Neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways is one of the most common complaints in the general population. Depending on symptom duration, it can be acute, subacute, or chronic. There are many causes of neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways, including degenerative disease, trauma, rheumatologic disease, and infections Infections Invasion of the host organism by microorganisms or their toxins or by parasites that can cause pathological conditions or diseases. Chronic Granulomatous Disease. Musculoskeletal conditions can range in severity from simple strain to radiculopathy Radiculopathy Disease involving a spinal nerve root which may result from compression related to intervertebral disk displacement; spinal cord injuries; spinal diseases; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include radicular pain, weakness, and sensory loss referable to structures innervated by the involved nerve root. Rheumatoid Arthritis and myelopathy. A careful history and physical examination is essential in discovering the etiology and guiding therapy. Treatment of the majority of cases of neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways is conservative and activity-based.
Last updated: 6 Jul, 2021
Neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways is a common symptom presenting to medical providers.
Musculoskeletal conditions:
Nonmusculoskeletal conditions:
Neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways may be classified on the basis of the duration of symptoms:
Important open-ended questions to ask when evaluating a patient with pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways can be remembered with:
Basic examination:
Special tests and signs:
Lhermitte’s sign:
Forward
flexion
Flexion
Examination of the Upper Limbs of the
neck
Neck
The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body.
Peritonsillar Abscess results in
radiation
Radiation
Emission or propagation of acoustic waves (sound), electromagnetic energy waves (such as light; radio waves; gamma rays; or x-rays), or a stream of subatomic particles (such as electrons; neutrons; protons; or alpha particles).
Osteosarcoma of
pain
Pain
An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons.
Pain: Types and Pathways down the
spine
Spine
The human spine, or vertebral column, is the most important anatomical and functional axis of the human body. It consists of 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, and 5 lumbar vertebrae and is limited cranially by the skull and caudally by the sacrum.
Vertebral Column: Anatomy or arms.
Hoffmann sign:
Flicking down on the middle fingernail results in
flexion
Flexion
Examination of the Upper Limbs of the thumb and index finger, which can indicate cervical myelopathy.
Spurling test
Spurling Test
Spinal Disk Herniation:
This test is used in the evaluation of cervical
radiculopathy
Radiculopathy
Disease involving a spinal nerve root which may result from compression related to intervertebral disk displacement; spinal cord injuries; spinal diseases; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include radicular pain, weakness, and sensory loss referable to structures innervated by the involved nerve root.
Rheumatoid Arthritis in
patients
Patients
Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures.
Clinician–Patient Relationship presenting with
neck
Neck
The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body.
Peritonsillar Abscess
pain
Pain
An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons.
Pain: Types and Pathways. The patient’s head is turned to the affected side while extended. A downward force is applied to the top of the head. A positive test is indicated by
radiation
Radiation
Emission or propagation of acoustic waves (sound), electromagnetic energy waves (such as light; radio waves; gamma rays; or x-rays), or a stream of subatomic particles (such as electrons; neutrons; protons; or alpha particles).
Osteosarcoma of
pain
Pain
An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons.
Pain: Types and Pathways down the corresponding
dermatome
Dermatome
Spinal Disk Herniation.
Dermatomal
Dermatomal
Dermatologic Examination map of the upper extremities:
A
sensory
Sensory
Neurons which conduct nerve impulses to the central nervous system.
Nervous System: Histology examination should be performed in
patients
Patients
Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures.
Clinician–Patient Relationship with
neck
Neck
The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body.
Peritonsillar Abscess
pain
Pain
An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons.
Pain: Types and Pathways.
Sensory
Sensory
Neurons which conduct nerve impulses to the central nervous system.
Nervous System: Histology deficits in a
dermatomal
Dermatomal
Dermatologic Examination distribution can be noted in
patients
Patients
Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures.
Clinician–Patient Relationship with cervical
radiculopathy
Radiculopathy
Disease involving a spinal nerve root which may result from compression related to intervertebral disk displacement; spinal cord injuries; spinal diseases; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include radicular pain, weakness, and sensory loss referable to structures innervated by the involved nerve root.
Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The following symptoms suggest serious pathology and should elicit an urgent evaluation:
The differential diagnoses related to neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways is vast and can be narrowed on the basis of the history and physical examination.
The following table compares the clinical and diagnostic clues for some common musculoskeletal conditions manifesting with neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways.
Condition | Clinical features | Diagnosis |
---|---|---|
Cervical strain |
|
Clinical |
Cervical spondylosis Spondylosis A degenerative spinal disease that can involve any part of the vertebra, the intervertebral disk, and the surrounding soft tissue. Central Cord Syndrome |
|
|
Whiplash injury |
|
|
Cervical radiculopathy Radiculopathy Disease involving a spinal nerve root which may result from compression related to intervertebral disk displacement; spinal cord injuries; spinal diseases; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include radicular pain, weakness, and sensory loss referable to structures innervated by the involved nerve root. Rheumatoid Arthritis |
|
|
Cervical myelopathy |
|
MRI showing:
|
Early management of neck Neck The part of a human or animal body connecting the head to the rest of the body. Peritonsillar Abscess pain Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by nerve endings of nociceptive neurons. Pain: Types and Pathways focuses on proper initial evaluation, early return of motion, pain management Pain Management Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is a subjective experience. Acute pain lasts < 3 months and typically has a specific, identifiable cause. Pain Management, and judicious use of physical therapy Physical Therapy Becker Muscular Dystrophy.
Conservative measures are usually used in patients Patients Individuals participating in the health care system for the purpose of receiving therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventive procedures. Clinician–Patient Relationship without major trauma or red flag findings.
General treatment:
Physical and movement therapy:
The following may be considered in association with pain management Pain Management Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Pain is a subjective experience. Acute pain lasts < 3 months and typically has a specific, identifiable cause. Pain Management and/or physical medicine and rehabilitation: