Pain in the cervical spine | The cervical spine (HWS)

Pain in the cervical spine

Pain in the area of the cervical spine is also known as cervical spine syndrome, or cervical spine syndrome for short. This is a collective term for all pain conditions of the cervical spine, which can also radiate into the arms or shoulder region. Causes: The possible causes of a cervical spine syndrome are manifold.

They range from acute pain due to tension in the neck and cervical muscles, to vertebral joint blockages, to changes in the intervertebral discs, ligaments or vertebral bodies.The bony abnormalities in particular may be congenital (e.g. scoliosis) or due to wear and tear. An acute cause of a cervical spine syndrome is whiplash injury, which usually occurs in car accidents when the occupant’s head is first thrown forward and then against the headrest. Inflammatory diseases can also cause a cervical spine syndrome.

These include rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and spondylodiscitis. Diseases that affect bone substance, for example osteoporosis or osteomalacia, can also cause pain in the cervical spine. In osteoporosis, the pain is usually caused by secondary degeneration (fractures) of the vertebral bodies.

Last but not least, a cervical spine syndrome can also be caused by tumors in the cervical spine area or by metastases of other tumors. Symptoms:Pain in the area of the cervical spine can radiate into the arms, shoulders and shoulder blade area. Especially if the cause is a blockage of vertebral joints or tense neck muscles, the rotation of the head is often restricted and painful.

Therapy: In case of acute pain in the cervical spine area due to tension, it can help to infiltrate the tense muscles with local anesthetics. This can be done by the family doctor, for example. The anesthetic is injected into the muscles of the neck at various points.

The affected person usually feels a quick improvement. The anaesthetic prevents a pain-related bad posture, so that the complaints do not get worse. Heat and massages can also ease tension in the neck area.

If there is a more serious cause, it must be decided individually which therapeutic measure is appropriate. Often, an MRI or CT scan is ordered first, so that the treating physician can obtain clues as to the exact cause of the complaints. If there is a degenerative change in the cervical spine and conservative therapeutic measures no longer help, it may also be necessary to consider surgery.

A whiplash injury of the cervical spine can remain painful long after the accident. However, those affected should not keep their neck spasmodically still or immobilize it with a cervical collar, but should first move carefully. Complete immobilization has proven to be detrimental to the symptoms. Physiotherapeutic exercises, in addition to painkillers, can bring about a speedy improvement.