Drugs
For the medicinal treatment of chronic pain, so-called centrally acting painkillers are used, which reduce the increased excitability of the pain-processing nerve cells. Depending on the form of the day or daily stress, short-term painkillers are combined with long-term medication. An additional application possibility is the direct infiltration of local anesthetics and/or cortisone into limited, highly sensitive muscle hardenings = muscle trigger points.
Acupuncture
The abbreviation TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, in which chronic pain can be positively influenced by means of weak low-frequency stimulation currents. The great advantage of this method is the self-treatment of the patient by small, easy to handle devices at home.
Psychotherapy
In psychotherapeutic treatment, the psychosocial causes are investigated and treated as the mechanism of origin of chronic pain. With the help of pain management strategies, a change in behavior in the sense of active against the pain, permanent pain reduction and increase in resilience can be achieved.
- Relaxation method
- Biofeedback
- Body therapy such as Feldenkrais, Tai Chi, Qi Gong
- Pain management training
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Depth psychologically based psychotherapy
- Hypnosis
- Possibly stationary multimodal therapy offer
Development and summary
Development: Due to the demographic development, an increased proportion of older people in employment can be expected. In particular, neck and shoulder straining activities and the generally increased stress in family and work will lead to increased pain in the posture and locomotor system. Therefore, the need for treatment in the area of “chronic neck and back pain” will continue to increase in the future.
In view of the exploding costs in the health care system, which are largely caused by patients with chronic pain disorders, more attention should be paid to prevention programs and treatment concepts in the group. With the program of the health insurance companies rehabilitation sport is in any case with already existing complaints a step into the correct direction done. Summary: For the treatment of patients with chronic neck pain, active group programs with the neck school concept are more successful than individual treatment.
Prerequisite for the success of the therapy is an exact previous diagnosis, a possible pre-treatment and a consequent active cooperation of the participants also beyond the group program. In connection with a multimodal treatment concept (medication, behavioral change in dealing with pain, consideration of psychosocial aspects), the specific strength training of the shoulder and neck muscles in physiotherapy is particularly suitable as a very effective and cost-effective treatment method. In view of the increasing costs in the treatment of chronic pain patients, multimodal concepts are primarily more expensive, but secondarily cheaper, more sustainable and more effective. <– Back to the main topic cervical spine syndrome
