COMMON NECK PROBLEMS

Certain neck injuries may also do damage to the nervous system by irritating nerve roots or affecting the spinal cord. Others may pinch or stretch a nerve. Generally, neck injuries that affect the nervous system are more complicated to diagnose, treat and cope with than soft tissue trauma or mild to moderate joint injury. Experienced Physiotherapists can perform several test to differentiate origin of pain and help you out how to about.

Whiplash injury is a set of symptoms following an injury in which the head is thrown first backward then quickly forward. It’s most often due to car accidents, but may be caused by sports injuries, falls or trauma. It’s an event that may result in neck strain or sprain. Whiplash may also damage joints or discs.

Occurs when the soft substance on the inside of the disc pushed out. Should this substance land on a nerve root, which it often does, you’ll likely feel pain and have symptoms such as weakness, numbness and/or pins and needles down your arm. Damage of this structure may happen by either repeated or a sudden, forceful stress to the joint. For example, lifting a heavy load with a twisted spine may cause a disc to herniate. Treatment generally starts with medication and physiotherapy, but may proceed to surgery as needed.

Stingers and burners are temporary injuries to the nerve root or occur most often in contact sport athletes. They may be caused by either by an abrupt tilt of the head or when the head and shoulder are forced in opposite directions at the same time. Symptoms include burning, stinging, numbness/weakness, or an electrical sensation down one arm. If a stinger or burner is severe or lasts longer than a few minutes, you must see a Physician.

A neck fracture is a break in a neck bone. It may be caused by trauma, a fall or degenerative changes in the spine. Contact sports population and elderly people with osteoporosis are particularly at risk for neck fractures because their bones are very fragile. The most serious neck fractures are generally accompanied by a disclocation. Treatment depends on a lot of things including your age, other medical conditions and extent of damage to your spine. If a fracture destabilizes your neck, you may need to wear a brace.

Dislocation occurs when a neck bone moves out its normal position, creating spinal instability. An injury or degenerative changes can disrupt the ligaments that hold the vertebra in place, causing it to separate from the bone below. Dislocations may damage the spinal cord and/or require surgery. Less severe forms occur when the bone does not move all the way out, or when only one side fully displaces. Mild dislocations may go back in place on their own.