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.
Cervical spondylosis can be treated in a number of ways. The treatments are broadly divided into conservative and invasive (or surgical options). Both options are designed to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent disease progression Physical therapy is one of the most useful conservative approaches that exist. The treatment involves the performance of passive and active physical exercises that mainly involve the stretching of neck and shoulder muscles.
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.
To diagnose spinal stenosis, a clinical history, a physical examination and investigations are needed. X-rays are useful in the assessment of bony structures and can easily reveal an area with excess narrowing. More specifically, X-rays provide vital information on conditions such as infections, fractures and tumors. If the problem is related to soft tissues then they are of little value. MRI and CT scan images are more important in this instance.
Conservative treatments may be considered in patients with stenosis but the definitive management remains surgery. The objective of the operation is to create more space within the canal for the cord. This is why the surgeries of these nature are generally known as decompression operations. There are many sub-types that exist and are named based on the part that is removed. Removal of the lamina is known as laminectomy and that of the vertebral body is known as corpectomy.
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.
Pain in the shoulder and neck has numerous other origins. The fortunate thing is that most are usually managed with conservative approaches without any major consequences. It is important that one consults a doctor if the symptom persist after the use of home based therapies. This will help rule out any serious underlying conditions before they advance.
Cervical spondylosis can be treated in a number of ways. The treatments are broadly divided into conservative and invasive (or surgical options). Both options are designed to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent disease progression Physical therapy is one of the most useful conservative approaches that exist. The treatment involves the performance of passive and active physical exercises that mainly involve the stretching of neck and shoulder muscles.
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.
To diagnose spinal stenosis, a clinical history, a physical examination and investigations are needed. X-rays are useful in the assessment of bony structures and can easily reveal an area with excess narrowing. More specifically, X-rays provide vital information on conditions such as infections, fractures and tumors. If the problem is related to soft tissues then they are of little value. MRI and CT scan images are more important in this instance.
Conservative treatments may be considered in patients with stenosis but the definitive management remains surgery. The objective of the operation is to create more space within the canal for the cord. This is why the surgeries of these nature are generally known as decompression operations. There are many sub-types that exist and are named based on the part that is removed. Removal of the lamina is known as laminectomy and that of the vertebral body is known as corpectomy.
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.
Pain in the shoulder and neck has numerous other origins. The fortunate thing is that most are usually managed with conservative approaches without any major consequences. It is important that one consults a doctor if the symptom persist after the use of home based therapies. This will help rule out any serious underlying conditions before they advance.
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