Recent statistics indicate that 15% of grown-ups experience neck pain and occurs more frequently in women beyond age 50. Neck pain is usually caused by direct cervical trauma from a car accident or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms are pain in the back of the neck that may extend to the neck, shoulders, chest, arms and hands. There may be limitation in neck movements and compressions could cause numbness or partial paralysis.
Types of neck pain

• There may be non-specific neck pain without history of trauma, nor evidence of injury and can be treated with analgesics.
• Acute neck pain muscle-tendon compromise. Often caused by postural changes or over distension, it may be accompanied by decreased neck movement or muscle spasm. Collar and analgesics should be used.
• Herniation of intervertebral disc nucleus. It results in pain that increases when sneezing or coughing, causing muscle spasm. It requires cervical traction, analgesics, bed rest and cervical immobilization. In progressive cases and difficult to treat, surgery may be necessary.
• Joint disease or degenerative arthritis. It describes a series of changes that includes apophyseal joints. It is frequently observed a thinning of articular cartilage and bone degeneration with osteophyte formation. When discomfort is experienced, it should be treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

Recent statistics indicate that 15% of grown-ups experience neck pain and occurs more frequently in women beyond age 50. Neck pain is usually caused by direct cervical trauma from a car accident or rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms are pain in the back of the neck that may extend to the neck, shoulders, chest, arms and hands. There may be limitation in neck movements and compressions could cause numbness or partial paralysis.
Types of neck pain

• There may be non-specific neck pain without history of trauma, nor evidence of injury and can be treated with analgesics.
• Acute neck pain muscle-tendon compromise. Often caused by postural changes or over distension, it may be accompanied by decreased neck movement or muscle spasm. Collar and analgesics should be used.
• Herniation of intervertebral disc nucleus. It results in pain that increases when sneezing or coughing, causing muscle spasm. It requires cervical traction, analgesics, bed rest and cervical immobilization. In progressive cases and difficult to treat, surgery may be necessary.
• Joint disease or degenerative arthritis. It describes a series of changes that includes apophyseal joints. It is frequently observed a thinning of articular cartilage and bone degeneration with osteophyte formation. When discomfort is experienced, it should be treated with painkillers and anti-inflammatories.