Can Scoliosis Cause Neck Pain
Scoliosis can cause pain in different areas of the body and in different ways. Again, every case is different as there are a number of important patient and condition characteristics that shape a persons experience of life with the condition: patient age, condition severity, condition type, and curvature location.
As mentioned, children and adolescents dont commonly find scoliosis painful, but it should be mentioned that approximately 20 percent of adolescents living with scoliosis do report some related back and/or muscle pain.
Its important to understand that its not just the structural elements of the spine that maintain its natural curvatures and alignment; its also the spines surrounding muscles that help support and stabilize it.
As mentioned, the uneven forces that scoliosis introduces dont just put pressure on the spine, but also its surrounding muscles and nerves. In cases of scoliosis that are causing postural changes affecting the bodys overall symmetry, this means the bodys muscles have to work harder to try and counteract these changes and still provide the spine with support.
Particularly when scoliosis affects the cervical spine, neck pain can be a symptom, especially in adults, or in cases that are progressing as spinal rigidity can increase alongside curvature size.
A condition called military neck is a good example of how postural distortion can lead to further structural issues and pain .
Military Neck
Symptoms of military neck can include:
Scoliosis Neck Pain: Can Scoliosis Affect Your Neck
Scoliosis has the potential to cause pain in different areas of the body, and not just the back. While not commonly painful in children and adolescents, back and neck pain are common complaints of adults living with the condition. Scoliosis neck pain is often associated with a loss of motion in the cervical spine , and particularly for scoliosis that develops along the cervical spine, neck pain can be a symptom.
Scoliosis, as an abnormal sideways spinal curvature, can develop anywhere along the spine from the neck to the lower back. As scoliosis is known to cause spinal rigidity, if there is a loss of motion in the cervical spine, this can disrupt head positioning and cause related neck pain.
Before we move on to the specifics of scoliosis neck pain, including assessment and treatment, lets first touch on some of the basics of scoliosis.
When To Call A Doctor For Neck Pain
Most often neck pain will resolve on its own. But what are the signs that neck pain could be more serious and need a doctors opinion?
As a general guideline, the Mayo Clinic says you should contact a doctor if your neck pain:
- Is severe
- Persists for several days without relief
- Spreads down arms or legs
- Is accompanied by a headache, numbness, weakness, or tingling
Don’t Miss: Meloxicam Muscle Pain
How Is Neck Pain Managed Or Treated
Treatment for neck pain varies depending on the cause. It aims to relieve pain and improve function. Standard treatments for this symptom include:
- Medicines including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to ease pain and inflammation and muscle relaxants to help the healing process.
- Physical therapy .
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces pain by disrupting the pain signal with a low-level electrical current applied to the skin near the nerves causing the pain.
- Traction to relieve pain with the use of inflatable devices.
- Steroid injections near the nerve roots to help relieve pain and inflammation.
- Surgery to repair compressed or damaged spinal disks or fuse some vertebrae in the spine.
Risk Factors For Developing Neck Pain
Many different risk factors for neck pain have been suggested in the medical literature, such as3,4:
- Reduced neck strength
- Female sex
- Feelings of low support from work, family, or friends
There is some controversy regarding neck pain risk factors as some studies have reached conflicting conclusions.5 More research is needed to confirm which factors truly present the highest risk for developing neck pain.
You May Like: Should You Use Heat Or Ice For Sciatica
Heart Attack Warning Signs You Should Not Ignore
February 8, 2017Heart
Heart attacks are the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Every year, approximately 735,000 Americans experience a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Ventricular fibrillation is a leading cause of death of heart attack sufferers, and this typically occurs before victims can make it to an emergency room. For those who can get treatment in time, the prognosis is excellent, as most modern treatments yield a survival rate of more than 90 percent. The remaining percentage of those who do eventually die are those who have suffered significant damage to the heart muscle during the heart attack or those who experience damage later.
Find Out What’s Causing Your Chronic Neck Pain
The best way to know whats causing your chronic neck pain: Schedule an office visit at Premier Spine Institute so Dr. Bonaventure Ngu can perform a thorough physical exam and evaluation. Its the first step toward feeling better and preventing more serious problems. Book an appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy…
Recommended Reading: How Long Does It Take To Get Carpal Tunnel
What Is Causing My Neck Pain And Headache
See Understanding Neck Pain and Dizziness
Several conditions can cause neck pain and headache. Some conditions may start as a neck problem and then send symptoms up to the head, whereas other conditions begin in the head and send pain down to the neck. Getting an accurate diagnosis is important in order to create a treatment program to successfully manage the condition and reduce pain.
Dos And Donts For A Stiff Neck
Oftentimes, taking it easy for a day or two is all that is needed to give the necks soft tissues a chance to heal. In cases where pain is significant, an individual may want to use an over-the-counter pain medication or apply ice and/or heat therapy.
Wearing a cervical collar to immobilize a stiff neck is not advised. Rather, an individual with a stiff neck should try to stick to normal activity levels if possible, especially after the first day or two.
