Cervical Syndrome

The neck is the connecting link between the trunk and the head. The cervical spine consists of 7 vertebrae. The ligaments and muscles touch the vertebrae, forming such a strong structure that it can meet complex requirements that arise in human life.

When we talk about cervical syndrome, we are not referring to a specific condition but to various symptoms that are concentrated in the neck area: stiffness, neuralgia, dizziness, headache, etc.

In order to create a personalized treatment protocol, a careful diagnosis by the orthopedist is required, in order to clearly establish the causes from which cervical syndrome began.

Muscles are often blamed for neck pain, especially in young people. The long hours of work along with poor posture – and by extension the neck – are the beginning of the spasms in the muscles in the area. This condition allows the neck to lose its normal lordosis and straighten, causing problems.

Herniated intervertebral disc is a common cause associated with cervical syndrome and can affect all ages. An intervertebral disc herniation is caused in the neck by an intense load exerted on the area or by a sudden application of a load in an abnormal way (e.g. a car accident).

The symptoms that cervical syndrome can present to each patient are separated according to their intensity, as they can be very well tolerated or mild to unbearable. They last from a few days to months, even years. In addition, besides the neck, they can reflect on the shoulder even over the entire upper limb area.

The pain that is most often observed is referred to as discomfort when performing certain movements, as pain at rest, or as discomfort that occurs mainly in the evening hours, when the patient is trying to sleep.

Numbness or burning, starting from the neck to the arm, is common. Finally, headache is also common in people with cervical syndrome.

The clinical examination that will be performed by the doctor will assess the condition of the muscle groups, the presence of spasm or pressure, the breadth of movement in the neck.

Then, during the examination, the reflexes of the upper limbs will be checked and the affected muscle groups will be compared with the healthy ones.

X-rays will give the orthopedist a clear picture of the condition of the vertebrae and at the same time will assess whether the lordosis of the cervical spine is normal.

For more details and for further investigation of the causes of cervical syndrome, MRI and/or CT scan will be performed. Perhaps the orthopedist will also recommend an electromyogram of the upper limbs in order to assess the condition of the nerves.

Once the diagnosis of the condition has been confirmed, the treatment plan for dealing with the problem will then be designed. The treatment moves along 3 axes.

Medication

Medications are the first choice for treating pain and relieving muscle spasms. The medication includes nonsteroids and muscle relaxants, which can be taken for a short period of time. In some cases, cortisone is also recommended.

Splints – Collars

The cervical splints and braces that support the neck, are divided into soft and hard and generally offer great stability and good functional results. Collars can be placed on the neck for about 15 days if possible 24 hours a day. If you cannot sleep with the collar, then it is necessary to use a special pillow.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is an integral part of the treatment for cervical syndrome and relieves the patient a lot of pain. Physiotherapy can be started as soon as the acute phase of severe pain has passed. The physiotherapist can treat 100% of all symptoms with ultrasound, massages, kinesiotherapy or electrotherapy.

When the symptoms persist and make the patient’s daily life difficult, then surgical treatment is suggested, which is the final solution to the problem.