Pain in the cervical region may be acute or chronic. If it has lasted for less than two weeks, it is described as being acute and if it has been present for longer than this, it is regarded as being chronic neck pain. The causes for both types are the similar. In most (if not all) cases, the pain originates from the structures that are located within the cervical region. These include, the ligaments, muscles, cervical vertebra and so on.
When you visit a doctor in Blue Bell, PA, they will start the process of diagnosis by taking a comprehensive history of your condition. Part of what they will want to know is how the problem started and how it has progressed over time. The next steps are for them to conduct a physical examination and to request for several investigations. These will be determined by the condition suspected. In general the commonly used investigations include X ray images, the MRI and CT scans.
Cervical disc herniation is one of the leading causes of prolonged cervical pain. It refers to the displacement of inter-vertebral discs in the cervical region. Under normal circumstances, these discs are involved in shock absorption during movements between adjacent vertebral bodies. In case of trauma to the spine, one or several of them may become displaced and impinge on nerve fibers. This may happen in any part of the spine but is commonest in the cervical and lumbar regions.
The management of disc prolapse is divided into conservative and surgical options. Traction is one of the most frequently used (and effective) conservative options. Spinal traction entails the application of a steady pulling force on the spine with the aim of restoring the normal anatomy. About twenty sessions offered over 4 or 6 weeks are usually needed. Analgesic agents may be obtained over the counter or by way of prescription. Surgery is reserved for cases that do not respond to the conservative interventions.
A condition that is similar to disc herniation is disc degeneration. Degeneration occurs in most people as they advance in age but only exhibits symptoms in a few. The treatments that are used here are similar to those that are used for herniation. Conservative therapies include the use of analgesic agents (both over the counter and prescription), heat and cold compression and neck exercises. Surgical operation is only for the very severe cases that are unresponsive to medical management.
Pain that is present in the cervical region and also affects the arm is often caused by narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spine stenosis). This condition can be easily identified on X-ray images. Many people who have this problem usually do not have symptoms but when they occur they begin gradually and worsen with time. Associated symptoms include numbness, a tingling sensation in the arms or hands as well as loss of coordination.
Alternative medicine therapies have been tried for this conditions with varying rates of success. One of the most widely practiced technique in this area is acupuncture. The therapy assumes that life energy, qi, flows certain paths in the body. In disease states, the flow is interrupted. Restoration of the flow by use of special needles provides cure. Others include chiropractic and massage.
Causes of neck pain are numerous and they are distributed among men and women in almost equal proportions. While many cases can be easily be treated using home remedies, there are others that require urgent professional help. Symptoms that are associated with visual disturbance and a severe headache, for example, indicate the presence of a serious underlying condition.
When you visit a doctor in Blue Bell, PA, they will start the process of diagnosis by taking a comprehensive history of your condition. Part of what they will want to know is how the problem started and how it has progressed over time. The next steps are for them to conduct a physical examination and to request for several investigations. These will be determined by the condition suspected. In general the commonly used investigations include X ray images, the MRI and CT scans.
Cervical disc herniation is one of the leading causes of prolonged cervical pain. It refers to the displacement of inter-vertebral discs in the cervical region. Under normal circumstances, these discs are involved in shock absorption during movements between adjacent vertebral bodies. In case of trauma to the spine, one or several of them may become displaced and impinge on nerve fibers. This may happen in any part of the spine but is commonest in the cervical and lumbar regions.
The management of disc prolapse is divided into conservative and surgical options. Traction is one of the most frequently used (and effective) conservative options. Spinal traction entails the application of a steady pulling force on the spine with the aim of restoring the normal anatomy. About twenty sessions offered over 4 or 6 weeks are usually needed. Analgesic agents may be obtained over the counter or by way of prescription. Surgery is reserved for cases that do not respond to the conservative interventions.
A condition that is similar to disc herniation is disc degeneration. Degeneration occurs in most people as they advance in age but only exhibits symptoms in a few. The treatments that are used here are similar to those that are used for herniation. Conservative therapies include the use of analgesic agents (both over the counter and prescription), heat and cold compression and neck exercises. Surgical operation is only for the very severe cases that are unresponsive to medical management.
Pain that is present in the cervical region and also affects the arm is often caused by narrowing of the spinal canal (cervical spine stenosis). This condition can be easily identified on X-ray images. Many people who have this problem usually do not have symptoms but when they occur they begin gradually and worsen with time. Associated symptoms include numbness, a tingling sensation in the arms or hands as well as loss of coordination.
Alternative medicine therapies have been tried for this conditions with varying rates of success. One of the most widely practiced technique in this area is acupuncture. The therapy assumes that life energy, qi, flows certain paths in the body. In disease states, the flow is interrupted. Restoration of the flow by use of special needles provides cure. Others include chiropractic and massage.
Causes of neck pain are numerous and they are distributed among men and women in almost equal proportions. While many cases can be easily be treated using home remedies, there are others that require urgent professional help. Symptoms that are associated with visual disturbance and a severe headache, for example, indicate the presence of a serious underlying condition.
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