Symptoms

The term cervical spine syndrome is used to describe various unclear pain conditions in the area of the cervical spine. Possible common symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome include pain in the neck and shoulder area and also neck and back pain, which is mainly caused by tension or hardening of the muscles (muscle hard tension). These pains can be burning or pulling and can extend to the inner sides of the shoulder blades and to the back of the head.

The pain often increases during head movements. The hardening in the shoulder-neck area can result in a crooked posture, which leads to further tension of the muscles. Neck stiffness and pain during head movements can also indicate a cervical spine syndrome.

In some cases, headaches that spread over the skull from behind (tension headaches) can be a symptom of cervical spine syndrome. The cervical spine syndrome can also cause occasional migraine attacks, sleep disturbances, relative restlessness and severe fatigue. In the early stages of the disease, the symptoms appear only rarely and for a short time, usually triggered by certain head movements.

In more advanced stages, the pain can also occur at rest and at night and thus become chronic. The affected person is often severely restricted in everyday life by the symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome. Ear noises, dizziness, balance problems, difficulty swallowing, nausea and visual disturbances are also described.

These symptoms often occur in situations of stress or strain. If a nerve contusion or irritation is responsible for the cervical spine syndrome, numbness and sensory disturbances may occur (e.g. “ant tingling” in the area of the arms or head). In addition, the vegetative nervous system can also be affected by blockages in the cervical spine syndrome, which can lead to increased sweating, palpitations and nervousness.

In some cases, the advanced stage of the cervical spine syndrome can lead to feelings of weakness and a reduction in strength, in extreme cases even to paralysis. If the cervical spine syndrome is caused by a whiplash injury or a sports injury, there are often no symptoms in the first moment. It can even happen days or months later that neck and back headaches occur and the mobility of the cervical spine is increasingly restricted. Neck stiffness is often accompanied by severe headaches.