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The
structure of the cervical spine, subsists of 7 vertebrae, spanning from the skull to the thoracic spine. The bones, ligaments,
tendons, and muscles of the neck function conjointly to support and balance the
head as well as provide mobility. However, when a condition or trauma from an injury causes an
abnormality or harm to the cervical spine, notable symptoms of pain
and stiffness can develop. Neck pain is on occasion experienced by a majority of people
although some causes for neck pain are more frequent than others.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical
Radiculopathy is a term used to describe an array of symptoms rather than a single
condition. Various conditions resulting with compression of one or several spinal
nerve roots in the neck or injuries that may cause damage to the
cervical spine can cause cervical radiculopathy. The symptoms include pain on
the neck, tingling and numbness in the arms and hands, and muscle weakness but,
as with any condition, the symptoms can vary for each individual.
Broken Neck
A cervical fracture, best recognized as a broken neck, is often identified when a single or
multiple of the seven cervical vertebra suffer a fracture, break, or crack on the bone after experiencing an
injury. Trauma due to an injury is common, especially among
athletes, but if a cervical fracture is not treated properly, it could lead to pain and
further complications. A broken neck can result in local swelling of the
muscles, ultimately causing an impingement on the nerve
roots and often leading to symptoms of cervical radiculopathy.
Source: Neck Injury Prevention
Cervical Lordosis
The
vertebrae of the cervical spine normally align on top of each other into a minor C-shaped curvature known as cervical lordosis. The curvature of the neck
is designed to support the head and spine by balancing the body. In some cases,
the vertebra in the neck are altered to the point where the cervical lordosis loses its natural curve and the neck becomes rectified. Diagnosing this condition can
be challenging as symptoms may often not be present, but in severe cases, symptoms of
pain, tingling and numbness can occur.
Spasmodic Torticollis
Spasmodic
torticollis is a medical condition characterized when the muscles surrounding the cervical spine contract involuntarily
and cause the posture of the head to abnormally twist to its side or in some cases, tilt
forward or backward. Torticollis causes pain and discomfort as the nerves of
the cervical spine can become compressed also, the pain can radiate from the neck
to the shoulders, followed by headaches. The symptoms of this condition have
been known to progress gradually until they reach a point where they stabilize.
Source: Spasmodic Torticollis
Whiplash
Whiplash is medically defined as an injury diagnosed after the head jolted abruptly in an unexpected, back-and-forth movement in any
direction, causing the soft tissue in the spine to stretch and strain, usually after an automobile accident. The
ligaments and tendons are damaged by the sudden jerk of the head causing the
familiar symptoms of neck pain and stiffness. The majority of cases of whiplash
are considered mild, but this type of injury can limit mobility and lead to severe headaches depending on the level of the injury.
By Dr. Alex
Jimenez
