Causes and Treatment for Neck Pain

If you’ve ever had a sore, numb, stiff, or burning feeling in your neck, you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer with neck pain each year. Sometimes neck pain can be nothing more than an uncomfortable nuisance, while other times the pain can be so severe that it interferes with your ability to get through the day. Here are some common causes and treatments for neck pain.
Causes of Neck Pain
When the condition of the spine is compromised, the end result is usually pain in the back. But because the spine extends from the upper torso to the base of the skull, the condition of the spine can also have a profound affect on the neck, and result in varying degrees of pain.
Tension in Neck
Neck pain can be a result of built up tension from a lifestyle that is filled with stress. And wear-and-tear from everyday occurrences such as sleeping in awkward positions, slouching over a desk, lack of exercise, being overweight, having poor posture, and sprains and strains from sport-related injuries.
Medical Conditions that Cause Neck Pain
Existing, or burgeoning health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, cervical degenerative disc disease, and osteoarthritis can also be culprits of neck pain. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect the synovial joints in the neck. When this happens, the connection between the vertebrae become unstable, and puts pressure on the nerve roots.
Osteoarthritis causes the gradual loss of the cartilage that cushions the joints. When this happens, the bones rub together and put pressure on nerves that can affect the neck.
Cervical degenerative disc disease causes the vertebrae to lose flexibility, and damage the discs. Once the discs are damaged, they can pinch the nerves and result in stiffness and tingling in the neck.
Falls and car wrecks can cause neck pain because the sudden impact causes the neck to extend beyond its normal range of motion. This can lead to damage to the ligaments, muscles, and soft tissues in the neck area.
Treatment for Neck Pain
Treating Neck Pain
Treatment for neck pain will vary, depending on the cause and severity of the condition. Some neck pain will resolve itself with a bit of rest, and the application of heat or cold wraps. Simple lifestyle changes such as altering sleep positions, reducing stress, practicing proper posture, and exercising regularly to strengthen the muscles that stabilize the spine may be all that’s needed to treat neck pain.
Medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs may be prescribed by a doctor to control neck pain and reduce inflammation. But medications can have adverse side effects, especially for those who have underlying health conditions.
Other types of treatment for neck pain include physical therapy, muscle training, massage, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and in severe cases such as serious trauma to the spine, surgery may be used as a last resort.
If your neck pain is accompanied by pain behind the eyes, severe headaches, continuous vomiting, hearing problems, vision problems, drowsiness, reduced muscle power, sensitivity to light, fever, or severe back pain, contact a doctor immediately as these symptoms may signal serious health conditions.