You May Like: Can Sleeping On A Bad Mattress Cause Shoulder Pain
What Causes A Sore Neck When You Wake Up
You may not give much thought to your body position while you sleep or the kind of pillow you use. But both your sleeping position and pillow can trigger a stiff, sore neck, and also lead to back pain and other types of pain.
Research shows that sleeping problems may be at the root of of new cases of chronic pain. Many of these factors are controllable, which means that by making some changes you may be able to alleviate your neck pain, and other types of pain, too.
Signs Your Neck Discomfort Is Probably Not Related To Your Heart
The pain occurs only when you move your neck or in certain positions.
It occurs only after a certain weightlifting exercise.
Its clearly associated with sleep position or a particular pillow.
The area of discomfort is sore or tender to the touch.
Its accompanied by tingling or a numb sensation going down the arm.
Ongoing neck pain without an explanation or that does not respond to modifications, such as a more comfortable pillow or ceasing a suspected offending exercise, needs a medical evaluation even if there are no other symptoms with it.
Dr. Krishnan is with Pacific Heart & Vascular, where you can view his videos on heart disease and healthy living. He has numerous publications and often speaks at local and regional events.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.;;
Don’t Miss: Do Antibiotics Help Tooth Nerve Pain
Conventional Treatments Of Neck Pain And Associated Symptoms
Treating neck pain often begins with simply taking over-the-counter painkillers and temporarily eliminating painful activities. Applying heat or cold to the area can help with pain management as well. It may also be recommended that a patient take anti-nausea or anti-dizziness medication. Like NSAIDs, these over the counter nausea treatments can be found in most drug and big box stores.
If the initial steps of treatment fail to reduce pain, there are other treatment options that doctors may recommend to alleviate symptoms. These include:
Many treatment options exist and can be used in combination based on a patients individual needs. There is one more important treatment option that should be considered, Regenerative Medicine.
Possible Causes Of Your Neck Pain
Causes of neck pain Many people experience neck pain due to various reasons. It can be unbearable, hampering you from enjoying your favorite hobbies and spending time with your family. Chronic neck pain can even affect your productivity at work. Identifying the precise culprit behind the pain in your neck is essential for getting rid of it.;
Keep on reading to discover the six most common causes of neck pain, and why they may affect you.;
1. Poor posture or sleeping position
The neck is one of the many things that can be affected by how you stand, sit, and sleep. Its especially dangerous to crane your neck forward while texting, browsing the web, or even reading a magazine.;
Dont consider avoiding or even cutting back on these activities. Instead, be conscious of neck-craning and attempt to prevent it in the future. When it comes to sleeping, there are a variety of options. Sleeping on your back is one such option. Sleeping on your side might irritate your neck by compressing your spine.
Its also possible that youre using too many or too few pillows, causing your neck to rest in an uncomfortable position. Think about purchasing a memory foam pillow to support your neck without forcing it into an awkward position.
2. Stress
3. Lifting too much weight
4. Brachial plexus injury
5. Whiplash
6. Pinched nerve
Don’t Miss: Can Nerves Cause Chest Pain
How Is Neck Pain A Heart Attack Warning Sign
A heart attack is most often due to a that blocks blood flow into the heart muscle. Most commonly, this causes a pressure, cramping or squeezing pain in your chest, but the pain can also spread to your neck. Your pain may also extend to your jaw, shoulder, back or arm because you may sense pain more easily in these areas. During a heart attack, your diaphragm and nearby accessory nerve can become irritated causing pain to refer elsewhere including your neck and shoulders. You can also feel pain, aching or discomfort in the neck and upper body without chest pain. Heart attack neck pain is more likely in women than in men.
A Tear In One Of The Main Arteries Of The Neck Is A Rare Cause Of Stroke
You probably don’t give much thought to your neck, unless something goes wrong and you start to feel neck pain.. This underappreciated body part has to be strong enough to support a heavy weight yet still allow you to tilt, turn, and nod your head easily.
Most of the time, neck pain doesn’t signal a serious medical problem. But it’s worth learning about one of the rare exceptions: a tear in one of the arteries of the neck, known as a cervical artery dissection . Although these occur in only about two in 100,000 people per year, they are one of the most common causes of stroke in people under age 50.
“Over the past two decades, awareness of cervical artery dissection has grown tremendously,” says Dr. Natalia Rost, associate professor of neurology at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. This may stem in part from the recognition that stroke rates seem to be rising among younger people, despite an overall downward trend in deaths caused by stroke.
Read Also: How Long Does Sprained Wrist Pain Last
What Are The Possible Causes Of Neck Pain
Many different medical issues and injuries can cause neck pain. Conditions that may cause neck pain include:
- Aging: Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis can lead to neck pain as you age. Over time, stress and motion can lead to spinal disc degeneration, causing a herniated disc or pinched nerve.
- Injury: Trauma from sudden forced movement of the neck or head and rebound in the opposite direction can cause pain and soreness. The muscles, ligaments, discs, vertebral joints and nerve roots in the spine cord in the neck can be affected in trauma injuries.
- Mental stress: Tightening your neck muscles due to tension commonly causes neck pain and stiffness.
- Physical strain: Overusing your neck muscles during repetitive actions or strenuous activities can lead to stiffness and pain.
