Neck pain is quite a common issue among many people nowadays. Neck pain can occur due to a variety of reasons and they all are dependent on how you treat your neck. Whether you are a fan of bad posture or, you have been in an accident on bust Snellville roads, there are a lot of reasons why you can actually get your neck injured.
Neck pain while being a persistent issue among people due to the simplest of reasons, it is highly unlikely that having some mild symptoms can be a reason for something serious. However, this article will explain in detail common neck pain causes and what will happen once you visit the doctor for the diagnosis and treatment of your neck injury.
Symptoms of Neck Pain
There are some common symptoms that you need to look out for in case you are experiencing neck pain persistently. There are:
- An on-growing pain that becomes much worse if you keep your neck and head in one position for a long time.
- Tight and stiff muscles
- Muscle spasms
- Restricted range of motion in head mobility
- Constant headache
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Several reasons can cause neck pain. These are:
- Muscle Strains and Tension
- Neck Injury
- Meningitis
- Others
Let’s discuss these causes in detail
Muscle Strains and Tension
There are a lot of activities that contribute to the development of strained muscles in the neck. Some of the most common activities are a part of our regular lifestyle and we don’t even recognize them. These activities can be listed as:
- Bad posture
- Crouched sitting style
- Computer-based work and desk shifts for long hours
- Sleeping in an irregular position
- Moving the neck while exercising (especially while lifting weights)
Neck Injuries
Our neck is one of the most sensitive regions of the body. This means that it is extremely vulnerable to injuries. One might tear the soft tissues, muscles, and ligaments of the neck. This kind of injury is called whiplash. Chiropractors in Snellville have reported thousands of whiplash cases over the past year. The major cause of injuries in the neck is that the muscle groups are pushed outside their normal range.
Meningitis
Meningitis is categorized as an inflammation of the small tissue that covers the spine and the brain. People who are suffering from meningitis also have a high temperature and severe headache. Meningitis can be deadly because it is a serious illness. If you are experiencing any signs of meningitis, seek medical attention urgently.
Others
Several other causes of neck pain are mentioned below:
- Neck pain can be a visible symptom of a heart attack. However, this is a smaller symptom as there are many other symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, etc.
- Arthritis can cause a person to have swelled up joints and bone spurs. This can actually affect the neck region.
- Osteoporosis can weaken the bones. Normally, it occurs in the joints but it can also cause discomfort in the neck.
- Spinal stenosis happens as a result of the narrowing of the spinal column and induces strain on the spine and nerve when it leaves the spinal cord. This may be attributed to chronic inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis or other disorders.
- Bulging disks that are often known as the herniated disks can actually add pressure on the spine. This pressure can result in neck pain.
- Fibromyalgia is a well-known medical condition that results in severe muscle pain across the body. It is known to most affect the neck and shoulder area.
- Cervical discs degenerate as a person’s age. This health condition is known as spondylosis or neck osteoarthritis. This narrows the gap between the spines. It brings tension to the knees, too.
Prevention from Neck Pain
When you combine your lifelong bad posture with obesity and deterioration with age, you get some serious neck pain. This means that to protect yourself from getting any kind of neck injury or discomfort, you need to keep in mind some basic neck prevention tips.
Let’s discuss them:
- Maintain a good posture when you are sitting or standing. Keep your shoulders straight all the time in a way that they align with the hips. Don’t lay down to write or work on your computer.
- Give your neck enough breaks and rest during the day. If you are traveling for a very long journey or you work very long hours sitting in one position, make sure to take regular breaks. For every 90 minutes of working, take a 20-minute break to relax your neck and mind.
- Quit your bad habits like smoking as they can contribute a lot towards an increase in neck pain.
- Use a small pillow under the neck while sleeping and make sure that your head and neck are in-line with the spine.
Diagnosis of Neck Pain
If you feel that the pain is not going away, it is time that you seek professional medical advice. Your doctor will examine you fully and then conduct a few examinations to test you.
- It will start off with an initial examination where the doctor will ask you questions about your present health. Tell your doctor everything about your symptoms, when you started to experience them, and what was the time you realized this pain is not going away. Inform them about any medication you have taken in the past.
- To examine you further, your doctor will put you through some physical tests and examinations like imaging tests (x-rays, CT scan or MRI), blood tests, electromyography, and lumbar punctures.
Treatment of Neck Pain
There are a few treatment methods that will be prescribed by your doctor other than the OTC medications.
Physical Therapy
Your physical therapist will teach you posture alignment, neck strengthening, and flexibility exercises to improve overall health. They are also known to add other treatment methods like electrical stimulation to comfort you.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors in Snellville have mentioned the treatment of thousands of annual patients who come with neck pain. There are a lot of adjustment and manipulation techniques that can help you in the treatment of your neck pain/injury.
Traction Process
The traction process is known to use weights, pulleys, or air bladders to softly extend the neck. This treatment, under the guidance of a medical practitioner and therapist, can help to alleviate some of the neck discomfort particularly that connected to nerve root discomfort.
Temporary Neck Immobilization
Using a neck brace (soft collar) can actually support your neck. It is known to relieve the pressure on the neck muscles. Just make sure that you are using it under the professional guidance of your medical therapist. Using a neck brace for more than 3 hours a day for once a week can actually be extremely harmful to the neck.
Conclusion
Neck pain is a common issue that many people experience due to bad habits and some who have been a part of a car accident. If you are experiencing neck pain, it is time that you visit a medical doctor and get your injury examined thoroughly. There are certain mild symptoms that can go away on their own but if you are looking forward to having the cause removed permanently, you should seek options like physical therapy and chiropractic care.