Numerous adults in Germany suffer from neck pain and a stiff shoulder. Causes can include prolonged, incorrect sitting, cold drafts, or awkward postures of the head, cervical spine, and upper body. This is often accompanied by tension headaches, as well as stiffness and pain in the shoulder area. In addition to these structural causes, psychological factors such as persistent, severe stress or depression can also trigger chronic neck pain.

Current findings on Back Health Day

According to a representative survey conducted by the German Back Health Association (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.) in September 2024, more than 80 percent of employees in Germany regularly suffer from back pain. The shoulder and neck area is particularly affected. The association addressed the topic of neck pain on Back Health Day 2025. Experts subsequently concluded that exercise, combined with good communication between doctor and patient, is the most effective remedy for harmless neck pain.

In which cases neck and shoulder pain is anything but harmless

Neck and shoulder pain can certainly be a symptom of serious illnesses. These include herniated discs in the cervical spine, bulging discs, and cartilage loss in the facet joints. Rheumatic diseases, inflammation of the cervical spine, thyroid tumors, nerve disorders, and autoimmune diseases also fall into this category. Injuries causing neck pain and cases involving paralysis, gait disturbances, motor deficits, and reduced attention are considered emergencies.

The treatment of the consequences of chronic neck pain belongs in a specialized clinic.

Neck pain often lasts longer than a few weeks. In such cases, a specialist should be consulted for a professional and precise diagnosis. Facilities like the Apex-Spine Spine Center in Munich are available for this purpose. Here, internationally experienced physicians in the field of spinal surgery diagnose and treat the consequences of chronic neck pain using state-of-the-art equipment and according to the latest scientific findings.

At the Apex Spine Center, not every herniated disc requires surgery. The center also offers a wide range of conservative treatments.

Advantages of percutaneous disc surgery compared to conventional surgery

The Apex Spine Center specializes in microscopically minimally invasive procedures on the cervical and thoracic spine. Percutaneous disc surgery in the cervical spine, for example, is performed under local anesthesia, preserving tissue. In this procedure, only the herniated portions of the disc are removed, not the entire disc. This typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. The greatest advantage of the percutaneous treatment method compared to conventional, open disc surgery is the faster recovery.

The patient can leave the clinic two to four days after the procedure and even resume sports activities after one to two weeks. A follow-up medical examination is scheduled two weeks after the surgery. Postoperative neck pain is almost completely avoided. This is because the surgical needle only minimally damages tissue in the muscles, bones, and spinal canal during the procedure, resulting in significantly less scarring than with open disc surgery. Open disc surgery is performed under general anesthesia and requires a skin incision of 4 to 8 cm.

make an appointment

Those suffering from chronic neck pain who have not yet found relief are invited to confidently contact the experienced specialists at the Apex Spine Center in Munich. Schedule an appointment promptly via the spine clinic's website at www.apex-spine.de, by phone at +49 89 1500 166 0, or by email.