All about neck pain

Cervical pain, also known as cervicalgia, manifests itself in different ways depending on its origin and severity. Among the most most frequent symptoms include:

• Pain or stiffness in the back of the neck
• Pain radiating to shoulders, back or arms
• Associated cephaleas (headaches)
• Dizziness or feeling of instability
• Loss of strength or sensation in arms and hands
• Difficulty moving the neck or holding it in certain positions

In some cases, neck pain can become chronic, significantly affecting the quality of life of those who suffer from it.

Neck pain can have multiple causes. The most common are:

• Muscle tension due to bad posture, stress or overloading
• Degeneration of cervical discs due to aging (cervical osteoarthritis)
• Herniated discs in the cervical region
• Trauma such as whiplash following an accident
• Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Structural alterations congenital or acquired

Sedentary lifestyle, excessive use of screens and inadequate ergonomics also contribute to the increase in cases of neck pain in the population.

At MIVI Salud we perform a complete medical assessment to arrive at an accurate diagnosis of the origin of the cervical pain. This includes:

• Detailed medical history
• Musculoskeletal physical examination
• Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans
• Electromyography (EMG) if nerve damage is suspected

An accurate diagnosis is key to apply the most appropriate and personalized treatment.

The treatment of this pathology will depend to a large extent on the patient’s condition, age and symptoms. Some of the possible treatments are outlined below:

• Drugs for pain relief
• Interventional treatments: when pain control is not sufficient with drugs, interventional treatments will be applied to alleviate pain. Treatments of great help such as:
  • Radiofrequency to deactivate pain-causing nerves
  • Advanced minimally invasive techniques
  • Image-guided infiltrations (facet blocks, radicular blocks, etc.)
• Physiotherapy: we have a team of physiotherapists specialized in cervical pathology who apply advanced techniques with a functional and personalized approach. The most effective treatments include:
  • Manual therapyjoint mobilization, myofascial release and neuromuscular techniques to reduce stiffness and improve range of motion.
  • Dry needlingTreatment of myofascial trigger points responsible for radiating pain.
  • Electrotherapy and tecartherapytechnologies that accelerate recovery through deep tissue stimulation.
  • Therapeutic exercisespecific cervical strengthening, stabilization and motor control exercises adapted to each patient.
  • Global Postural Re-Education (GPR)Comprehensive treatment to correct muscular imbalances and prevent relapses.
  • Neuromuscular bandaging (kinesiotaping) to relieve muscle tension and improve circulation.