Malcom Floyd is out indefinitely after serious neck injury last week.
Are neck injuries, and even fatalities, a simple fact of footballing life? Is enough being done to stop them happening? Read more
Peripheral nerve damage and neck pain need adding to this list of fluoroquinolone's adverse effects.
Neck pain can be a result of arthritis and spinal degeneration so what can you do to ward off the effects of wear and tear on the spine? Or, if you have already accumulated that wear and tear, how can you give your body the best shot at repairing the damage and possibly even reversing spinal arthritis to relieve neck pain? Read more
Rates of fibromyalgia in the US stand at about 1-2%, with women disproportionately affected, or at least more commonly diagnosed with the condition. Fibromyalgia, neck pain, and migraines often occur in combination, with many people initially putting the pain and tension down to stress and failing to get a proper diagnosis from their physician. Read more
Is there an obvious culprit for your neck and shoulder pain?
Ear, nose, and throat clinics are full of kids waiting to have their tonsils whipped out, but what about if you have a sore throat and neck pain as an adult? Does recurring throat and neck pain also necessitate surgery? If you’re suffering from chronic, severe, or recurring bouts of pain in the neck and throat then it’s time to see your physician and find out what’s going on. Read more
A herniated disc in the neck is not as common as in the lower back, but it does happen. Interestingly, the causes of disc herniation in the lumbar region mirror those of the same condition in the cervical (neck) region. That is, the intervertebral discs in both regions are subjected to a great deal of wear and tear over the years. This wear and tear is exacerbated by the rigors of spinal movement and the challenge of bearing weight (of the head, in the case of the neck, and of the upper body, in the case of the lumbar spine). Another quality they share is that unless there is consistent compression of a nearby spinal nerve, a herniated disc could very well remain undetected. Read more
A pinched nerve in the neck is not what it sounds like in most cases. Far more often than not, what people refer to as a “pinched nerve” in the upper back (or “cervical” region of the spine) is actually a strained muscle. The muscles in the neck region might become strained when you sleep with your head in an awkward position, or if your head turns quickly at an unusual angle. While extremely painful in some cases, the pain will usually subside after a few days, and can typically be managed using over-the-counter pain medication. However, there is another condition that actually does deserve the title, “pinched nerve,” and that can produce symptoms which are much more difficult to manage. Read more
The majority of acute onset neck pain is due to muscle tension but in some cases left-sided neck pain, right-sided neck pain, or neck pain that presents with Horner’s syndrome are the result of carotid artery dissection or carotidynia. It appears that carotid artery dissection, whilst once thought fairly rare, is actually a risk for many people, young or old, active or inactive. Indeed, activities such as running, golf, and contact sports can all lead to acute trauma to the carotid artery and neck pain, and for some patients this can be fatal. In today’s blog post we take a look at a case of Horner’s syndrome as a result of carotid artery dissection. Read more
Using an exercise ball to help improve muscle strength provides relief from ankylosing spondylitis according to a recent study. The results of this trial offer hope of effective conservative therapy for those with back and neck pain from the condition and may help reduce reliance on pain medications as well as delay the need for neck surgery. Read more