Duration of symptoms
The duration of the cervical spine syndrome is very variable, since it is determined by the cause of the cervical spine problem. If the symptoms improve within 3 weeks, we speak of an acute cervical spine syndrome, whereas if the symptoms persist for more than 3 months, we speak of a chronic cervical spine syndrome. The cervical spine syndrome is not completely curable in the case of degenerative diseases and will always lead to complaints in the case of diseases in which a change in the cervical spine takes place.
If the cervical spine syndrome is caused by muscle tension, blockages of the cervical spine or whiplash, the symptoms can persist for several days to weeks. However, the cervical spine syndrome can completely disappear again with medication and physiotherapeutic treatment. In order to prevent recurring muscle tensions or blockages, sports should be practiced with the aim of strengthening the muscles in the neck, cervical spine and back. In the case of whiplash, the head can usually be gently moved again after the first day. Keeping the head still with a cervical collar is no longer recommended, as the muscles then start to dwindle and a new cervical spine problem can develop, which ultimately leads to a cervical spine syndrome.
Common symptoms of a cervical spine syndrome
After an accident, symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome usually occur as a result of the so-called whiplash injury (cervical spinal distortion). Here, a sudden acceleration (for example in a rear-end collision) causes a sudden head movement. In retrospect, ligaments and muscles can be torn.
In addition, there is often tension in the neck, so that head movement is only possible to a limited extent. In addition, symptoms such as dizziness, headaches or impaired vision can occur after the accident as a result of the cervical spine syndrome. The symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome can occur immediately, hours or even days after the accident.
In most cases, the symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome disappear by themselves. However, if they persist for more than a week, a doctor should be consulted.This can rule out serious damage to the cervical spine and prescribe physiotherapy so that the cervical spine syndrome does not persist (chronically). Regardless of the time course, a doctor should be consulted immediately if paralysis of the arm and neck occurs.
This can be serious nerve damage that requires specialist treatment. This topic might also be of interest to you: Cervical Spine Syndrome and HeadacheDizziness (Vertigo), (see: Vertigo in the Head) caused by a cervical spine syndrome is also called cervicogenic (coming from the cervical spine) dizziness. The dizziness often manifests itself as vestibular dizziness with an insecure gait and in some cases with a disturbed sense of position in space.
Nausea can also be caused by cervical vertigo. As a rule, the dizziness symptomatology increases with head and shoulder movements and parallel to this, pulling or stabbing pain in the neck area occurs. The muscles of the shoulder-neck area are often tense and the mobility of the neck is restricted.
The dizzy spells can last from a few minutes to several hours. Dizziness in the cervical spine syndrome is triggered by a disorder of certain sensory and nerve cells located at the muscles and tendons of the cervical spine. These transmit information about changes in the position or posture of the neck muscles to the organs of equilibrium, which can thus regulate orientation in space.
The disturbance of these sensory and nerve cells in a cervical spine syndrome due to tension or whiplash can lead to a disturbance of spatial perception, which causes dizziness. The dizziness symptomatology can be intensified by stress, as stress triggers further tension in the muscles. Dizziness can occur at any age; in people over 75 years of age, a dizziness symptomatology is the most common reason for a visit to the doctor.
Since there are many causes for dizziness, recurrent dizziness or permanent vertigo should be clarified by a doctor. The dizziness caused by a cervical spine syndrome can in most cases be treated very well and easily (e.g. with
- Physiotherapeutic movement exercises
- Massages
- Acupuncture
- Electrotherapy or
- Thermal applications.
Another symptom that can be part of the cervical spine syndrome is chest pain (chest pain). Since the nerves run from the brain through the vertebral holes of the spine, damage can cause one or more nerves to become trapped at any point in the spine.
So if blockages occur in the cervical spine and subsequently lead to a cervical spine syndrome, nerves running along the thorax can be irritated and cause pain there. Since often not all nerves are irritated, but mostly the nerves on one side, the chest pain is also only felt on one side of the chest. The pain, which is caused by irritation of the nerves, is usually stabbing and often triggered by external pressure.
