NECK PAIN TREATMENTS in Mississauga, Etobicoke, Oakville & Burlington

Signs and Symptoms of Neck Pain

Like other types of spinal pain, neck pain can have a widespread presentation. This is because the spine is the origin of all the nerves that supply the muscles in our body. Injury to the neck can produce irritation to the nerves that supply the muscles of the upper body and pain can be felt in many different places. Sometimes a neck injury doesn’t even produce pain in the neck and instead people experience symptoms in their shoulders, upper back and arms.

The most commonly reported signs and symptoms of a neck injury include:

• Pain in the neck, shoulders, upper back or arm
• Loss of movement of the neck
• Pins and needles, numbness or tingling sensations moving into the arm
• Headaches and/or facial pain
• Weakness in the hand or fingers
• Feeling like the neck is locked up

Anatomy of the Neck

The anatomy of the neck is very complex. There are several structures that give the neck its shape, strength and function. The bony elements of the neck are called vertebrae and they are stacked on top of each other like building blocks. There are a lot of additional structures that make up the spine including the intervertebral disc, nerves, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

Common pain conditions of the neck

There are a number of reasons why neck pain may occur. In many instances, neck pain can occur suddenly and without any obvious warnings. Some of the most common causes of sudden or acute neck pain can include:

• Trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident or a fall
• Heavy or repetitive lifting
• Weakness in the muscles surrounding the neck, shoulders and upper back
• Sitting for long periods of time
• Stress and anxiety

Some mild sprains and strains of the neck may subside within a few days. However, sometimes pain can persist for many weeks, or even months and years, depending on the nature of the injury. There may also be underlying conditions that can lead to a person experiencing chronic pain.

Whiplash

• A whiplash is a sudden forward and back movement of the neck and head in response to an impact.
• Most commonly, whiplash occurs in a motor vehicle accident, when the neck receives a sudden force from the collision.
• The forces from the impact produce sprains and strains in the soft tissue structures of the neck including the muscles, ligaments and nerves.
• Whiplash can also produce restricted range of motion, headaches and may take several weeks or months to resolve.

Disc Herniation

• The intervertebral discs provide cushioning between the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers in the spine.
• A herniation means that the gel-like material inside the disc has leaked out from a tear in the outer wall of the disc.
• This gel-like material puts pressure on the surrounding nerves and structures in the neck and can cause pain, stiffness and pins and needles or numbness in the arm.
• Pain from a disc herniation can be very severe and debilitating in the acute phase of the injury.

Cervical Spondylosis and Osteoarthritis

• Spondylosis is often referred to as “wear and tear” or “aging-related changes” in the spine.
• Spondylosis can affect the size and structure of the intervertebral discs and joint spaces.
• This can also lead to osteoarthritis and the development of thinning cartilage, bone spurs and osteochondral bars.
• These types of changes can result in pain, stiffness and loss of movement in the neck.

Cervical Stenosis

• Stenosis refers to narrowing of the spinal canals.
• Central stenosis refers to the narrowing of the canal that holds the spinal cord.
  1. This type of stenosis results in pain, weakness, loss of balance and loss of coordination in the arms and legs.
• Foraminal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the canals that hold the nerve roots.
  1. This produces pain and inflammation that radiates into the arm.