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Cervical Pain Syndromes

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Integrating Pain Treatment into Your Spine Practice

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Abstract

The title of cervical pain syndromes takes into account a broad range of painful conditions with an origin in the neck. A number of cervical pain generators have been proposed but a clear etiology for all cervical pain syndromes remains unclear. Possible sources for neck pain include myofascial disorders, cervical facet degeneration, uncovertebral arthritis, cervical discogenic pain, spondyloarthropathies, and herniated nucleus pulposus. Accurately identifying the source of a cervical pain syndrome requires the clinician to overlay all aspects of the patient’s history, physical exam, and imaging studies. Even with this careful approach in many cases a conclusive diagnosis requires more invasive diagnostic testing including discography, facet joint medial branch blocks, and trigger point injections. Despite the large number of patients that suffer from cervical pain and the challenges in accurately diagnosing a pain generator, many patients will improve with conservative treatments and lifestyle changes. For those patients that do not improve more invasive treatments may be warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St., SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Bryan C. Hoelzer M.D.

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  1. Bryan C. Hoelzer M.D.
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Correspondence to Bryan C. Hoelzer M.D. .

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  1. St. Luke’s University Health Network, Neurosurgery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA

    Steven M. Falowski

  2. Summit Pain Alliance, Santa Rosa, California, USA

    Jason E. Pope

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Hoelzer, B.C. (2016). Cervical Pain Syndromes. In: Falowski, S., Pope, J. (eds) Integrating Pain Treatment into Your Spine Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27796-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27796-7_4

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