Cervicalgia is pain in the cervical area of the spine (neck), which can affect soft tissues (muscles), as well as cervical vertebrae or disks. Usually, cervicalgia is related to work activity, poor posture or movements; as well as it can also be related to more complex factors. This time, Dr. Antero Caballero, a traumatologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma, provides us with more information.

Síntomas

El síntoma principal es el dolor intenso que va desde la base de la región occipital (nuca) y que se puede extender incluso hasta los hombros y alrededor de los omóplatos. Además, es importante estar atento a los signos de alarma, como:

• Irradiación hacia la mano o dedos
• Adormecimiento y debilidad en miembros superiores
• Dolor crónico (mayor a doce semanas) o dolor que no calma con analgésicos convencionales.

Symptoms

The main symptom is severe pain that goes from the base of the occipital region (nape) and that can even extend to the shoulders and around the shoulder blades. In addition, it is important to be aware of warning signs, such as:

• Irradiation to the hand or fingers
• Numbness and weakness in upper limbs
• Chronic pain (over twelve weeks) or pain that does not calm down with conventional analgesics

Causes

The most frequent cause, in approximately 80% of cases, is by muscle strain, which are of good prognosis. It is also related to work activity or poor posture.

On the other hand, when alarm signs are found, more complex pathologies such as:

• Cervical spondyloarthrosis
• Cervical disc hernias
• Cervical myelopathy
• Cervical kyphotic deformities

Diagnosis

A good physical examination is often enough when it is of muscular origin; however, if alarm signs are found during the evaluation, other tests must be performed, such as:

• Functional radiographs
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to evaluate the degeneration of the disks, the canal, the spinal cord and facet joints.

Treatment

The treatment depends on the diagnosis. When it is caused by muscle pain, it is based on:

• Analgesics
• Muscle relaxants
• Physical therapy

When it affects the cervical spine, the treatments can range from:

• Epidural injections
• Articular radiofrequency (facetaral rhizolysis)

Or surgical treatment such as:

• Anterior cervical discectomy (removal of the disk and placement of a prosthesis)
• Anterior cervical corpectomy (removal of a vertebra and replacement with an implant)
• Posterior laminoplasty (decompressing the spinal cord without the need for fusion)

There are several therapeutic options according to the patient’s diagnosis, the ideal management is to go from less to more in the treatment; that is why these pathologies should be managed by a specialist in the spinal column

Dr. Antero Caballero
Traumatologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma