Cervical spine syndrome

Cervical spine syndrome, Cervical syndrome or Cervical spine syndrome the orthopedist calls painful complaints in the neck and shoulder that can easily become chronic. Prevention through exercise is the best remedy for cervical spine syndrome.

What is the cervical spine syndrome?

The cervical spine syndrome stands for cervical spine syndrome. The symptoms are not just limited to the neck region, but also appear as a referring pain that pulls into the shoulders and arms.

Headaches are also part of the cervical spine syndrome. In addition to muscle hardening, in extreme cases dizziness, tinnitus (noises in the ears) or visual disturbances can also occur. Numbness and tingling in the arms and hands are almost typical of the cervical spine syndrome. The patient is even troubled by paralysis of the fingers and arm muscles. Sometimes those affected also complain of disturbed sleep at night or difficulty swallowing.

Depending on the localization of the focus of the disease, doctors differentiate between a lower or an upper cervical spine syndrome. A distinction is also made between acute and chronic course, another classification is made according to the underlying causes of the cervical spine syndrome.

causes

Cervical spine syndrome can have multiple triggers. Often it is only a temporary damage to posture that can be easily repaired. More serious, however, is a post-traumatic cervical spine syndrome, which occurs especially after car accidents. Whiplash trauma (distortion, twisting) is one of the typical causes of the cervical spine syndrome.

Often this is also due to signs of wear and tear of the vertebral bodies, rarely leading to a herniated disc in the neck area. Without any recognizable pathological change, two cervical vertebrae are blocked, which suddenly cannot move against one another.

Sometimes worn facet joints are also involved. Because these intervertebral connections on the vertebral processes also play an important role in the statics and mobility of the cervical spine. Finally, possible causes include a number of malignant bone diseases such as tumors or inflammation of the cervical vertebrae as part of the cervical spine syndrome.

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Symptoms, ailments & signs

In the cervical spine syndrome, patients primarily suffer from very severe pain. This pain occurs mainly in the neck or shoulders and has a very negative effect on the quality of life of the person concerned. They often spread to the back or head and can lead to very unpleasant symptoms there too.

Often the cervical spine syndrome also leads to a hardening of the muscles, which can lead to tension. Disturbances of the blood circulation also occur not infrequently and can lead to 8 [sensory disturbances]] or to numbness. Many patients with cervical spine syndrome also experience dizziness and nausea. If the cervical spine syndrome is not treated, the circulatory disorders usually increase, which can lead to visual or hearing problems.

In the worst case, these complaints remain and can no longer be treated. There may be a tingling sensation in the extremities. The affected person is significantly restricted in his everyday life by the symptoms of the cervical spine syndrome, so that the syndrome can also lead to psychological upsets or to depression. Due to the constant pain, many affected people also adopt a relieving posture.

Diagnosis & course

The doctor suspects the cervical spine syndrome if the patient describes the symptoms mentioned. If hardening of the neck and shoulder muscles is noticeable and the mobility of the head is restricted, imaging methods are used. Using radiological methods or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the doctor can identify possible causes of the cervical spine syndrome.

If the cervical spine syndrome remains untreated for a long time or it proves to be therapy-resistant, there is a risk of chronification. The patient involuntarily tries to avoid a painful position of the neck and permanently gets used to a bad posture.

This in turn can lead to permanent deformation of the cervical spine. With such manifestations of the cervical spine syndrome, ultimately only the symptoms can be combated. The medical consultation is therefore a necessity in the early stages of the cervical spine syndrome.

Complications

The cervical spine syndrome mainly causes severe and stabbing pain in the shoulder and neck area. This pain can occur in the form of pain at rest or pressure pain, with pain at rest always stressing sleep and possibly leading to sleep problems. The diagnosis of the cervical spine syndrome is usually relatively simple, so that early treatment can be initiated.

The severe pain often leads to irritability in the patient and psychological upset. It is not uncommon for the pain to spread to other regions, so that the patient also suffers from headaches or dizziness. In general, circulatory disorders develop, which can affect different regions of the body.

This can lead to paralysis or to sensory disorders all over the body. Furthermore, there may be discomfort in the ears or eyes, which can make the everyday life of the person affected very difficult. The treatment of the cervical spine syndrome is usually done through exercise or various therapies.

There is always a positive course of the disease. It looks different, however, when a tumor is responsible for the cervical spine syndrome. In this case, it cannot be predicted whether the patient will be completely cured.

When should you go to the doctor?

A doctor should always be consulted if the cervical spine syndrome is the result of a strong impact. Most often this is the case with rear-end collisions in the car or sports injuries. If these triggers are present, it is advisable to see your family doctor and ask for a more detailed diagnosis. The family doctor will examine the severity of the cervical spine syndrome and whether the incident has resulted in any further problems or damage. In some cases, the family doctor will refer the patient directly to the orthopedic surgeon.

Lighter forms of the cervical spine syndrome, the cause of which is not an accident or impact, do not necessarily require a medical check-up. If the cervical spine syndrome arises from tension in the back, neck and neck muscles, it is usually temporary and heals again after a few days without any intervention. Warmth and protection replace a visit to the doctor.

