Bize Ulaşın
+90 507 235 42 73Neck Pain
The neck, which is the most mobile region of the spine, is a structure consisting of 7 vertebrae, 5 discs and 14 joints, many muscle and ligament systems.
It has three important functions;
- It supports the head and provides stability.
- Allows mobility of the head in all planes of motion.
- It protects important structures that pass through the spinal canal, such as the spinal cord, nerve roots, and vessels.
Neck pain is a very common health problem, affecting approximately one third of the population. Jobs that require being stationary for a long time (such as musicians, assembly workers) such as office work, which is increasing day by day, also trigger neck pain. It is more common with age. Tensions and stresses in daily life also trigger neck pain.
Neck pain; It should not be forgotten that it can spread to a region up to the back of the head, around the shoulders, anterior chest wall and back. Sometimes hand and arm numbness, dizziness and balance problems may accompany.
Most of the neck pain (95%) is caused by the mechanical, that is, the musculoskeletal system.
Causes of Neck Pain
1- Causes Related to Bone Structure
Congenital: Torticollis, Klippel-Feil Syndrome
Traumatic: Cervical strain (strain, injury), fractures, slippage and hernias
Calcifications, Narrow Channel
Rheumatic: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Polymyalgia rheumatica,Polymyositis
tumors
Infections
2-Pain Due to Soft Tissues
Posture (Posture Disorders)
Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain Syndromes
3-Reflected Pains
Endocrine and Metabolic Causes
osteoporosis
Paget's Disease
hyperparathyroidism
5-Psychological
Evaluating the Patient with Neck Pain
It is as important as examining a patient with neck pain and listening to his/her history correctly. A good anamnesis is a very good indicator on the way to diagnosis.
The duration of the pain of the patient who applied to the Physiotherapist, the reasons that increase or decrease the feature should be noted thoroughly.
-- acute pain; Pain lasting less than 3 weeks
-- Subacute Pain; 3 weeks to 3 months
-- Chronic Pain: Describes pain that lasts longer than 3 months.
The patient's habits, traumas, operations, hobbies and professional inquiries should be made.
Mechanical neck pain increases with movement and decreases with rest. Morning stiffness is short-lived. Rheumatic pains, on the other hand, increase as the rest period increases, morning stiffness lasts for more than 1 hour. Cancer pain has an insidious onset, increases at night, and does not respond adequately to drug treatment, even if it decreases with movement.
The examination is then performed by the Physiotherapist. Whether there is a posture disorder, the position of the head relative to the body, the condition of the muscles, the mobility of the neck are checked. Special stimulating maneuvers and neurological examination are performed.
What tests are done in a patient with neck pain?
Laboratory examinations should be done in infections, rheumatic problems, cancers, and common diseases of the bone.
EMG and nerve conduction studies
Display methods
Further diagnostic examinations such as radiography, CT, MRI, or bone scintigraphy can be performed in patients with neck pain. However, it should not be forgotten that none of these can replace the history and physical examination, and the treatment should be planned according to the complaints of the patients, not the results of these examinations.
Who should undergo further examination?
- In the presence of persistent pain
- If there are neurological examination findings
- 10% weight loss in the last 6 months
- In case of infection, fever
- If you have a history of cancer,
- advanced age
- trauma history
- A history of prolonged cortisone use
What should be the treatment priorities in neck pain?
First of all, pain control should be ensured, the patient should be relieved and the accompanying muscle spasm should be resolved. After this process, it is necessary to prevent it from happening again, to find the triggering cause and eliminate it. Patient education and personalized exercise planning should be done.
Shall we use a neck brace?
It can be used if there is no history of trauma and acute persistent neck pain. Its duration should not exceed 1 month. Exercises should be given to prevent weakening of the muscles in the neck brace.
Treatment Methods for Neck Pain
Drug Treatments: Painkillers, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, corticosteroids, antiepileptic drugs can be used in accordance with the patient's condition and the drugs he regularly uses.
Physical Therapy Methods: Heat application, (taking into account the patient's blood pressure values) currents to reduce pain such as TENS or interference, ultrasound, laser, traction, cupping therapy, massage, taping, dry needling, trigger point injections, mobilization and manipulation applications can be made.
* Exercises
* Spa Treatments
In Which Situations Should a Patient with Neck Pain Be Operated?
- Having a hernia with progressive loss of strength and reflexes
- Tumor or abscess in the spine
- Complaints persisting for 3 months or longer despite treatment
- Fracture or severe slippage of the spine
Suggestions for Neck Health
- While working, the neck should be straight, the curve should not increase, the chin should not be forward or high. The computer screen should be at eye level, opposite the body, and the screen-to-eye distance should be 50-60 cm.
- It should be protected from air currents such as air conditioner or wind.
-After a bath, the hair should be dried.
Staying in the same fixed position for a long time should be avoided, and the position should be changed every 45 minutes at most. In the meantime, neck office exercises should be done.
-You should not stand with your head bowed for a long time, if we are looking at the phone, the phone should be raised.
- If frequent phone calls are made, earphones should be used.
-The pillow used should support the neck space. It should not be a very high or low pillow. It should be medium hard. Special orthopedic pillows should be used if beneficial. Pillows made of materials such as feathers and fibers are not suitable.
- Lying on your face should be avoided. Lying on your side and pulling your legs towards your stomach is one of the most suitable positions.
-Special travel pillows can be used on trips.
- Never lift, pull or push heavy objects. Divide the loads you will carry equally on both hands.
- Do not carry a load with your head. Do not lift loads above head level.
- Never lift, pull or push heavy objects. Divide the loads you will carry equally on both hands.
