People who are
involved in motor vehicle crashes or who
take hard falls in a contact sport or
around the house may get a real "pain in
the neck." This pain can result from a
ligament sprain or muscle strain.
The seven bones of the spinal column
in your neck are called cervical
vertebrae. They are connected to each
other by ligaments, which are strong
bands of tissue, like thick rubber
bands.
A sprain is a stretch or tear in the
ligament resulting from a sudden
movement that causes the neck to extend
to an extreme position. For example, in
the rapid deceleration of a car crash,
your head and neck can stretch far
forward before stopping.
Symptoms
- Pain, especially in the back of
the neck, that worsens with
movement.
- Pain that often peaks a day or
so after the injury, instead of
immediately.
- Possible muscle spasms and pain
in the upper regions of the
shoulders.
- Headache in the rear of the
head.
- Sore throat.
- Increased irritability, fatigue,
difficulty sleeping and difficulty
concentrating.
- Numbness in the arm or hand.
- Stiffness or decrease in range
of motion (side to side, up and
down, circular).
- Tingling or weakness in the
arms.
Diagnosis
During the physical exam, your doctor
will ask you how the injury occurred,
measure range of motion and check for
any point tenderness. Your physiatrist
may request X-ray studies to look
closely at the bones in your neck. This
evaluation helps eliminate or identify
other sources of neck pain, such as
spinal fractures, dislocations,
arthritis and other serious conditions.
Treatment
All sprains or strains, no matter
where they are located in the body,
receive basically the same type of
treatment. Usually, neck sprains, like
other sprains, will gradually heal,
given time and appropriate treatment.
You may have to wear a soft cervical
collar to help support the head and
relieve pressure on the neck so the
ligaments have time to heal.
Analgesics, such as aspirin or
ibuprofen, can help reduce the pain and
any swelling. Muscle relaxants can help
ease spasms. You can apply an ice pack
for 15 to 30 minutes at a time, several
times a day for the first two or three
days after the injury. This will help
reduce inflammation and discomfort.
Although heat, particularly moist heat,
can help loosen cramped muscles, it
should not be applied too quickly.
Other treatment options include:
- Massaging the tender area
- Ultrasound
- Cervical traction
- Aerobic and isometric exercise
Most symptoms will resolve in four to
six weeks. A severe injury, such as
might be sustained in a motor vehicle
accident, may take longer to heal
completely. |
