The cervical area of the back includes the seven vertebrae in the upper portion of the back and neck area. The cervical portion of the spine offers much more mobility and range of motion than other areas of the spine, and as such can be more susceptible to injury.
One of the most common injuries to the cervical area is whiplash. The rapid and unnatural over extension of the neck that occurs during a car accident negatively impacts muscles and ligaments in the neck area, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Degeneration due to aging or disease is also a common cause of cervical back pain. Osteoarthritis results in degeneration of cartilage. The body responds by creating new bone (like bone spurs), reducing mobility and causing pain. Degenerative Disc Disease deprives spinal discs of moisture, making them inflexible and brittle. Over time, the discs can easily become herniated or bulge, which results in pain and tingling in the arms, hands and shoulders.
Day to day life can also affect cervical back pain tremendously. Obesity and poor posture affect the spine’s alignment and can cause the neck to move to a more forward position. Additionally, stress can cause tension in the neck and shoulders resulting in pain and discomfort in those areas.
There are a number of treatment options for cervical back pain. For those who would like to attempt to self medicate the problem, try a heat or cold regimen. Alternating between the two temperatures can help increase blood flow to the area and promote healing. A typical heating pad may fall short though, as its capabilities to penetrate deep into your skin are limited. The infrared heating pads offered by the Healthy Back Institute penetrate deep into the affected muscles and tissues offering long lasting relief.
The Healthy Back Institute also offers inversion tables for those interested in inversion therapy to relieve their pain. The process involves being strapped into the inversion device and turning your entire body upside down. This helps gravity reduce any undue pressure on your spinal column, and naturally realign portions that may have come out of place due to poor posture or injury.
Over the counter pain relievers can also help reduce suffering from cervical back pain. Drugs like Tylenol will only offer pain relief, while anti-inflammatory medications like Aleve and Ibuprofen will help reduce swelling, and may provide more long term relief.
Additionally, pain relieving creams can soak into the skin and penetrate the affected tissue and muscles to help heal the area faster. The Healthy Back Institute offers a wide range of pain relieving creams, including Rub On Relief which has been shown to be 100% effective at reducing back pain, with none of the side effects that may come with over the counter pain relievers.
If the pain cannot be relieved using home methods, a doctor can recommend prescription drugs to help block the pain, cortisone injections directly to the affected area or in extreme cases surgery. However, most cervical back pain is a result of strain or injury and surgery is not generally necessary.
The Healthy Back Institute strives to provide their clients with a wide range of options to resolve their back pain. They want you to lose the pain and get back to your life.
