Neck Pain: Causes and Treatment Methods

Neck pain is usually acute and is caused by tension. Here you can find out what other causes there are and what helps against pain.

What is Neck Pain?

Countless nerves, seven vertebral bodies and lots of muscles converge in the neck – and the cervical spine works hard every day to keep the heavy head straight. It is therefore no wonder that many people regularly have to struggle with neck pain. They are caused by tension in the muscles, which in turn is triggered by incorrect posture or drafts. In most cases, neck pain is acute and can be treated well, for example by massages or physiotherapy. If the symptoms persist for more than three months, this is known as chronic neck pain.

Normally, our neck can withstand a lot. This means that if neck pain occurs, the musculature must have been excessively strained for some time. That is why neck pain rarely comes on its own: The pain often radiates, for example to the head, shoulders or arms. At worst, numbness in the fingers or paralysis can occur. Also the so-called stiff neck often occurs – it strongly restricts the head mobility and allows a turning of the head to the right, left, up or down mostly only under pain.

Acute and Chronic Neck Pain

Acute neck pain is a sign of current overload and tension in the muscles and usually lasts from a few days to a maximum of three weeks. There are usually rather harmless causes such as incorrect posture or an unfavourable lying position while sleeping. Even when we are stressed, we tend to have increased neck tension, headaches and Co… It is estimated that every third German has acute neck pain at least once a year.

If the complaints last longer than twelve weeks, the cause is usually physical wear and tear, which in turn can lead to other illnesses. Chronic neck pain can cause the following additional complaints:

• Headaches up to migraines
• Respiratory disorders – the stiff neck stretches to the chest and flattens breathing
• Shoulder inflammations
• Slipped disks
• Cervical Spine Syndrome (“Cervical Syndrome” or also “Cervical Spine Syndrome”) – this refers to general complaints in the area of the neck, e.g. tensions that cause radiating pain or a persistently stiff neck.

Causes of Neck Pain

Usually there is no serious illness behind it, but neck pain can have many possible causes, which can be divided into different areas. Here is an overview:

Neck pain due to signs of wear and tear

• Herniated disc: The herniated disc is rare in the cervical spine, but possible.
• Osteoporosis: Bone atrophy, which mainly affects women after menopause, can also manifest itself in neck pain.
• Rickets: A vitamin D deficiency here leads to bone growth being disrupted and the muscles in the entire body being weakened.
• Arthrosis: Age-related joint degeneration can also affect the joints of the cervical spine.
• Chondrosis: Age-related wear and tear of the intervertebral discs leads to neck pain, among other things.
• Spondylosis: Spondylosis is a stiffening of the spine caused by changes in the intervertebral discs.
• Cervicocephal syndrome: Changes or age-related signs of wear and tear lead to headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness and / or impaired vision in addition to neck pain. The mobility of the neck decreases, neck pain sets in.
• Cervical spinal canal sterosis: The spinal canal of the cervical spine, in which the spinal cord runs, narrows. In addition to neck pain, numbness and paralysis may also occur.

Neck pain due to muscle tensions

• Draught
• Cold / flu
• Malpositions and / or loads
• Psychological factors, e.g. stress or anxiety
• Muscle strains in the neck area
• Torticollis (muscles are excessively active and tense quickly, resulting in an oblique posture of the head)

Neck pain due to injuries

• Vertebral fractures (Attention: If vertebral fractures are suspected, extreme caution must be exercised during first aid because paraplegia is possible).
• Whiplash injury

Other diseases that cause neck pain

• Tumours / Metastases
• Disc inflammations
• Fibromyalgia (chronic pain disorder which, in addition to pain throughout the body, can cause constant fatigue and insomnia)
• Meningitis (“meningitis”, inflammation caused by bacteria, which leads to neck stiffness in addition to headaches, fever, confusion and nausea.
• Scoliosis (“slanting back”, obliquity of the spine)
• Rheumatic diseases, e.g. rheumatism or degenerative arthrosis
• Abscesses in the throat (they can also lead to shortness of breath or even suffocation, which requires rapid medical attention)

In addition, pain caused by diseases of the internal organs such as the heart or liver can radiate to the neck.

