Axial Neck Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

What Is Axial Neck Pain?

Axial neck pain is localized pain in the neck or cervical region and the immediate surrounding structures without causing dysfunction in the hands, arms, fingers, and other body regions. The skull, ribcage, and backbone are described as axial skeleton. The injury or strain restricted to the cervical area is axial neck pain. Usually, axial neck pain may be misdiagnosed with other two neck conditions like myelopathy and cervical radiculopathy. Axial neck pain may also be described as whiplash, uncomplicated neck pain, cervical strain, or neck strain. It may originate from the neck's muscles, joints, and ligaments, which often cause shoulder pain or headache along with stiffness and soreness of the neck. It is widespread and affects about 10 percent of the population.

What Are the Causes of Axial Neck Pain?

Injury or trauma to the cervical spine and surrounding structures is the primary cause of axial neck pain. It may also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, meningitis, disc herniation, birth abnormalities of the neck bones, and tumor growth. The axial neck pain may be caused by certain medical conditions like

• Neck Strain or Cervical Strain - Cervical strain happens when the ligaments and muscles of the neck get injured. It causes spasms of the neck muscles and upper back muscles. It often affects the trapezius muscle(which originates from the back of the head and extends laterally to the shoulder blade and down to the mid back).

• Cervical Facet Syndrome - It is also a common cause of axial neck pain. It is a disorder of the zygapophyseal or facet joint. The zygapophyseal joints are the small joints in between and at the back of each vertebra. This facet joint has a vital role in preventing excessive flexion and rotation of the spine. If the person is affected by the cervical facet syndrome, they may experience pain at the side of the cervical vertebrae.

• Cervical Discogenic Pain - It is also the most common cause of axial neck pain. Cervical discogenic pain is a disorder that involves degeneration and inflammation of cervical discs. This type of pain worsens when the neck is in one position for a prolonged time. It may also cause restriction in the range of motion of the cervical part.

• Whiplash - It is a condition that refers to neck injury commonly occurring in a car accident. Whiplash is said when an injury causes intense accelerating motion of the neck. It causes strain on the ligaments and muscles of the neck. It usually affects the vertebrae of the cervical spine, its discs, and nerves. The symptoms typically occur after an injury.

What Are the Symptoms of Axial Neck Pain?

The symptoms of axial neck pain include:

• Pain in the posterior part of the neck.

• Radiating pain in the skull, shoulder blade, or shoulders.

• Tingling sensation.

• Warmth at the affected site.

• Muscle pain in localized areas.

• Stiffness of the neck.

• Headaches.

• Limited range of motion of the neck.

• Increased pain in neck movements.

• Tenderness.

• Dizziness.

• Fatigue.

• Memory problems.

• Sleep disturbances.

• Blurred vision.

• Tinnitus.

• Depression.

• Irritability.

• Difficulty in concentrating.

What Are the Risk Factors for Axial Neck Pain?

The risk factors that may cause axial neck pain include:

• Poor posture.

• Weakness of the muscles.

• Ergonomics.

• Older age.

• Trauma.

• Low back pain.

• Headache.

• Depression.

How Is Axial Neck Pain Diagnosed?

Usually, axial neck pain is diagnosed by the symptoms and physical examination of the neck and arms. The doctors may also look for tenderness over the affected area. In addition to this, doctors may also recommend some of the tests to diagnose the axial neck pain. Some of them include:

• Blood Test - which helps in ruling out the inflammatory reactions.

• Imaging Tests - X- rays, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and CT scans (Computed Tomography scans) to view the internal structures for any infections, cancer, and fracture.

• Electromyograms (EMG) - It helps in analyzing the nerve function in the cervical region.

How Is Axial Neck Pain Treated?

• There are various treatment options for relieving axial neck pain. The severe case of axial neck pain is treated with surgery.

• Healthcare providers usually treat axial neck pain by recommending rest, painkillers like acetaminophen, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory medications.

• Once the pain is relieved the doctors may recommend gentle stretching exercises and strengthening exercises to the neck to regain the range of motion.

• In some cases, the doctors may also recommend wearing neck braces and soft collars.

• In most complicated cases the doctors recommend some non-invasive medical treatments like acupuncture, TENS(transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), low-level laser therapy, electromagnetic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, Qigong, and chiropractic manipulation.

• The doctors may also treat axial neck pain through injections, nerve ablation, and surgery.

How Is Axial Neck Pain Prevented?

The axial neck pain can be prevented by:

• Strengthening the neck muscles by performing routine strengthening and stretching exercises that target the neck muscles.

• Maintaining proper posture while sleeping like sleeping on the side or back with supporting pillows to maintain the natural curvature of the neck.

• Maintaining proper position while using a computer like aligning the eyes with the top third of the computer.

• Avoiding extended neck flexion towards down while reading by supporting the arms on the armrest.

Conclusion

Axial neck pain is the most common condition that rarely requires surgical treatment. As it is a localized pain in the cervical region without affecting the function of the other body regions, conservative therapy with specific exercises can relieve neck pain. It can also be prevented by optimizing posture, ergonomics, and muscle strength. Reaching out to a physical therapist may be beneficial. Taking medications and performing exercises helps to relieve axial neck pain. If left untreated, it may cause a chronic neck condition. In severe cases, reaching out to doctors for effective and alternative treatments may be favorable to those who are suffering from axial neck pain. Purchasing cervical neck traction device can be beneficial in relieving neck pain.