Various changes in visual perception are summarized as visual disorders. Patients suffering from a cervical spine syndrome can develop visual disturbances in addition to the symptoms of neck pain, dizziness, tinnitus and headaches. Visual disturbances in the context of a cervical spine syndrome and damage to the cervical spine can be caused by a circulatory disorder of the brain or directly of the eyes.
Insufficient blood circulation can be caused by a narrowing of a vessel located at the cervical spine or neck. Two small arteries vertebralia (arteries of the spinal column) pass through a bony canal in the cervical spine on the right and left side and supply the brain with oxygen-rich blood. In a cervical spine syndrome with a narrowing of one of the two arteries, extreme head rotations in particular can lead to a circulatory disorder and thus a reduced supply of blood to the brain, which triggers the visual disturbances.
Such narrowing of the arteries can be caused by plaque deposits in the vessel itself (arteriosclerotic vascular stenosis) or by degenerative changes in the area of the bony cervical spine, leading to visual disturbances. If the blood supply to the brain and/or eyes is no longer sufficient, not enough oxygen reaches these regions. This can lead to visual problems.These visual disorders can manifest themselves in different ways: Sometimes double images, flickering, reduced visual acuity or even a restricted field of vision occur.
The resulting visual disturbances can be accompanied by dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), nausea, vomiting and migraine-like headaches. Parallel to the visual disturbances, a migraine attack can also occur. In addition to the severe migraine headaches, this can be accompanied by flashes of light, restrictions in the visual field or flickering of the eyes.
If the cause of the visual disturbances is a cervical spine syndrome, these disappear again with the treatment of the cervical spine problem. A slipped disc (prolapse) in the area of the cervical spine can also cause visual disturbances in addition to many different symptoms (such as paralysis of the arms, numbness or tingling). Frequently, visual disturbances in the cervical spine syndrome occur especially in psychic stress situations and are often accompanied by symptoms such as
- Pain
- Ear noises
- Nausea
- Vomiting and
- Seizure-like falling down
Swallowing difficulties can occur without accompanying pain (dysphagia) or with sore throat or pain when swallowing (odynophagia).
Swallowing disorders can be caused by numerous causes or diseases, for example by a cervical syndrome. Blockages of the cervical vertebrae or muscular tension of the neck and shoulder muscles can lead to swallowing difficulties. Bony remodelling between the individual vertebrae (spondylosis deformans) can also lead to swallowing difficulties with and without pain, accompanied by considerable problems in the functionality of the cervical spine.
Occasionally, bone spurs (osteophytes) on the cervical spine are also recognized as a cause of swallowing difficulties. The most common cause of such spur formations is wear and tear. Swallowing difficulties in the context of a cervical spine syndrome can in some cases also be accompanied by hoarseness (so-called “frog in the neck syndrome”).
Swallowing difficulties often occur in parallel with dizziness and ringing in the ears. The term tinnitus describes the abnormal perception of a sound, ringing or tone in the ears. If there is an acute blockage of the head joint in a cervical spine syndrome, one-sided, dull ringing in the ears is often described.
But also hissing and the perception of high-pitched sounds can indicate cervical spine problems. The tinnitus can be permanent or recurrent for short episodes. The tinnitus symptoms may also be triggered by a cervical spine syndrome, but there are many different causes of tinnitus.
The simultaneous occurrence of tinnitus and cervical syndrome does not necessarily have to be related. However, there is a close nervous connection between the joints of the upper cervical spine with the auditory and vestibular nerves. This explains why, for example, joint problems or muscle tension in the context of a cervical spine syndrome can promote the development of tinnitus or amplify existing ringing in the ears.
In addition, the cranial nerve nuclei of the auditory and vestibular nerve are supplied by branches of the spinal arteries (Arteriae vertebralia), which pass through the bony transverse processes of the individual cervical vertebrae on the right and left sides. In a cervical spine syndrome, for example, signs of wear and tear on the cervical vertebrae can lead to a circulatory disorder and thus to reduced blood flow to the cranial nerve nuclei that are important for hearing. For this reason, ringing in the ears can be caused by a cervical spine syndrome.
