The neck is a relatively flexible region of the body; therefore, it is prone to injury. Disorders of the neck target the nerves that exit the spinal cord and the tendons that attach the muscles to bone. Caused primarily by overstretching the tissues, neck disorders also appear naturally in response to aging.
Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury to the structures of the neck after sudden neck extension followed by flexion, which is caused by a car accident in most instances. The sudden movements cause tendon sprains, muscle strains and nerve root damage. Symptoms include pain in the neck and shoulders; headache, neck stiffness, dizziness, and burning or tingling sensations in the neck and down the arms. The excessive motion overstretches the tissues and tears their membranes, which causes inflammation, pain and decreased mobility, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Disc Degeneration
Located between the cervical vertebrae, or bones of the neck, are cartilaginous discs that protect the bones from wear and tear. Exiting from the sides of the vertebrae are the nerves that supply sensation and mobility to the tissues of the neck and upper limbs. With aging, the discs decrease in size, causing the vertebrae to compress the nerves. Nerve compression leads to neck pain and burning, tingling and numbness down the arms, as detailed by the UCLA Compressive Spine Center.
Herniated Disc
The cervical vertebrae, or neck bones, are stacked on top of each other like a column and are separated by a cartilaginous disc. Down the center of the stacked vertebrae is a central canal where the spinal cord travels. The University of Florida, Department of Neurosurgery, explains that a herniated disc is a bulging of the disc that compresses the spinal cord nerves as they exit the side of the vertebral column. Nerve compression causes pain in the neck and upper shoulder and numbness and tingling down the arm of the affected side.
Brachial Plexus Injury
The brachial plexus is a large grouping of nerves that exit the spinal cord at the neck. The nerves of this plexus supply the muscles and tissues of the upper chest and back, in addition to the arms. Brachial plexus injury occurs usually during a contact sport when the neck is forcibly moved to one side, away from the shoulder, which overstretches the nerves on one side of the neck. Contact sports known to cause such an injury include football, hockey and basketball. The disorder causes severe pain in the neck and down the arm of the affected side, pins and needles down the affected arm, and muscle weakness, according to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
