These days, many people suffer from some form of neck pain. This particular issue can be very annoying and can even point to more dangerous health problems. Never ignore stubborn neck pain, though. More often than not, the cause is not that difficult to deal with. What’s more, if you have a serious problem that results in neck pain, you should address it as soon as possible. The following causes are the most common culprits behind the annoying neck pain.
A neck muscle/tendon strain
A strained muscle means that you have managed to tear or stretch the muscle or tendon. Even though it seems like the strain of neck muscle/tendon will require some challenging exercising prior to the mishap, the fact of the matter is that you can strain neck muscle/tendon even while lying in bed reading. In general, if you’re not physically active, even a sudden movement such as stretching or curving your neck to see something better can cause a strain and, consequently, neck pain. Luckily, proper rest, ice application or cooling ointments are more than enough to help you deal with this annoying issue.
A pinched nerve
This is one of the most common causes of neck pain and luckily, it can pass relatively quickly with rest and proper anti-inflammatory drug. If the problem persists, physical therapy can be very helpful. Basically, a pinched nerve occurs when you have herniated discs. Your neck has seven bones and between each bone is a disc with soft tissue inside. The problem and neck pain start when this soft tissue pushes through the exterior of the disc. Bad posture, strenuous exercise as well as a poor sleeping position can all lead to a pinched nerve. In certain cases, the herniated disc can turn out to be a very serious health issue that simply can’t be fixed without surgery. Make sure to seek advice and treatment from renowned neurosurgeons such as Timothy Steel to get the best results and get rid of the pain for good.
Older joints
Aging is not fun but it happens to us all. And with aging, joints in your whole body tend to wear down. This also includes the bones and joints in your neck. The pain can be even more severe if you suffer from osteoarthritis. The best way to deal with this problem is to change your lifestyle in a healthy manner. Essentially, regular physical activity is key. Ice and ointments can help with the pain as well. In some cases, it may be necessary to receive cortisone or hyaluronic acid injections to improve the cushioning of the joints.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when you suffer a serious injury to your neck area. This can be a car accident but other less dangerous activities, such as sports accidents and similar, as well. Neck pain is not the only symptom of whiplash as you’re probably going to experience headaches, dizziness, fatigue, blurry vision, etc. too. Even though some people can deal with whiplash effectively with rest, ice packs, pain meds, and gentle stretches, it’s still essential that you see a doctor when you know that the cause of your neck pain and other issues has been a physical injury.
Underlying health condition
In most cases, neck pain is caused by strains or pinched nerves. However, you can’t always ignore this issue, especially if the pain is severe and doesn’t seem to go away. Certain health conditions can cause neck pain as well. Rheumatoid arthritis causes joints to inflame, which leads to pain. Meningitis is the inflammation of the brain membrane and can also lead to stiffness and pain in the neck area. Also, certain types of cancer can attack the bone in your neck, which can be rather painful. Therefore, if you can’t seem to get a break from neck pain even though you can’t pinpoint the reason for it, talk to your doctor.
Never try to diagnose the neck pain on your own. Even though sometimes it’s easy to guess the cause behind this annoying issue, the best option is to seek professional medical help, just to be safe and actually deal with the pain more efficiently.
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