What are the causes of Cervical Pain?
Cervical Spine has 7 vertebrae & in between each of these are soft pads or discs which act as shock-absorbers and allow for bending and movement of the head. Each disc is made up of two parts, a soft gel like material in the center called the nucleus and a tough outer band called the annulus. One of the most common causes of cervical pain is herniation of the gel-like material within the disc through a weak area in the annulus. Irritation and swelling occurs when this material squeezes out and painfully presses on a nerve, leading to pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and sometimes the hands. The other major cause of cervical pain is Degenerative disc disease. As discs naturally wear out, bone spurs form and the facet joints inflame. The discs dry out and shrink, losing their flexibility and cushioning properties, making the disc spaces smaller. These changes lead to foraminal or central stenosis.
