Principles & Practice of Pain Medicine > Part IV. Pain by Anatomic Location > A. Head and Neck > Chapter 27. Neck Pain Mark E. Romanoff, Richard L. Gilbert, and Carol A. Warfield

Neck Pain: Introduction

"Neck pain is a common complaint. The prevalance is approximately 75% to 80% in the U. S. population. The neck is composed of many pain-sensitive tissues in a small area, including tendons, ligaments, muscle insertions, vertabrae, zygopophyseal joints, nerve roots, nerves, and plexi. The cervical spine is mobile and situated between an immobile thorax and a relatively weighty head; therefore, it is subject to varying degrees of trauma with body movement. Neck pain ranges from minor self-limited aches to severe pain associated with signs and symptoms of nerve root impingement. Patients with minor neck pain may not consult a physician. Those who see a primary care physician often can be helped by conservative management. A patient with severe chronic symptoms may be best served in a comprehensive pain management clinic. Treatment options can range from the conservative (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS] unit, physical therapy and stretching) to the interventional (facet joint injection and cervical nerve root block). In all cases, a knowledge of the anatomy and the etiology of neck pain is required for definitive treatment...."