Here is a discussion and common ailments for the neck. Most of these conditions can be treated naturally with effective results.
Your neck does more than just connect your head to your torso. Seven of the vertebrae that make up your spine are located in your neck. In fact, the main function of your neck is to protect the nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body. And don’t forget about your throat and larynx, which are also supported by a healthy neck. Most of you have probably experienced a wild day at Asheville’s Fun Depot, or had a stiff neck after a rough night of sleep. There are a variety of potential neck issues that signal something is wrong. So when is it serious?
Cervical radiculopathy- A pinched nerve or nerve compression can occur due to a herniated intervertebral disc, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. You might experience weakness, numbness, burning, or a “pins and needles” sensation. There are a variety of causes, as follows:
- Herniated intervertebral discs occur when the outer layer of the disc ruptures, causing the contents of the disc to protrude into the spinal canal and cause pressure on the spinal nerves.
- Degenerative disc disease occurs when the intervertebral discs may degenerate or break down, and at the same time the vertebrae become thick and extend into the spinal canal.
- Bone spurs result due to conditions like osteoarthritis where there may be abnormal overgrowths of bone in the spinal canal or nerve root openings.
- Spinal stenosis is when bone spurs may cause narrowing of the spinal cord, thus producing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is osteoarthritis, but other causes such as herniated disc, injury, spinal tumors or Paget’s disease of the bone may be involved.
- Kyphosis is a spinal deformity where there is excessive flexion of the cervical spine. Slight deformity may not be of much significance, but in severe cases there may be compression of the spinal cord or nerves, leading to pain and other associated symptoms.
- Spinal injury or injury to the backbone may occur after a fall or as a result of car accident injuries, where fracture of the vertebrae or other soft tissue damage may cause nerve compression.
- A tumor within the spine or spinal metastasis from cancer elsewhere in the body may case spinal cord compression.
- An abscess is the accumulation of pus or blood in the spinal cord and may cause compression.
- Cervical dystonia or spasmodic torticollis is a rare condition which may occur at any age but is more common in middle-aged women. The neck muscles contract involuntarily, leading to painful twisting of the head to one side. This prolonged muscle contraction causes compression of the cervical nerves, leading to headaches, pain, tingling and numbness in the neck, radiating to the shoulders. The nerve compression may be severe and debilitating, often causing permanent nerve damage.
- Cervical spondylosis is an age related “wear and tear” affecting the cervical spine. This is a progressive disease, affecting men and women equally after the age of 40, where the bones and cartilages of the cervical spine degenerate or may form bone spurs, causing compression of the nerves.
So what should you do? Check out the Neck Disability Index to help determine the impact your neck pain has had on your life. If you are ready to book an appointment, I will be happy to help you figure out the best care pathway for your needs. We have lots of blog posts about neck pain which may be useful to you, as well.
