Posts

Pain in the Front of the Neck – Causes and When to Call for Help

Pain in the Front of the Neck phone when to call for helpThe majority of neck pain is caused by muscle strain and is typically resolved without medical intervention within a few days. However, pain in the front of the neck that persists, or which is severe and acute, can be a sign of a serious health issue that warrants medical attention. Read more

Multiple Sclerosis and Cervical Spinal Stenosis – Does Neck Surgery Help?

cervical spinal stenosis mutliple sclerosis myelopathyDifferentiating multiple sclerosis and cervical symptoms of spinal stenosis can be challenging and new research suggests that for patients with both conditions preoperative MRI results may not offer a clear indication of the likely success of spine surgery. Typically, people with cervical spinal stenosis can be given a pretty good idea of the benefits they could see after neck surgery, but evaluating patients with concurrent MS and cervical stenosis causing myelopathy appears to offer little indication of its usefulness. Read more

How the Spine Narrows Naturally with Age

cervical spinal stenosis ageSome degree of spinal stenosis (narrowing) occurs with age, with all of the structures of the spine changing over time. Whether or not these changes will result in symptoms from pinched nerves, spinal cord compression, or blood vessel occlusion or damage depends on the anatomy of each individual. Read more

Inflammation and its Role in Disc Degeneration and Neck Pain

Inflammation and its Role in Disc Degeneration and neck pain

Many of the same inflammatory processes involved in Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes are also involved in disc degeneration.

How does inflammation contribute to the degeneration of spinal discs and the onset of chronic neck pain? By understanding the role that inflammatory processes play in the rupture, collapse, and herniation of discs in the cervical spine we may be better placed to relieve symptoms, slow down degenerative processes and perhaps even help reverse existing damage. Read more

Preventing Future Deaths from Football Neck Injury

football neck injury malcom floyd

Malcom Floyd is out indefinitely after serious neck injury last week.

A tragic accident in a preseason scrimmage last week resulted in the death of high school footballer, De’Antre Turman, from a broken neck. This week, San Diego Chargers’ wide receiver Malcom Floyd also suffered a neck injury while playing football which saw him stretchered off the field.

Are neck injuries, and even fatalities, a simple fact of footballing life? Is enough being done to stop them happening? Read more

Pain in Throat and Neck

throat and neck pain laryngeal cancerEar, 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

Carotid Artery Dissection, Neck Pain, and Horner’s Syndrome

carotid artery dissection and neck pain and horner's syndromeThe 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

What is Cervicothoracic Junction Kyphosis?

cervicothoracic junction deformityUnlike lumbar and thoracic curves, cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) kyphosis, a distinctive and complex cause of neck pain and other symptoms, is not normally associated with scoliosis. Instead, CTJ deformity involves a sagittal imbalance, where the spine takes on abnormal curvature front to back rather than side to side.

Treating CTJ deformity can be difficult and likely involves back and neck surgery to reconstruct the spine in order to restore balance and realign the neck and head. Read more

Early Treatment for a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

Treating a Pinched Nerve in the NeckSometimes a pinched nerve in the neck can arise when an anatomical abnormality in the upper, or cervical, spine – such as a bulging disc, herniated disc, calcified ligament, or bone spur – places pressure on the spinal cord or a nerve root. Nerve compression can cause symptoms of localized pain, radiating pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. The severity and frequency of your symptoms will vary from those of other patients, but it doesn’t mean that living with those symptoms will be any less difficult. There are some initial steps you can take to help relieve your symptoms and make getting through each day a little easier. Read more

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Bone Spur in the Neck

Bone spurA bone spur in the cervical (neck) region of the spine does not often cause recognizable symptoms. In fact, many people develop these excess growths of bone and never even realize they exist. Others might experience nothing more serious than a popping or cracking sound, known as crepitus, that arises when they turn their head left or right. Still others might begin to feel mild stiffness, especially after sleeping or after hours of sitting hunched over a computer keyboard or standing at a work station. Then, there are more severe symptoms related to a spinal bone spur. These can become debilitating, or at the very least cause a person to scale down their level of physical activity. Read more