3 symptoms that accompany cervical spine pain. Do you know the causes?

Do you have a sore neck, can't move your head? Can't remember lying down or sleeping without problems?

The pain is reflected in the cervical spine, which radiates and shoots out to the surrounding parts of the body. It radiates to the head, shoulders, upper limbs, but also to lower areas such as between the shoulder blades.

In addition, various other symptoms and neurological problems may be associated.

Due to the location, it is natural if cervical spine problems also manifest themselves in its adjacent areas. People who have already had their experience know well that neck pain alone is unpleasant.

The negative feeling is multiplied if other difficulties are associated. There can be several of these unpleasant complications.

Pain, its radiation, restriction of mobility, stiffness of muscles, dizziness, feeling to vomit or sweating.

In the following article, we will focus on three common associated problems that frequently occur along with cervical spine pain.

They are cervical spine headache, vertigo, and cervical spine and shoulder pain.

3 problems accompanying cervical spine pain

The problems that are related to cervical spine pain are, of course, more numerous.

Examples include the pain already mentioned, radiating to the head, shoulders, tingling in the fingers.
Or even ear and eye pain.
Another group is cervical spine vertigo.
High blood pressure can also occur with neck discomfort and pain.

The following is a selection of common complaints.
Headache, dizziness and shoulder pain from the cervical spine.

What can cause cervical spine and head pain?

Do you have a headache?

Of course.

Does your cervical spine hurt too?

These two pains very often accompany each other.

What causes them, you ask?

It is quite likely that the main reason does not need to look for long.

Congestion of the cervical spine, sudden movement or turning of the head, cold, draughts or improper use of air conditioning. The wrong position of the head while lying down or sleeping is also a known cause.

Prolonged inappropriate head position at work or monotonous head movement is also aggravating. Problems arise, for example, when working at a computer, in belt production and in other situations that require prolonged unnatural head position.

Another risk factor for the development of problems is intervertebral joint involvement or damage to the intervertebral disc (disc herniation). This occurs mainly in young people. In some cases, the changes are degenerative, especially in the elderly population.

Read related articles:
Herniated disc
Radiculopathy
Pseudoradiculopathy
Spondyloarthritis
Facet syndrome

These triggering causes are the common denominator for:

• acute cervical segmental syndrome
• subacute and chronic segmental syndrome
• cervicocranial syndrome
• Barré-Lieou syndrome, a combination of pain and vertigo, tinnitus and visual blurring

Acute cervical segmental syndrome

Cervical spine pain is severe, sharp, unilateral and most often radiates to the back of the head.

Pain relief is provided by holding the head in one position, the so-called analgesic position. The form of this position is usually a head tilt and rotation.

The slightest movement of the head aggravates the pain. Therefore, movement of the head is restricted. Muscle stiffness and, in some cases, a feeling of nausea or vomiting are also associated.

Subacute and chronic segmental syndrome

It has a milder onset and course of complaints.

The duration of the discomfort may be prolonged for several weeks to months. The pain radiates from the cervical spine most often to the back of the head, neck and also to the shoulders.

Other discomforts are also associated, such as poor posture and milder restrictions in head movement. In some cases, there is also sweating, heaviness in the stomach and a feeling of nausea or vomiting, as well as tinnitus and dizziness.

Cervicocranial syndrome

The most common cause of cervicocranial syndrome is intervertebral joint involvement. It also arises because of a functional disorder of the atlantooccipital junction (the connection of the cervical spine to the skull). Also as a result of unnatural changes in the area and overloading of the cervical spine.

In most cases, the headache is unilateral, in the head, temple or forehead. The pain radiates from the upper cervical spine and is aggravated by movement and changes in head position.

Causes of cervical spine pain and dizziness

Several triggering causes are also included in this group. Otherwise, this problem is also referred to as cervical vertigo or cervico-vestibular syndrome, cervical vertigo syndrome.

Information about cervical spine problems in the magazine article:

Why are they so common and how to learn to manage them?

It is provoked by the position and movement of the head. The most common causes are compression of the vertebral vessels (blood vessels that run through the cervical part of the spine), but also incorrect information sent by receptors from this area.

It can also be caused by compression, i.e. compression of the cervical spinal cord. It can be the result of damage to the intervertebral disc, such as in the case of a herniated disc.

A separate group are spinal injuries and Barré-Lieou syndrome, which is actually a combination of headache, vertigo, i.e. spinning of the head, lying in the ears and blurred vision.

