subject: A Brief View On Cervical Pain [print this page] The spine is a complex and marvelous structure in the human body where multiple nerves and muscles originates which is one of the most essential circuits for the human bodys physiological function. Even though the total spine is an essential part, the cervical spine is the most delicate and dangerous spot in the spinal region. It is the main part which makes contact between the head and trunk. The cervical spine holds the head which is about 15 pounds even during the movement of head in several directions.
The cervical spine comprises of seven vertebral bones, intervertebral discs, spinal cord, nerve roots, blood vessels, muscles and ligaments. The nerve roots start from the spinal cord appears like branches of the tree. Each cervical nerve root transfers the nerve impulses and signals to and from the brain, chest, shoulders and upper limbs. The cervical spine is possible to move in all the directions like flexion, extension, lateral tilt to either of the shoulders, side to side turning, complete rotation in both directions, etc.
Being a major part the cervical spine gets certain regular problems like spasm of cervical muscles, strain of cervical spine due to over usage, stiffness of cervical spine due to static or less usage, cervical pain, etc.
The causes of cervical pain are numerous in number. Some of the major causes are listed below:
Lifestyle Cause
The improper posture, overweight, obesity, stress, over static usage of the cervical joint and muscles, emotional tension and anxiety, weak cervical and abdominal muscles, etc are some of the present days wrong lifestyle habits which disrupts the spine balance and causes alternate tightening and contraction of the cervical muscles which finally results with cervical pain and heavy stiffness.
Age Factor
The degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis, spinal Stenosis, disc degeneration, etc which occurs mostly with the old age groups also has more chances to affect the spine. In any of these degenerative disorders the spinal muscles or nerves get easily affected which may lead to the initial symptom cervical pain.
Accidents and Trauma
Starting form whiplash till major accidental injury if the cervical involvement is there then it may cause severe problems and complication to the upper body mainly the neck, chest, shoulders, head and upper limbs. The immediate symptom you will get will be the cervical pain which leads to restricted cervical movements gradually results with cervical stiffness and other complications regarding the injury and accident.
For diagnosing the cause of cervical pain the main tools available presently are X-rays, MRI, CSF analysis, blood routine, etc. Apart from these the main diagnostic tool is the physical examination of the cervical region to enlist the possible causes and depending upon that you can go for the appropriate diagnostic procedure instead of doing all the tests. In case of nerve defect possibility the physician will suggest you to go for nerve conduction test for confirmation as well as to found out the severity of defect.
Most of the time the Cervical pain will be treated with minor treatments and medications but in case of deep seated causes you have to undergo surgery only.
