There are many causes of pain experienced in the shoulder and neck regions. Cervical spondylosis is among the commonest in the city of Greenbelt, MD. It is a degenerative condition whose incidence peaks after the age of 60 with statistics indicating that up to 85% of persons above this age have various degrees of shoulder and spinal pain. The underlying cause is wear and tear of connective tissues found in the neck region.
When cervical spondylosis is diagnosed, there are a number of treatments that one may benefit from. All are aimed at not only relieving the symptoms but also preventing further damage to the affected structures. The treatment modalities include both non-surgical and surgical options. Physical therapy is one of the most commonly used and most effective conservative interventions. It consists of both active and passive neck and shoulder stretching exercises. Traction is considered part of physical therapy.
There are several pharmacological agents that are used either singly or in combination. They include, for example, muscle relaxants, anti-epileptic drugs, narcotics and steroids among others. Surgical options are only considered if the medical therapies fail to yield the expected results. Surgery is most effective for conditions such as abnormal anatomical structure of vertebral bones, prolapsed discs and bony spurs among others.
Another common cause of pain is a condition known as spinal stenosis. This simply refers to the narrowing of the spine in a background of arthritis. The main cause of the narrowing is the presence of bony spurs in the canal. The consequence of this is compression of the spinal cord and associated nerve roots. One will typically experience pain in the limbs associated with numbness and a tingling sensation.
The doctor will request for an X-ray image of your neck region if they suspect that you are suffering from this condition. The X-rays are used in evaluate the bony structures. They will help diagnose conditions such as fractures, tumors and bone infections. However, they have limited value when it comes to soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and inter-vertebral discs. An MRI of the spine will be required if such tissues are to be evaluated.
Conservative treatments are commonly used here but most patients end up in surgery to relieve the pressure on the spine. Operations done for this condition are collectively known as spinal decompression procedures. There are many sub-types that exist and the choice is dependent on the exact problem that exists. For instance, if the operation involves the removal of a vertebral body it will be termed corpectomy and if it involves just the lamina, laminectomy.
Inter-vertebral disc herniation may occur at any level of the spine. It is another common cause of pain. Whenever the herniation occurs, the disc exerts pressure on the nerve roots within its immediate surroundings. The person affected will experience pain and numbness in the region that is separated by the nerve affected. This may include the shoulder, arm, forearm and the hand. Treatment is either through traction or surgery.
There are many other causes of pain on the shoulder and neck regions. The good news is that many of them can be managed successfully through conservative approaches. You need to see a doctor if your symptoms fail to respond to home remedies such as over the counter pain relievers, hot and cold compression and physical exercise.
When cervical spondylosis is diagnosed, there are a number of treatments that one may benefit from. All are aimed at not only relieving the symptoms but also preventing further damage to the affected structures. The treatment modalities include both non-surgical and surgical options. Physical therapy is one of the most commonly used and most effective conservative interventions. It consists of both active and passive neck and shoulder stretching exercises. Traction is considered part of physical therapy.
There are several pharmacological agents that are used either singly or in combination. They include, for example, muscle relaxants, anti-epileptic drugs, narcotics and steroids among others. Surgical options are only considered if the medical therapies fail to yield the expected results. Surgery is most effective for conditions such as abnormal anatomical structure of vertebral bones, prolapsed discs and bony spurs among others.
Another common cause of pain is a condition known as spinal stenosis. This simply refers to the narrowing of the spine in a background of arthritis. The main cause of the narrowing is the presence of bony spurs in the canal. The consequence of this is compression of the spinal cord and associated nerve roots. One will typically experience pain in the limbs associated with numbness and a tingling sensation.
The doctor will request for an X-ray image of your neck region if they suspect that you are suffering from this condition. The X-rays are used in evaluate the bony structures. They will help diagnose conditions such as fractures, tumors and bone infections. However, they have limited value when it comes to soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, nerves and inter-vertebral discs. An MRI of the spine will be required if such tissues are to be evaluated.
Conservative treatments are commonly used here but most patients end up in surgery to relieve the pressure on the spine. Operations done for this condition are collectively known as spinal decompression procedures. There are many sub-types that exist and the choice is dependent on the exact problem that exists. For instance, if the operation involves the removal of a vertebral body it will be termed corpectomy and if it involves just the lamina, laminectomy.
Inter-vertebral disc herniation may occur at any level of the spine. It is another common cause of pain. Whenever the herniation occurs, the disc exerts pressure on the nerve roots within its immediate surroundings. The person affected will experience pain and numbness in the region that is separated by the nerve affected. This may include the shoulder, arm, forearm and the hand. Treatment is either through traction or surgery.
There are many other causes of pain on the shoulder and neck regions. The good news is that many of them can be managed successfully through conservative approaches. You need to see a doctor if your symptoms fail to respond to home remedies such as over the counter pain relievers, hot and cold compression and physical exercise.
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