Another cause of vertigo is the already mentioned subacute chronic cervical segmental syndrome.

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Our health in summer - sun, heat, injuries and illness
The effect ofair conditioning on our health
Proper use of air conditioning

Shoulder pain from cervical spine

These problems are associated, and most often due to cervicobrachial syndrome. But their cause can also be cervical root syndrome.

The first one mentioned, the cervicobrachial syndrome, is also referred to as pseudoradicular syndrome. It is characterised by the fact that the pain moves from the cervical spine to the shoulders and arms.

In cervicobrachial syndrome, there are no muscle strength or sensitivity disturbances in the upper limb. These strength and sensitivity disturbances, such as tingling of the hands and fingers in cervical spine pain, are associated with the latter problem, namely cervical root syndrome (radiculopathy).

In cervical root syndrome, problems such as:

• pain in the cervical spine
• impaired mobility and function
• segmental sensitive dermatome symptoms - including paresthesia (tingling), hypesthesia to anaesthesia (reduced to absent sensation)
• segmental motor symptoms in the upper limb, which are mild muscle paralysis with loss of mass and reduced muscle tension or even muscle twitching, reduced sensitivity to numbness in the area

Read also the article:
How the cervical spine and vertigo are related
The most common root affected is C7 (70%).
Less commonly affected are C6 (20%), C5 and C8 (10%).

The table shows how pain spreads in each root syndrome

Read also: Vertebrogenic algic syndrome - back pain

What investigations are needed for cervical spine problems?

The most important role in the diagnosis of cervical spine problems is the personal history. The doctor will provide all the important data. These include, for example, the timing of the onset of pain, information about its location and radiation.

It includes an indication of the position of relief, but also information about what triggered these difficulties and what aggravates them.

This is also why it is important to note other associated symptoms.

Subsequently, examinations are available, for example:

• neurological
• orthopaedic
• neurosurgery
• rehabilitation
• traumatology, post-trauma
• rheumatology
• psychological

Additional examination methods are:

• X-RAY
• CT
• MRI
• EMG
• USG (SONO)
• angiography
• laboratory tests of blood and lymph

What helps with pain from the cervical spine?

Pain in the cervical spine causes incapacity for work and a general restriction in mobility. This is when rest is needed. This means rest from any physical as well as mental stress.

It is important to keep the neck area warm. The heat must be in a dry form. Warming with hot water could have the opposite of a helpful effect.

Various hot plasters are applied. These may also contain painkillers and muscle tension relievers. In addition to plasters, paraffin wax, compresses are suitable. But indirect action, i.e. infrared radiators, as well as hot air currents, are also suitable.

From home and freely available aids, a thermophore, various electric pillows are suitable. The easiest way is a classic scarf. In the pharmacy you can buy a neck collar (foam or cotton wool).

In addition, over-the-counter painkillers can be purchased at the pharmacy. The most effective treatment is obtained from a doctor, with a prescription. Pain relievers (analgesics) and muscle relaxants (myorelaxants) are used.

In some cases, additional treatment is also appropriate, in the form of anxiolytics, neuroleptics, antidepressants, antiepileptics or antihistamines.

Physical treatment includes exercise, posture training, electrotherapy, thermotherapy, hydrotherapy, magnetotherapy, rehabilitation treatment (massage), spa treatment.

In some cases, surgical intervention by a neurosurgeon is necessary.

Some infiltration techniques are also used:

• the so-called dry needle technique.
• intradermal bud treatment
• infiltration treatment of muscles, ligaments and tendon tendons
• facet blocks
• periradicular injections
• cervical epidural infiltration
• ganglion stellatum blockade
• ozone therapy

The most important thing is prevention

Before treatment and any problems at all, there should be prevention. This means preventing cervical spine problems.

Risk factors include:

• Age
• primary diseases such as osteoporosis, obesity
• poor posture
• sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work
• reduced physical activity
• congestion of the cervical spine, monotonous movement
• stress and psychological disorders
• smoking

The main principles of prevention of cervical spine problems include, for example, correct posture, sufficient exercise, prevention of injury, correct lying and sleeping position. But also the appropriate way of relaxation, wellness.

The overall lifestyle, a sufficient and balanced diet are important. The necessary vitamins and minerals include B vitamins, vitamin C, D, E, but also trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium and manganese.

Read also:

• What effect does air conditioning have on our health? Can it be harmful?
• How to use or adjust the air conditioner correctly and not to harm us?