- Conditions that affect spinal balance: Poor posture , being overweight, weak abdominal muscles can all affect spine posture and contribute to neck pain.
- Growths: In rare cases, masses including tumors, cysts and bone spurs can cause neck pain.
- Other health conditions:Meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer.
Causes And Risk Factors Of Neck Pain
Neck pain can be caused by various health conditions, including the following:
- Strained muscles
- Pinched nerves and bone spurs
- Trauma or injury
- Growths, including tumors and cysts
The following factors are known to increase the risk of developing neck pain:
- Older age
- Driving or traveling long distances
- Working long hours at a computer
- Hunching your neck down often, such as to look at your phone
- Carrying heavy bags on shoulder straps
- Poor alignment while sleeping
- Smoking
Read Also: How To Calm Sciatic Nerve Pain
What Is Back And Neck Pain
Back pain can range from a mild, dull, annoying ache to persistent, severe, disabling pain. Pain in your back can limit your ability to move. It can interfere with normal functioning and quality of life. Always talk with your healthcare provider if you have persistent pain.
Neck pain occurs in the area of the cervical vertebrae in your neck. Because of its location and range of motion, your neck is often left unprotected and at risk for injury.
Pain in your back or neck area can come on suddenly and intensely. Chronic pain lasts for weeks, months, or even years. The pain can be constant or come and go.
When Is Headache And Neck Pain Serious
Immediate medical attention is advised in neck pain and headache associated with one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain and numbness radiating down one or both arms
- Stiff neck with high fever and/or headache
- Headache triggered by coughing, sneezing, running, bending, straining with a bowel movement, or Valsalva maneuver
- Seizures, slurred speech, loss of balance and blurry vision
- Unintended weight loss or nausea
See When Is a Stiff Neck Serious?
These symptoms may indicate serious underlying conditions such as aneurysms, meningitis, stroke, or tumor. Neck pain as a result of trauma to the base of the skull must be considered as an emergency and treated without delay.
Don’t Miss: How To Fix Sciatic Nerve Pain
Tennis Ball For Relieving Neck And Ear Pain
You can also relieve headaches that cause neck pain and pain behind your ear by using a couple of tennis balls. The effect of massaging the cervical spine with tennis balls helps to release tension at the back of your neck and treat a pounding headache.
This is what you should do:
- Take a clean sock and put 2 tennis balls in it. Secure tightly.
- You need to lie on your back with the top of your neck resting between the 2 tennis balls in the sock.
- In a gentle motion, rock your head from side to side to help release tension.
- Repeat step 3, but this time, move your head back and forth.
- Repeat step 3 and 4 for a few minutes to help relax your neck muscles and ease pain at the back of your ear.
-
Other Neck Pain Causes
Other causes of neck pain could include:
- Emotional stress. Stress, anxiety, and low social support have all been linked as potential causes or contributors to neck pain.1,2
- Infection. If part of the cervical spine becomes infected, inflammation could cause neck pain. One example is meningitis.
- Myofascial pain syndrome. This chronic condition has trigger points, which result from achy muscles and surrounding connective tissues, typically in the upper back or neck. Trigger points can be chronically painful or acutely tender to the touch. The pain might stay in one spot or it can be referred pain that spreads to/from another area in the body.
- Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is hard to diagnose, but it typically involves pain in the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in several areas of the body, including in the neck.
Recommended Reading: Can Sciatica Cause Hip Pain
Will I Need Surgery For Neck Pain
Most patients with neck pain respond well to non-surgical treatments, so cervical spine surgery is seldom needed to treat it. In fact, less than 5% of neck pain patients need surgery.
Surgery is typically a last resort, explains Dr. Penhollow, unless it’s an acute disc herniation compression on the spinal cord where it’s a neurosurgical emergency, such as when someone experiences loss of bowel or bladder control, or extreme weakness in the limbs where decompression of the cord is imperative.
You may need cervical spine surgery if:
- Non-surgical treatment is not helping. That is, you’ve tried a combination of medication, chiropractic care, physical therapy, massage, exercises, and more, and you’re still in pain.
- Your pain is worsening. A pinched nerve in your neck called cervical radiculopathy can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness in your shoulders or down your arms. If your pain is worsening, surgery can remove the source of pressure on your nerves .
- Your spinal cord is being compressed. Certain neck conditions can put pressure on your spinal cord. You may experience pain or stiffness, problems with balance, or have difficulties with fine motor skills.
- You experience progressive neurological symptoms. If you are feeling numbness, tingling and weakness in your arms and legs and/or are having trouble with balance or walking.
What Kinds of Surgery Are Used For Neck Pain?
There are two common types of cervical spine surgeries performed to relieve neck pain:
https://www.knowmypain.com/wp-content/uploads/pain-in-the-neck-fay-pedler.jpeg
https://www.knowmypain.com/what-can-cause-neck-pain/
https://www.knowmypain.com/wp-content/uploads/pain-in-the-neck-fay-pedler.jpeg
https://knowmypain.weebly.com/know-my-pain/what-can-cause-neck-pain
No comments:
Post a Comment