Common accompanying symptoms of tinnitus are
- Low frequency hearing loss of one ear
- Increased hearing sensation (hyperacusis) and
- Swindling
Sensitive disorders, which manifest themselves for example as tingling in the arms, are caused in a cervical spine syndrome by mechanical compression of the nerve roots that emerge from the cervical spine. Irritation of these nerve roots can be caused, for example, by a slipped disc in the area of the cervical spine or by bony constriction due to changes in the vertebral bodies. The constriction at the nerve roots leads to an irritation of the arm plexus, a nerve plexus that is formed by the connection of the individual nerve roots and supplies the arm.
This irritation manifests itself as a pain that is usually sharp, pulling or dull and radiates from the neck into the shoulder, arm and hand.As the severity of the constriction of the nerve roots increases, it can lead to a number of problems, especially in the area of the arms and hands. In general, the causes of the tingling sensations in cervical spine syndrome can be identified by imaging diagnostics of the spine. Often the symptoms of tingling in the arms are accompanied by neck-shoulder pain with or without radiation to the back of the head.
Certain movements in the cervical spine increase the pain or discomfort (e.g. tingling) radiating into the arms. Depending on whether the cause of the cervical spine syndrome lies more in the upper, middle or lower cervical spine, tingling sensations can occur at different points in the shoulder, arm and hand area. If you suspect a slipped disc of the cervical spine as the cause of your discomfort, we recommend our topic: Symptoms of a slipped disc of the cervical spine
- Sensation (numbness)
- Reflex failures
- Sensitivity disorders (tingling) and finally to
- Symptoms of paralysis
A cervical spine syndrome can cause irritation of nerve plexuses and nerve nodes of the so-called sympathetic nervous system.
The sympathetic nervous system is part of the involuntary nervous system (vegetative nervous system) and influences, among other things, the activity of the heart. In case of a disturbance and irritation of the sympathetic nervous system by a cervical spine syndrome, for example caused by a blockage of the upper cervicals, the organism is adjusted to permanent maximum performance. Possible symptoms of this sympathetic stress (sympatheticotonia) caused by the permanent irritation of the cervical spine syndrome are digestive disorders, the perception of ringing in the ears, memory disorders (e.g. concentration disorders), sleep disorders, visual disorders and many more.
The sympathetic nervous system can also have an effect on heart activity in cervical spine syndrome. For example, it can lead to an increase in blood pressure or to heart attacks or even rhythm disturbances of the heart. The antagonist of the sympathetic nervous system is the vagus nerve (most important nerve of the so-called parasympathetic nervous system), which can also be damaged by a cervical spine syndrome.
If the functionality of the vagus nerve is impaired, it can come about. Heart complaints can have many different causes and should always be clarified by a physician. Heart complaints can be triggered by a cervical spine syndrome, but heart complaints can also lead to radiating pain into the left shoulder or neck, which is misinterpreted as a cervical spine syndrome, since the actual cause is a functional impairment of the heart itself.
- Increases blood pressure
- Increases the activity of heart and respiration
- Places the pupils wide and
- Leads to increased perspiration
- Irregular or accelerated heartbeat
- Swallowing difficulties
- Swindle
- Neck stiffness or
- Headaches
Problems in the cervical spine associated with cervical syndrome can also affect the heart and symptoms such as palpitations can occur. This is because certain nerves run close to the neck and cervical spine. If there is damage or irritation to the cervical spine, these nerve cords can be irritated or injured.
If this is the case, the control of the heartbeat may be malfunctioning, resulting in symptoms that affect the heart (racing heart, stumbling heart, rhythm disturbances) in the course of cervical spine syndrome. If a heart problem occurs alongside other symptoms of cervical spine syndrome such as neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances or muscle weakness in the arm and hand area, damage to the cervical spine should also be considered as a cause. Sometimes the pain in the area of the spinal column and especially in the area of the cervical spine can be so strong due to a cervical spine syndrome that it also affects the entire body.
