Synonyms
- Cervical spine syndrome
- Cervical Syndrome
- Chronic cervical spine complaints
- Neck Pain
- Cervicalgia
- Cervicobrachialgia
More and more people suffer from acute or already chronic pain in the area of the cervical spine. The reasons for this are manifold. One main cause is certainly to be seen in the fact that today more and more people spend a large part of their time sitting. Computer work, frequent television, long car journeys – all these factors contribute significantly to the fact that back pain in general and cervical spine pain in particular has increased rapidly in recent years.
Causes
In most cases, the causes of a cervical spine syndrome lie in the various components of the locomotor system of the cervical spine. This part of the back is the most mobile and therefore also susceptible to wear and tear of the vertebral joints and bony attachments at the vertebral edges. In younger people, on the other hand, muscle tension in the neck or shoulders is the most common cause of complaints from the complex of the cervical spine syndrome.
Causes for this can in turn be incorrect posture, frequent and prolonged sitting, and lack of physical activity through sport. Another influencing factor in the development of a cervical spine syndrome that should not be underestimated is stress, which can also trigger or promote muscular tension. Less frequent causes are, for example, inflammatory changes caused by an infection or in the case of a rheumatic disease.
In addition, a cervical spine syndrome can develop as a result of a previous accident (for example whiplash after a rear-end collision or sports injuries) or after an operation on the cervical spine. A one-sided posture or movements at work can also lead to the typical symptoms of a cervical spine syndrome, just like incorrect head positioning when sleeping. Rarely is a slipped disc in the area of the cervical spine the cause of a cervical spine syndrome.
The following diseases of the cervical spine can lead to a cervical spine syndrome:
- Degenerative spine diseases
- Spinal canal stenosis (spinal stenosis of the cervical spine)
- Facet syndrome
- Osteochondrosis
- Herniated disc of the cervical spine
- Disc protrusion of the cervical spine (protrusion of the cervical spine)
- Blockages (segmental dysfunctions)
- Whiplash injury (cervical spine distortion)
- Muscle tension disorders
- Somatoform pain disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- And much more.
Wear-related causes of the spinal column present a great challenge to all involved. Patients often have been plagued by complaints for a long time and thus the muscles have become shorter due to the permanent tension. The therapy here is very complex.
The therapy begins immediately after the complaints have subsided. Since the wear and tear cannot be reversed, patients run the risk of a relapse at any time. The aim of the treatment is to strengthen the back, because only strong muscles can stabilize the spine.
Active cooperation and personal initiative can have a very positive influence on the course of treatment and lead to a quicker relief of symptoms. As with the other causes of the cervical spine syndrome, the course of the herniated disc is also very variable. Here too, many factors as well as the extent of the herniated disc play a major role.
The chances of success of the therapy are very high, but the course is often long, realistically a treatment period of 3-6 months. In addition, there are reports of spontaneous healings of the affected persons by decrease of the herniated disc, on the other hand, there are also cases of permanent damage to nerves or vessels, which can no longer be healed and force the patients to lifelong treatments. Psychological causes can also be treated physically through heat or physiotherapy.
However, the elimination of the psychological causes is extremely important here. People who suffer from stress can use relaxation techniques, psychotherapy or methods such as biofeedback to either deal with their complaints or to resolve their inner conflicts. These therapeutic approaches are very long-term and the duration can often not be estimated from the outset.
In the case of major psychological problems, depth psychological treatment can often be necessary.This therapy aims at revealing deep conflicts in people, which is physically manifested here in the cervical spine syndrome. The depth here describes both the depth of the psyche and the depth of time. In extreme cases, unconscious events are worked through into early childhood.
This therapy is very protracted, and often no short-term success is achieved. In summary, at the latest from the text it can be seen that there is no fixed duration in which one can be freed from the cervical spine syndrome. The relief from pain often happens very quickly, the treatment of the cause can be very lengthy. The therapy comprises too many components (physiotherapy, drug therapy, heat and cold applications up to psychological therapy) to be able to make an exact statement regarding the duration. However, those affected can positively influence the individual course of the disease by strengthening their back, solving possible psychological problems and continuously changing their lifestyle to be more back-friendly in order to become and remain as free of complaints as possible.
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