Performing fusions for osteoarthritis has been shown not to be significantly superior to placebo therefore, it should be avoided except in special circumstances. Surgical intervention for neck pain by itself should be reserved for those with segmental instability, tumors, infections, or development of nerve compression. There are also risks involved with neck manipulation that are significantly more serious than those seen with the lower back. Chiropractic cervical manipulation is controversial-clinical trials have shown that rehabilitative neck exercises are superior to manipulation alone. Conservative care includes physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification and traction. As with low back pain, most neck pain is self-limiting and resolves with conservative care. Identifying the specific cause of pain can be difficult. Neck pain by itself typically results from muscular or ligamentous factors which can be related to stress, poor posture, arthritis, previous trauma, or degeneration of cervical (neck) discs. Neck pain can typically be divided into the categories of: Additionally, arthritis causes bony and ligamentous enlargement, which can also push into the spinal canal. As we age, the intervertebral discs in the neck begin to lose water content, resulting in disc bulging into the spinal canal. So how do your sort out the pain and get the care you need to live with "pain in the neck"?Īrthritis in the neck, called cervical spondylosis, is a natural consequence of aging in the older adult. Pain also can be experienced as a result of adjacent parts like your jaw, head and shoulders. If nerves are involved, you can also experience numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms and even your legs. Your neck is comprised of bones, discs, joints, tendons, muscles, ligaments and nerves, any which can be a source of pain. If mom's advice is not heeded, you pay the price over the years as its vulnerability shows up as it is subjected to aging and injury. Good posture can make a huge difference over the years and reduce the stresses to your neck. When your mother told you to stand or sit up straight, she was right. Hunching your shoulders or slumping at your desk makes its job more difficult. Not really, but it does carry the weight of a bowling ball. Your neck carries the weight of the world.