of continuous stress or an accident. Here, the success of treatment depends on the extent to which a nerve can recover from compression. The cooperation of the patient is also of central importance with regard to cervical spine syndrome and its prognosis. Indeed, if the cause of the discomfort lies in the patient’s behavior, possibly due to an unhealthy posture at the desk or the wrong mattress, relief can also only be achieved with the patient’s help.
Prevention
Preventing cervical spine syndrome proves to be a relatively simple task in practice. The prerequisite is that the patient achieves a permanent change in some lifestyle habits. Regular compensatory sport is the first means of choice here. Swimming or Nordic walking, for example, are well suited. Above all, it is important that the patient enjoys the chosen type of sport so that he or she continues to do the physical exercises in the long term. People learn what else is required for spine-friendly everyday behavior in back school. Even without complaints or manifest illnesses, health insurance companies may contribute to the costs before expensive rehabilitation is necessary. The consultants of the insurance companies are very familiar with the protracted consequences of the cervical spine syndrome.
Aftercare
After cervical spine syndrome has been treated, exercises to stretch and strengthen the cervical spine are helpful. In some cases, prescriptions for physical therapy are written by the primary care physician or orthopedist. There, massage, manual therapy, or physical therapy take place. Massage helps with tense muscles and manual therapy releases blockages. Physiotherapy strengthens the muscles with the help of equipment or free exercises. This relieves the spine and also the individual vertebral joints. Many exercises can then be continued at home. Since the trigger of the cervical spine syndrome is often tension, incorrect postures should be avoided. Many people often sit in the same position for hours at work. The workplace should be ergonomically designed. It is important to choose the right desk height and the distance to the screen. Anyone whose job requires them to sit for long periods of time should compensate for this with regular exercise and possible strength training. In general, exercise is the best prevention for cervical spine syndromes. The right sleeping position also plays a major role. In this way, discomfort caused by the wrong position during sleep can be avoided. In some cases, the complaints are triggered by stress. That’s where relaxation techniques can help. Because when the inner tension drops, the tensions are released. Yoga is also a good option for bringing body and mind into harmony. At the same time, special physical exercises strengthen the neck and back. So depending on the cause, there are different measures for aftercare of cervical spine syndromes.
What you can do yourself
A diagnosed cervical spine syndrome cannot be remedied in a purely self-treatment. Individuals who notice corresponding complaints should consult an orthopedist or initially the treating family doctor. However, in addition to the important physiotherapy, the treatment also relies on the patient’s assistance. The basis for a successful treatment lies in the regular attendance of a physiotherapeutic treatment. Here, first of all, the tightened muscles are loosened by massages, ultrasound therapy and heat applications. Once the tensions have been loosened, the ligaments involved must be gently stretched. This can also be done by an osteopath. The patient is then shown exercises to strengthen the muscles. Back school or rehabilitation sports are possibilities for this. Patients should consistently take advantage of these offers. Only through targeted muscle building can posture be improved and lasting treatment success ensured. The exercises learned there must be repeated at home and ideally incorporated into everyday life. Patients with a predominantly sedentary office job in particular should check their workplace: Distance from the monitor, change to a desk or exercise ball. Smaller walks can also be incorporated into everyday working life. Public health insurers also offer health promotion programs – including massages and sports – at the workplace. For acute pain management, mild painkillers can be taken and local heat applications can be applied.In the long run, however, only the strengthening of the muscular holding apparatus helps.
