The portion of the spine contained within the neck is referred to as the cervical spine. That’s the site for injuries known as neck strain.

Unlike the rest of the spine (thoracic, lumbar, and sacral), which is relatively well protected from injury because it is enclosed by the torso, the cervical spine is more vulnerable to injury. This portion of the spine is encased in a relatively small amount of muscles and ligaments. Yet its normal function requires extensive range of motion.

The neck contains many vital anatomic structures, the most critical being the airway, the spinal cord, and the blood vessels that supply the brain. By definition, neck strain injuries do not involve serious injury to any of these vital structures and also are not associated with fractures or dislocations of any of the bones of the cervical spine. Significant injury to blood vessels and the spinal cord are also not part of the definition of a strain type of injury.

Orthopedists, doctors of the bones and joints, differentiate “sprains” from “strains.” Injuries of tissues that contract and move, such as muscles, tendons, and their attachments into bones, are termed strains (for example, tendonitis occurs when tendons are involved). Similar injuries to inert (or nonmoving) structures, such as ligaments, joint capsules, nerves, bursae, blood vessels, and cartilage, are termed sprains. Some people, however, use both terms interchangeably.

To be consistent here, the term strain will be used. Both strains and sprains of the neck may involve tears to ligaments covering the cervical vertebrae, the many muscles of the neck (which move the head), and many other associated structures. They may also result in injury to cervical nerves caused by stretching or compression.

The neck is an area where stability has been sacrificed for mobility, making it particularly vulnerable to injury. Because you can be injured in a number of different ways, a detailed medical and job history (including an analysis of work activity) is often needed to ascertain the likelihood of a severe injury. It also helps to predict how long your recovery will take and what your prognosis will be following an injury.

A thorough physical examination is necessary, particularly in instances where symptoms of nerve injury occur. Other studies using the latest computerized imaging methods and other techniques may also be helpful.

Seeing a doctor is vital for all strains with a significant mechanism of injury or for severe, persistent, or unexplained symptoms or problems. As with other conditions, supportive self-care is often enough for you to have a complete recovery.

Neck Strain Causes

Neck strains result from acute injury to the neck. Such injuries are caused most often by the indirect trauma when the head is flung backward (hyperextension) or forward (hyperflexion), collectively known as whiplash. Injuries caused by rotation and compression (when the force of impact lands on the top of the head) can also result in neck strains.

• Automobile accidents are responsible for many whiplash injuries because of hyperextension or hyperflexion. A common scenario is when a seat-belted person’s head continues to move forward during a frontal impact and is then often thrown backward (the converse is also true). Side impacts typically result in bending of the head to that side, and rear impact tends to throw the head backward. Any or all of these movements usually result in whiplash.

• People with occupations requiring repetitive or prolonged neck extension (microtrauma) may develop neck strain injury. Picture someone sitting at a computer keyboard, for example, straining to see a monitor that is not adjusted properly for the person’s posture. Also, the person may be trying to see the monitor through poorly adjusted bifocal lenses and must tip the chin upward to view the screen. Now tuck a telephone into the person’s shoulder for much of the day, and you have a formula for neck strain.
• Some people appear prone to neck strain injuries merely as the result of an abnormal posture while awake or asleep with pain syndromes that can be severe, chronic, and quite disabling.

Neck Strain Symptoms

The cardinal symptom of neck strain is pain. Although you typically have pain after an accident, it is not uncommon for you to be free of discomfort initially, because inflammatory changes may happen slowly. The presence of immediate pain at the time of injury should serve as a red flag that the injuries may be more severe than first thought.

Other symptoms include the inability to perform daily work or activities that you could do before. Be wary of symptoms suggesting nerve problems such as weakness, numbness, tingling, incoordination, and dizziness.

Neck stiffness usually occurs and may radiate into the lower back when severe. Difficulty chewing, swallowing, and breathing occur rarely. You should contact your doctor if you have these symptoms.

When to Seek Medical Care

If your symptoms do not go away as expected or if new symptoms appear, you should seek medical attention without delay.

• Call your doctor if you experience the following symptoms:
  • Severe, unremitting neck pain

  • Neck pain unaffected by changes in position or pain that is not controlled with appropriate medication
  • Severe night neck pain
  • Severe, persistent neck muscle spasms
  • Inability to perform daily work or activities that you could do prior your illness
• In addition, symptoms suggesting possible injury to the vital structures contained in the neck should prompt early contact with your doctor. These may include the following:
  • Weakness

  • Numbness
  • Tingling or loss of function particularly in the upper extremities
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Dizziness, headache, or nausea and vomiting
  • Ringing in the ears or decreased hearing
• If you are unable to reach your doctor (or do not have one), you should go to a hospital’s emergency department without delay for evaluation of any of these types of problems.
• If you get sick or reinjured while your neck pain is present, you should contact your doctor.

You must seek immediate medical attention for any symptom suggesting a problem affecting the nervous system, airway, or spinal cord.

• Examples of spinal cord injury
  • Bowel or bladder retention or incontinence, that is, inability to control the bowels or bladder

  • Inability to urinate
  • Leg weakness or any new inability to walk
  • Ataxia (loss of balance)
  • Vertigo
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Any other acute symptoms suggesting a nerve problem
• Evaluation by an orthopedist or neurosurgeon may be required to check for a condition requiring urgent surgical treatment.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 at 09:11 and is filed under Ayam Brand. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.