Neck Pain Causes

Neck pain is a common problem that most of us face once in a while. The structure of the neck consists of bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels and so on. Any adverse impact on these support structures result in neck pain. It is often categorized into acute and chronic neck pain. Acute neck pain is temporary and its causes are mostly related to some minor injuries to the neck. On the other hand, chronic neck pain causes are associated with some underlying diseases and here, the pain persists for a longer period of time.

Causes

There are several factors that are responsible for causing neck pain. Some of the most common causes are listed below:

Traumatic Injury: The vertebral bones of the neck provide support to the head. Any trauma where the head is badly jerked forward and backward can injure the bones and gives rise to sudden neck pain. One can sustain this kind of injury in a motor vehicle accident, bad falls or contact sports.

Overuse of Neck Muscles: The neck structure has high mobility. Therefore, the muscles in this region hardly get any rest throughout the day. Prolonged or repeated use of these muscles cause neck strain. Besides, poor posture while working on a computer or while sleeping at night can strain the muscles too. As a result, one experiences neck pain.

Degenerative Diseases: The neck joint structure is subjected to regular wear and tear over a period of time. As a result, it becomes susceptible to degenerative diseases like neck arthritis that causes neck joint pain and inflammation.

Nerve Compression: There are several nerves in the neck that branch out of the spinal cord and exit through the space available in between the vertebrae. When any of these nerves get pressed, then it gives rise to a sharp neck pain. Herniated disk is one such condition where the cartilage disk of the spinal column is ruptured and its gel-like content protrudes out and press the nerve in the nearby region. Similarly, formation of bone spur on the cervical bone can press the nerve.

Other Causes: Meningitis is an infectious disease where the lining of the brain and spinal cord get inflamed. This is a serious condition and it is one of the main neck pain and headache causes. Diabetic patients tend to get neck pain quite often. It can be a symptom of bone abnormalities or formation of tumor on the cervical spine.

Symptoms

The characteristic of the neck pain is often different in every individual cases. It can be a dull localized pain or it can be sharp and stabbing pain that get extended towards the shoulder and arm. Severe strain in the muscles can lead to weakening of the muscles. When the nerves are involved then the pain is accompanied by numbness and tingling which can be felt in other parts of the body like the arms and hands. Bruising caused by injury can be identified with skin discoloration. In meningitis, neck pain makes it difficult to touch the chin to the chest.

Treatment

Mild to moderate neck pain can be treated with home care. It includes suspension of all strenuous physical activities or exercises that can aggravate the pain. Application of ice on the neck in the first 48 hours may bring down the pain to a great extent. It should be followed by heat application. If the pain does not respond well with home treatment and it worsens in the first 24 hours, then doctor should be consulted. As we have already discussed that neck pain and headache could be a serious issue and require emergency medical intervention. In other cases, neck pain symptoms and causes are diagnosed with the help of a series of laboratory tests like x-rays, MRI, CT scan, etc. Pain relieving medicines are prescribed for oral administration. If the pain is unbearable, then doctors administer corticosteroid medicines through injections. The painful neck has to be kept in immobilized state for a few weeks. Use of soft neck collar is recommended for this purpose. Physical therapy is highly beneficial for relieving pain. Physical therapists recommend gentle stretches. To cure neck nerve pain, traction is given under the supervision of physical therapist.

Many of the neck pain causes can be prevented with the help of a few simple measures. Maintaining a good posture is one of them. Neck strengthening exercises are also equally important. Such exercises improves the strength and flexibility of neck muscles and reduce the chances of any kind of injury.