Neck Pain – Causes, Symptoms and Self Care

The neck (cervical spine) is composed of vertebrae that begin in the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. The bony vertebrae along with the ligaments (which are comparable to thick rubber bands) provide stability to the spine. The muscles allow for support and motion. The neck has a significant amount of motion and supports the weight of the head. However, because it is less protected than the rest of the spine, the neck can be vulnerable to injury and disorders that produce pain and restrict motion.

Neck injuries can be serious and can affect your ability to walk, stand normally, and move with ease. This is because neck injuries may result in damage to the spinal cord, which connects your brain to the rest of your body.

The most frequent causes of neck injuries include car or motorcycle accidents, sports injuries, whiplash of rides. Accidents are the leading causes of injury to the neck. Sudden jerks of the head and just causes whiplash injuries. Whiplash is a soft tissue injury where the neck and head are suddenly thrown forward and back again at the time of impact (which is almost always a car accident).

What are the symptoms?

You may feel a knot, stiffness, or severe pain in your neck. The pain may spread to your shoulders, upper back, or arms. You may get a headache. You may not be able to move or turn your head and neck easily. If there is pressure on a spinal nerve root, you might have pain that shoots down your arm. You may also have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm.

Common causes of neck injuries include car or motorcycle accidents, sports injuries, and whiplash from amusement park rides.

Spasm: Neck spasms are contractions of the muscles in your neck. The muscles become tight, hard, and painful. Neck spasms may occur from an injury, overuse, poor posture, or stress. For example, it is common for a person doing a lot of computer work to feel his or her neck stiffen. Spasms may even occur from an uncomfortable night's sleep.

Self Care:

Self-care for neck pain: If you have severe muscle pain and loss of motion in your neck, self-care should include a few simple techniques to assist with controlling these symptoms and hasten recovery:

Apply ice, a cold pack, or even a small bag of frozen vegetables, such as peas or corn, placed in a light towel, to the sore area for 10-15 minutes every few hours. This will decrease inflammation and cramping.

Use heat or cold to help stop muscle spasms, whichever one gives you the most relief. Alternating heat and cold may help. Rest your neck by wearing a soft, supportive collar or small towel rolled and placed under the chin. Do this for relief of muscle pain and loss of motion. Take care to preserve the normal curve of the neck when wearing a support.

One and again is to take a bath towel and then fold it lengthwise. This should be used to wrap around the neck before bedtime. A massage would also be very helpful, and so is relaxing. Pharmaceuticals such as ibufprofen, aspirin or naproxen are options as well. They ought to be used as directed and they can relieve pain and inflammation. A healthcare professional might recommend certain exercises. They would serve to alleviate the pain and improve the muscles.