Why Does Neck Pain Occur?

Although the most important reason for neck pain seems to be posture disorders and hernias, the real reason is that the neck communicates with every part of the body through neural and fascial connections and every problem in the body finds a reflection area in the neck. When the muscles around the neck receive signals from problematic areas, they become more tense. Thus, additional stress is created on the joints and ligaments and they become open to strains. In addition, since these signals will also disrupt blood flow, the nutrition of the discs and joints is disrupted and in the long term, it causes hernia and calcification. Posture and sitting disorders and working conditions are mechanical stresses. They contribute to the development of the event, but if the conditions described above are present, their triggering effect is much greater, if they are not present, that is, if the infrastructure is healthy, their effects are much less.

What Are the Causes?

Although hernia and calcification are seen as the most common cause, their total effect on neck pain is less than 20%. 80% of the reason is the problems in the muscles and ligaments around the neck and the reflections from problematic body areas called the interference field effect.

• Trigger Points: These are painful muscle knots commonly known as lumbago. The most common cause of neck pain is the muscles around the neck.
• Interference Fields: Problematic body areas that cause pain in distant body areas, although they do not show any symptoms, are called interference fields. The most important interference fields for the neck are the teeth, jaw joints, tonsils, sinuses and ears in the head region. Past infections or silent inflammations in these regions. In addition, functional problems of the organs in the chest and upper abdomen are also important causes of neck pain.
• Hernia: It is the protrusion of the structure called the disc, which acts as a suspension between the cervical vertebrae, due to the tearing of the ligaments that hold the disc in place. When the herniated disc presses on the nerve root, there is pain that is reflected to the arm. If it progresses, it can cause numbness and loss of strength. It is responsible for only 10% of neck pain.
• Arthritis: It occurs as a result of the degeneration of the cartilage in the joints between the cervical vertebrae. If it progresses, it can cause pain, numbness and loss of strength reflected to the arm as a result of narrowing in the nerve channels.
• Rare Causes: Rheumatic diseases, tumors, fractures, infections

How is it Treated?

Problems such as hernia and calcification, which are detected as the cause of pain in the neck, are results. These results are the cause of pain and must be treated. However, if the causes that create them are not treated, permanent healing cannot be achieved.

• Neural therapy: It is an effective and permanent treatment method. It is not just a pain-relieving treatment. It treats low back pain with its causes and results. An experienced neural therapist regulates the mechanisms described above with the Neural therapy injections he applies. It corrects neural transmissions, eliminates the effect of the interference field, increases blood flow to the tissues, and provides detoxification of metabolic wastes. Neural therapy injections and stretching applied to trigger points provide relaxation of the muscles around the waist.
• Acupuncture: It is an effective method in reducing pain. It functions by regulating neural transmissions like neural therapy. However, it is insufficient in performing interference field treatment. Especially in acute painful cases, microsystem acupuncture makes an important contribution.
• Manual Therapy: Manual therapy performed by an experienced physician and a physiotherapist under the supervision of a physician makes an important contribution especially in opening painful joint blockages. Muscular fascial stretching and mobilization techniques also provide relaxation of the muscles around the neck. However, it is not beneficial in advanced hernias and calcifications and may even be harmful.
• Physical Therapy: It relaxes the muscles and increases blood flow. The exercises performed provide relaxation in the muscles around the neck and improve posture. It contributes to reducing pain.
• Medications: Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve pain but do not have therapeutic effects.
• Lifestyle and Nutrition: According to the measurements and evaluations made, the patient’s diet is regulated if needed and the necessary nutritional supplements are given. Posture and breathing exercises, sleep, bed position, and adequate fluid intake are important.