However, if the symptoms worsen after a few days and if you also have severe headaches, it is very advisable to consult your family doctor. An indicator for a visit to the doctor is the mobility or the restriction of the mobility of the neck. If the neck cannot be moved or rotated even after a few days, a medical check-up is advisable.

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Treatment & Therapy

In the case of the cervical spine syndrome, physiotherapeutic treatment is of the utmost importance. Massages relax the tense muscles of the neck and shoulder. Special gymnastic exercises are used to strengthen them, which also help to promote blood circulation.

A careful hyperextension of the cervical spine by the physiotherapist stretches the ligaments and relieves the intervertebral discs. In the back school, the patient learns new movement sequences and postures that also counteract the cervical spine syndrome.

To relieve symptoms, the doctor prescribes pain relievers and drugs that relax muscles. However, caution is advised when taking Valium and other tranquilizers for a long time because there is a risk of dependence. On the other hand, it is helpful and harmless to use heat by means of red light radiation, fango packs or grain pillows.

However, radical interventions require underlying diseases such as tumors or other tissue-consuming processes. The surgeon may have to intervene surgically. Chemotherapy may also be unavoidable in the causal treatment of the cervical spine syndrome.

Outlook & forecast

The prognosis for the cervical spine syndrome essentially depends on three factors: the severity of the severity, the cause and the possibilities of treatment as well as the willingness of the patient to contribute to recovery through behavioral changes.

In general, the earlier a cervical spine syndrome is recognized and treated, the better the prognosis. It is therefore up to the patient to see a doctor early to prevent the cervical spine syndrome from becoming chronic. The cause also plays a role in the prospect of relief. If a cervical spine syndrome develops because the patient has been exposed to drafts or because he has had unilateral stress in the arm, shoulder and cervical spine for a few days, the prospects for spontaneous healing are usually very good.

The situation is different if permanent stress or an accident has damaged the bony structures of the cervical spine, the ligament and the nerves in the spinal canal. The success of the treatment depends on the extent to which a nerve can recover from the compression.

The cooperation of the patient with regard to the cervical spine syndrome and its prognosis is also of central importance. If the cause of the complaints lies in the behavior of the patient, possibly through an unhealthy position at the desk or the wrong mattress, relief can only be achieved with the help of the patient.

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prevention

Preventing the cervical spine syndrome turns out to be a relatively simple task in practice. The prerequisite is that the patient achieves a permanent change in some lifestyle habits. Regular exercise is the first choice here. Swimming or Nordic walking, for example, are suitable. Above all, it is important that the selected sport is also fun for the patient so that he can continue doing the physical exercises over the long term.

What is also part of everyday behavior that is appropriate for the spine, people learn in back school. Even without symptoms or manifest illnesses, the health insurance company may contribute to the costs before expensive rehabilitation is necessary. The advisors at the health insurances are very familiar with the protracted consequences of the cervical spine syndrome.

Aftercare

After cervical spine syndrome has been treated, exercises to stretch and strengthen the cervical spine are helpful. In some cases, the general practitioner or orthopedic surgeon will prescribe physical therapy prescriptions. Massages, manual therapy and physiotherapy take place there. The massage helps with tense muscles and manual therapy releases blockages.

Physiotherapy strengthens the muscles with the help of equipment or free exercises. This relieves the spine and also the individual vertebral joints. Many exercises can then be continued at home. Since the trigger of the cervical spine syndrome is often tension, incorrect posture should be avoided. Many people sit in the same position for hours at work.

The workplace should be designed ergonomically. It is important to have the right desk height and the distance to the screen. If you have to sit permanently in your job, you should compensate for this with regular exercise and possibly strength training. As a general rule, exercise is the best way to prevent cervical spine syndromes. The correct sleeping position also plays a major role.

In this way, discomforts caused by the wrong position during sleep can be avoided. In some cases, the symptoms are caused by stress. Relaxation techniques help here. Because when the inner tension drops, the tension is released. Yoga is also a great option for balancing the mind and body. At the same time, special physical exercises strengthen the neck and back. Depending on the cause, there are different follow-up measures for cervical spine syndromes.

You can do that yourself

A diagnosed cervical spine syndrome cannot be remedied purely by self-treatment. People who notice the corresponding complaints should consult an orthopedic surgeon or their family doctor first. In addition to the important physiotherapy, the treatment also relies on the patient's help.

The basis for a successful treatment lies in the regular attendance of a physiotherapeutic treatment. Here, the stiffened muscles are first loosened through massages, ultrasound therapy and heat applications. Once the tension is relaxed, the ligaments involved must be gently stretched. This can also be done with an osteopath. Then the patient is shown exercises to strengthen the muscles.

The back school or the rehab sport are possibilities for this. Those affected should take advantage of these offers consistently. Only through targeted muscle building can posture be improved and lasting treatment success ensured. The exercises learned there must be repeated at home and ideally incorporated into everyday life.

In particular, patients with a predominantly sedentary office work should check their workplace: distance to the monitor, switch to a desk or exercise ball. Short walks can also be incorporated into everyday working life.

The statutory health insurance companies also offer programs for health promotion - with massages and sports activities - in the workplace. For acute pain treatment, light painkillers can be taken and local heat applications can be applied. In the long term, however, only strengthening the muscular support system helps.