What are the symptoms of cervical neck pain?

Fact Checked

There are various symptoms linked with cervical neck pain. The neck pain can be triggered by different conditions or injuries and can range from minor to debilitating. The cervical spine conditions can instigate the manifestation of symptoms in other parts of the body. Even though most of the cervical neck pain symptoms are benign, some can indicate a serious underlying health condition that entails immediate medical care. If you want to ease the discomfort of cervical neck pain, read here.

Diminished range of motion

The reduced range of motion of the neck either passive or active is the usual indication linked cervical neck pain and frequently assessed by the doctor as an outcome for those who experience neck pain.

Cervical neck pain
There are certain types of headaches especially cervicogenic headaches that can be linked with the cervical neck pain.

The neck pain can lead to stiffness, aching, tightness or burning that can reduce the capability of the individual to move his/her head and neck in one or more directions. The reduced range of motion can lead to functional limitations and will make it difficult for the individual to carry out various activities of daily living including driving, cleaning the house or playing sports. The reduction in the range of motion of the neck can indicate a serious health condition such as meningitis or can be triggered by a minor issue such as sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

Headaches

There are certain types of headaches especially cervicogenic headaches that can be linked with the cervical neck pain. Due to the chronic tension, whiplash, facet joint arthritis and intervertebral disc disease can be a debilitating source of the headache.

It is important to note that headaches in which the source is situated in the cervical spine are considered as cervicogenic headaches. The contributing factors that can trigger headaches include trigger points or knots in a tight band of muscle in the neck. The trigger points in the sub-occipital region of the neck right below the base of the skull can be problematic and can instigate headaches. Always remember that cervicogenic headaches respond well to conservative measures that target the underlying cause of pain, including irritated muscles and dysfunction of the joints.

Numbness of the upper extremity

Upper extremity numbness as well as diminished grip strength can be a symptom of cervical neck pain and often indicates a serious underlying neck condition. The cervical neck pain can be stiff or accompanied by hand numbness, arm pain and weakness in the hands.

Take note that these symptoms indicate cervical myelopathy or spinal cord compression which is the common cause of spinal cord dysfunction among the elderly. The degenerative processes in the cervical spine can lead to spinal cord impingement. As for cervical spine myelopathy can be diagnosed by MRI which can reveal spinal cord compression by bone spurs, thickening of the ligament connecting the adjacent vertebrae or herniated disc material. Surgery might be required in order to decompress the spinal cord.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The information posted on this page is for educational purposes only.
If you need medical advice or help with a diagnosis contact a medical professional

  • All firstaidcprmississauga.ca content is reviewed by a medical professional and / sourced to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

  • We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable websites, academic research institutions and medical articles.

  • If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact us through our contact us page.