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Neck-Tongue Syndrome

Neck-tongue syndrome is an uncommon condition that is characterized by the occurrence of pain on one side of the neck. This pain can occur with or without numbness and is often accompanied by a simultaneous numbness of the tongue occurring on the same side as the neck pain.

Symptoms

• Pain on one side of the neck with numbness of the tongue on the same side
• Sharp pain when you turn your neck (often felt in the sub-occipital region)

• Pain has acute onset
• Tongue spasms

Causes

Neck-tongue syndrome can be seen in a wide range of people, most commonly young adults and older children. There are two categories that this syndrome is divided into; complicated neck-tongue syndrome and uncomplicated neck-tongue syndrome. Complicated neck-tongue syndrome is diagnosed in those with an underlying disease such as degeneration. While uncomplicated neck-tongue syndrome is related to trauma and has no underlying condition.

Treatment

There are not many treatment options for this condition, but those who are affected can consider spinal manipulative therapy if they are plagued by uncomplicated neck-tongue syndrome. For the more complicated form of neck-tongue syndrome, those affected can consider the utilization of prolotherapy. Prolotherapy uses regenerative injections to stimulate fibroblastic growth in the weakened ligaments.

In the Neck-Tongue Syndrome, numbness of the tongue and suboccipital pain are triggered by rotation of the head. The site of pain and the precipitating manoeuvre clearly implicate an abnormality at upper cervical levels. The tongue symptoms have been discussed by Lance and Anthony' who reviewed the available data on the course of afferent fibres from the tongue; and it seems well established that proprioceptive fibres from the tongue do pass via the ansa hypoglossi to the C2 dorsal root.