Neck Pain? These Symptoms Require Medical Attention!

Neck pain often occurs together with other symptoms – which are not always harmless. Although they are rarely associated with serious illnesses, if the following symptoms occur in addition to neck pain, rapid medical help is important:

• Headache along with nausea and/or vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light, signs of paralysis, stiff neck, pain when the chin is moved downwards towards the chest. This may be due to meningitis – an emergency doctor should be called immediately!
• Fever, chills, unexplained weight loss
• Pain is as strong at rest as it is in motion
• Numbness and / or constantly falling asleep limbs
• Signs of paralysis

Patients with neck pain after an accident or those who have already had back or neck pain, such as a herniated disc, should also be cautious.

Diagnosis by The Doctor

On the basis of conversations about the existing complaints and a physical examination, the family doctor can often make a first diagnosis of acute neck pain. In particular, the mobility of the neck and head is checked, but also whether there is pain when touching or applying pressure. Depending on the suspected cause, an imaging procedure such as computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be used. If there are signs of numbness or paralysis, which indicate possible nerve damage, a neurological examination is also necessary for neck pain.

Treatment of Neck Pain: Which Therapy Helps?

There are several ways to treat acute neck pain that are designed to help loosen tense muscles so that the pain disappears and the mobility of the neck and head is improved. The following treatments are useful:

• Physiotherapy: On the one hand you can learn exercises which help to build up the neck muscles, on the other hand massages loosen and relax the aching muscles.
• Acupuncture: With the help of acupuncture needles in the correct body parts, the energy flow of the body is to be improved, which reduces pain.
• Injections: Irritated nerve roots are injected with anaesthetics so that the pain stimulus no longer reaches the brain. When the pain subsides, the musculature also loosens more easily.
• Manual medicine: Tension and muscle blockages can also be treated with chiropractic or osteopathy.
• Heat treatment: Heat relaxes hardened muscles and can relieve pain. A cherry stone cushion or a hot-water bottle is often enough for this, but hot-water plasters are also an alternative. In general, the neck should be kept warm, for example by wearing a scarf.
• Relaxation techniques: With the help of relaxation techniques, e.g. autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation, neck pain can also be treated and prevented.
• Drugs: Prescription-free drugs with active ingredients such as ibuprofen or diclofenac can be taken at short notice in consultation with the doctor.

An operation for neck pain is only necessary in very rare cases and for serious causes of the complaints.

How Can I Prevent Neck Pain?

To prevent neck pain in the first place, you should pay attention to a few things in everyday life. The following tips help to prevent complaints:

• Neck and back-friendly workplace: The desk chair should be ergonomically adapted so that you can sit upright on it. Feet should at best be apart hip-wise on the floor, arms at right angles to the tabletop and horizontal to the keyboard. If you make a lot of phone calls, it is better to use a headset instead of always pinching the handset between your ear and shoulder. It is also important to get up at least once an hour and walk around a bit and change your sitting position regularly.
• Avoid draughts: Cold draughts often cause acute symptoms. A scarf can also help here.
• Strength training: Strong back and neck muscles can also prevent neck pain. Muscles are strengthened through targeted strength training in these areas.
• Cushions and mattresses: A mattress that is easy on the back is just as important as a matching neck cushion.

Exercises and Stretches against Neck Pain

The neck muscles can be relaxed with various loosening exercises and small stretches to prevent neck pain. The following exercises are useful:

• Loosen shoulders: Raise shoulders when inhaling and drop them again when exhaling deeply. Repeat the whole five times. You can also circle your shoulders and shake out your arms.
• Stretch round back: Place palms against forehead and bend head down to chest against slight resistance of hands. Then fold your hands behind your head and slowly straighten them up again – this will pull you right into your spine.
• Stretch neck: Put the head slowly on one side, pull down the shoulder of the other side and let the arm hang down. This stretches the lateral neck muscles. Repeat on the other side.

As a general rule, everyone should take a few minutes a day for exercises against neck pain.