Neck Pain: What Causes Neck Pain And How Is It Treated?
Neck pain is an extremely common problem, as neck pain is reported in about 60% of the adult population with concomitant functional disorders.
The neck is probably the only area of the body that is affected by so many factors and so many other systems for the appearance of a semiology. It supports the head and rests on the chest. It is a sensitive area in which a simple touch of the hand can convey feelings of friendship, love and offer.
Cervical pain is a very common ailment of various origins, which can occur in the form of an acute crisis or even have a chronic course. It can take many forms, be it unilateral or bilateral, cause headaches and restrict cervical movements. The complex anatomy of the cervix makes it difficult to identify the structure responsible for pain. Many times the cause is multifactorial.
Diagnostic Approach
In patients with neck pain the clinical approach aims to determine the origin of the symptoms, the extent of the lesion and the need for conservative treatment or surgery. Paraclinical tests and in particular neurophysiological and neuroimaging methods are necessary if the history and rheumatological-neurological assessment indicate the presence of damage, in order to accurately diagnose the problem.
Treatment
Medication for neck pain involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants, vitamins, as well as vasodilators and circulatory enhancers.
In patients diagnosed with neck pain, only a small percentage need surgery and this percentage includes patients where the causes of dysfunction are related to the spinal cord, resulting in weakness of the upper limb or prolonged shoulder pain, provided that it has failed. the conservative approach. Conservative treatment should be maintained and last as long as possible. Conservative treatment should be given for at least 6 to 12 weeks before deciding on surgery. Of course there are exceptions, such as in marked motor impairment with worsening symptoms where it is best not to expect more than three weeks.
Physiotherapy Treatment
Organized physiotherapy is the best therapeutic intervention in the treatment of neck pain and the only one that has no side effects. Offers:
- Reduction of pain
- Relaxation of the muscles of the area
- Improving the mobility of the cervical spine, the head of the shoulders, the rest of the spine and possibly other disorders in the other joints
- Increasing the strength of the neck muscles, back muscles, shoulder girdle muscles, abdominal muscles, etc.
- Relapse prevention
Physiotherapy for neck pain is performed with the following techniques:
- High Power Antistatic & Capacitive Radiofrequency Therapy – TECAR therapy
- Thermotherapy – Cryotherapy
- Cryotherapy
- Electrotherapy
- Classic form of TENS
- Form of electroacupuncture
- Massage
- Kinesiotherapy