Cervicalgia Symptoms and Treatment

Cervicalgia is a term used to describe pain or significant discomfort in your neck, especially at the back and/or sides. Lumbago is a similar term to cervicalgia except that it refers to pain in the low back. Cervicalgia is very common, and chronic neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability.

Where Does Cervicalgia Occur?

Basically, cervicalgia is neck pain. The bones of the neck form the cervical spine—this is the area extending from the first spinal vertebra through the seventh. The first bone of your spine is located at about the level of your ears, and the seventh is located at the base of the neck.

Some of the most common causes of neck pain include:

• Muscle strain
• Poor posture
• Degenerative joint changes
• Nerve compression
• Acute injury

Symptoms

Cervicalgia symptoms may vary depending on the underlying cause. Symptoms may include:

• Constant neck ache
• Sharp pain in your neck brought on by movement (i.e. twisting or turning)
• Tension or stiffness in the muscles and joints of your upper back and neck
• Headaches
• Tenderness to touch through the neck

Cervicalgia can be pretty intense at times, but it is generally felt in the same area from which it arises. This is unlike radiating pain due to herniated disc, for example, where an impinged spinal nerve root sends shooting, electrical or similar sensations down the pathway of the nerve. This type of pain is often felt far away from the lesion, a term that refers to the location of the issue or problem that instigates the pain. That said, neck pain you may experience due to a herniated disc whether solely or in addition to radiating symptoms, may be called cervicalgia.

The cervical spine is home to sensory organs and nerves, which means cervicalgia may be accompanied by other types of symptoms, too. The 2016 International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology study found dizziness to be very frequent, along with tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears; neck cracks and pops, hearing difficulties and symptoms relating to your cardiovascular system made the list, as well.

Can You Get a Diagnosis of Cervicalgia?

Cervicalgia is a bit of a catch-all term. Its definition, according to the National Institutes of Health, is an alternative name for neck pain, neck stiffness and/or whiplash.

The ICD-10, which is the coding system most healthcare providers and therapists use to bill insurance, does not give direct causes for cervicalgia—with the exception of disc disorder of the cervical spine. When discs are at the root of your cervicalgia, the IDC-10 code is M50. When the cause is not stated the code is M54.2. The ICD-10 coding for cervicalgia indicates that it can be either chronic or acute.

 A 2011 study published in the Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Clinics of North America found that while it's generally difficult to pinpoint the structural cause of cervicalgia, doing so may help guide your treatment choices. The authors point out that the medical history you share with your healthcare provider, particularly so-called red flags or yellow flag symptoms, can help the provider recognize the more serious causes of neck pain.

After an in-depth medical interview and history is completed, a thorough physical exam is key to differential diagnosis when it comes to identifying a specific cause of cervicalgia, which will in turn guide specific treatment.

Treatment

Cervicalgia, is, as mentioned above, a bit of a catch-all phrase for many types of neck pain. To that end, treatments may vary widely, and according to the exact cause.

Treatment for cervicalgia generally consists of:

• Pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as Aleve (naprosyn) or Motrin (ibuprofen)
• Physical therapy (mobility, stability, and strengthening exercises)
• Short-term cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage pain triggers and your reaction to them
• Reduced or modified physical activity during the acute phase
• Ice and heat
• Possibly wearing a collar to help stabilize the area, if necessary

And don’t discount the role that holistic therapies might play in the healing of your neck pain. Acupuncture, massage therapy, gentle yoga and Pilates, chiropractic care, and Tai Chi have helped many people manage cervicalgia. In fact, a 2017 study published in the journal Spine, found that neck pain got better in people who developed postural awareness from doing Tai Chi.