Though cases of cervical neck pain are more infrequent as compared to lumbar pain, a large portion of the American population still undergoes neck pains that often come with arm pain. The majority of such cases may be healed in time without the need for medical interventions. But there are a number of symptoms that may prove to be indications of more serious cases and need immediate medical help.
One such symptom is progressive neurological degeneration, which may manifest as weakening of the arms or loss of sensitivity and coordination of the limbs. Another sign is the sustained pain that is accompanied by unplanned weight loss, fever, shakes and chills, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting which are signs of spinal infection or tumor.
While the majority of back neck pain does not have identifiable anatomical roots, many are closely linked to general conditions such as muscle strain and herniated vertebral disc.
Acute Back Neck Pain
The most common causes of acute neck pain are muscle strain, neck strain, and strain experienced by other softer tissues such as ligaments and tendons. Neck strain is due to a stiff neck caused by the wrong bed position and partly due to carrying too many loads. A sudden jolt and pressure on the other hand may cause muscle strain.
The majority of minor injuries on the soft tissues usually heal a couple of days after the pain. There is a good blood supply in this section of the body, which allows the circulation of protein and essential nutrients that trigger fast healing. To alleviate the pain and symptoms of back neck pain, the sufferer may use conservative methods such as physical therapy, ice or heat, osteopathic manipulation, and medications.
Chronic Back Neck Pain
This form of neck pain is very much the same in effect as acute back neck pain. However, they largely differ in the symptoms. Listed below are some of the symptoms of chronic back pain:
- Neck back pain that goes down to the arms
- Neck pain that may be linked to certain activities
- Arm pain due to lack of coordination
- Neck back pain that may be felt for a much longer duration of time
- Neck pain that may go worse by the end of the day and in the morning
Other than these, there are a number of common symptoms that may be associated with cervical conditions. These may bring other cervical problems like wrist pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and elbow pain.