Pain that persists over a long period of time in particular has the risk of also causing systemic complaints throughout the body. Chronic pain patients, who have pain in the area of the cervical spine for weeks and months, often react with whole body pain and general reactions. Sometimes, when the pain in the area of the cervical spine is very pronounced, there are also trembling attacks and the patient bends over.
The tremor is an overstimulation of the muscles.It is usually caused by the fact that the muscles of the cervical spine are so strongly irritated and in addition the patient tries to relax the muscles permanently. Instead, however, muscle cramps occur due to pain, which can lead to cramp-like tremors. Severe and chronic pain in the area of the cervical vertebrae can lead to severe general symptoms.
Patients who have a cervical spine syndrome that is difficult to control usually also complain of pulling headaches, which result from the fact that the cramped muscles of the cervical spine transmit the pain forward to the head area. Similar to severe migraine attacks, neurological symptoms may occur. In rare cases, the patient may also experience clouding and dizziness.
Unconsciousness due to a cervical spine syndrome has rather not yet been described. However, patients may not react adequately and may be drowsy. Of course, dangerous and acute causes of this drowsiness must also be clarified in the appropriate diagnostics.
Dazedness and drowsiness under a cervical spine syndrome can also be caused by the painkillers taken, which are usually very highly dosed in the case of complaints that are difficult to control. In any case, a precise cause of the drowsiness must be investigated. In the area of the cervical spine not only numerous muscles run along but also nerves and blood vessels.
In this context, the nerves that supply the corresponding muscles of the cervical spine must be particularly emphasized. In very pronounced cervical spine syndromes, irritation of the nerves in the cervical spine area occurs, which leads to spreading pain. Patients who report pain in the face usually cannot localize the source of this pain.
The pain is reported as either pulling or tearing or as dull and radiating. Sometimes a so-called trigeminal neuralgia is also a possible differential diagnosis. This is an irritation of the facial trigeminal nerve.
It runs along the cheek bones on both sides and is spanned by muscles. These muscles are also indirectly connected to muscles of the rear cervical spine. Cramps in this area can therefore theoretically be passed on to the front part of the face.
Facial pain due to a cervical spine syndrome is rare, but must be included in the suspected diagnosis in any case. The muscles of the upper body are more or less connected and adjoin each other. In the case of a cervical spine syndrome, corresponding muscle cramps can also cause cramps in the adjacent muscles of the thoracic spine, which in turn can cause the muscles of the rib cage to cramp and these are now responsible for the movement of the rib cage during breathing.
Cramps in this area can lead to the rib cage not lifting and lowering as easily and this is perceived as breathing difficulties. However, this impression is mostly subjective, as the oxygen supply is usually sufficient. Another cause of shortness of breath in a cervical spine syndrome is the actual pain, which, if it is severe, can also pass to the autonomic nervous system and in this case can actually lead to shortness of breath.
Breathlessness in a cervical spine syndrome occurs rather rarely and so a precise search for the cause must be carried out in the case of specified breathing problems. Some strong medications, which are supposed to relieve the pain of a cervical spine syndrome can also lead to breathing difficulties. These are mainly drugs from the group of morphine preparations.
Pain in general is exhausting for the whole body. The body does not come to rest, is startled from resting phases, the affected persons try to take direct or indirect measures practically every minute to make the pain more bearable. Mostly this is also accompanied by restlessness and/or wandering of the patient.
The aim is to find the position that causes the least pain. Pain for a short time is bearable for the body and the patient. However, if longer pain attacks occur, the body and the psyche are affected.
After long periods of pain patients are tired and exhausted, ill-tempered and hopeless. Chronic pain patients often also suffer from depression. Also, under strong painkillers that are taken, fatigue can occur, which severely affects the patient.Fatigue is also the reason why patients in severe pain should not participate in road traffic.
