Neck pain can be caused by various factors, such as injury or a pinched nerve. It affects most people at some point in their life. Neck pain can interfere with the ability to perform physical activities and focus mentally. If you have been experiencing neck pain that does not go away, it is time to seek medical treatment. The highly experienced team at Axon Health Associates uses highly advanced technology and techniques to treat and relieve neck pain.
What Is Neck Pain?
This pain originates from the neck or shoulders and varies from mild to intense. The pain can stem from inflammation, abnormality, injury, stiffness, or other medical conditions. It is a discomfort to the muscles, bones, joints, and discs between bones in the neck. The pain can last for days to years, depending on the cause.
The neck’s bones, ligaments, and muscles support the head’s weight. The neck/cervical spine coordinates bones, nerves, joints, and muscles. Due to irritation along the nerves, the pain can occur in the shoulder, arm, hands, and head. The irritation from the spinal cord also causes pain in the legs and areas below the neck.
The cervical spine is moved and stabilized by ligaments, muscles, and tendons, so neck pain may occur when one of the muscles is strained or overused. This kind of pain goes away in 1 or 2 weeks. Neck pain can be acute (lasting less than four weeks), subacute (4-12 weeks), and chronic (three or more months). In most cases, it is not a severe problem and can be relieved within days. However, it may continue indicating serious conditions if accompanied by other symptoms that require a doctor’s attention for early intervention. Treating your symptoms and getting to the root cause of your neck pain is essential.
Causes of Neck Pain
The pain can come as a sharp, tingling pain that goes to the shoulder and arms. Common causes include:
- Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Pinched nerve
- Mental and physical stress
- Sleeping in an uncomfortable position
- Chiropractic manipulation
- Strains and sprains
- Poor posture
- Herniated disc/nerve compression
- Tumors and cancers of the spine
- Injuries leading to fractures
- Heart attack
- Meningitis
- Spinal stenosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Age
- Infections
- Congenital abnormalities
- Torticollis (twisted, tilted neck)
Neck Pain Symptoms
Neck pain can often cause headaches, worsening when you hold your head in one position for an extended period, like when driving or working on a computer. Other symptoms include:
- Stiff neck
- Shoulder pain
- Sharp, shooting pain, dull, burning that can be on one spot or a large area
- Spasms and tightness of muscles
- Decreased ability to move the head
- Pain in certain movements
- Pain when the cervical spine is palpated
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness of arms
- Neck injury revealing dizziness, weakness, concentration problem, difficulty swallowing, change in vision, hearing, pins, and needles.
When to See a Doctor
Consult your doctor if symptoms persist for over a week and if you have:
- Pain accompanied by numbness, weakness, or tingling
- Loss of strength in your arm
- Severe shooting pain in the shoulder or arms like pins or cold arm
- Pain from an injury like an accident or a fall
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Vomiting or nausea
- Unintended weight loss
- Trouble swallowing
- Bladder/bowel dysfunction
- Inability to touch chin to your neck
- Swollen gland or lump on the neck
Left untreated, neck pain can become chronic even after the original problem has healed, and nerves can also be damaged. Try to address environmental, social, and emotional factors that could affect or contribute to the pain. Neck pain could signal a life-threatening emergency and should not be left untreated.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination, and ask about when symptoms began and if the pain is worsening or improving. They will also ask questions about medications and supplements being taken, the nature of pain, symptoms, physical problems incurred, weakness, and numbness. They may also want to know how the pain is when coughing and sneezing.
Your doctor may also order other tests to determine the cause of your neck pain, such as:
- X-rays to check degenerative nerve changes and pinching by bone spurs
- CT scan to view internal structures
- MRI to get detailed images of bones, tissues, and nerves of the spinal cord
- Electromyography(EMG) to check if there are pinched nerves and their functionality
- Blood tests to check if there is an inflammation or infection
Neck Pain Treatment
The treatment depends on the cause and severity. Mild and moderate neck pains are given self-care treatments, and the pain goes away in 2-3 weeks. Treatments include:
- Over-the-counter pain killers like paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen
- Antibiotics if you had an infection
- Use low-firm pillows and mattress
- Home exercises and stretches
- Heat therapy and ice packs for relieving pain and inflammation
- Short-term mobilization like wearing the collar for supporting the neck (this should not be used for long)
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Physical therapy
- Traction therapy that uses weights, pulleys, or air bladder to stretch the neck gently
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Massage therapy
- Steroid injections like corticosteroid medications
- Surgeries- rarely used for neck pain. It may be done for nerve roots or spinal cord compression
Neck Pain Prevention
The following are some tips that may help prevent and improve neck pain:
- Try and keep the head centered over the spine
- Try using good posture, like sitting in a straight line (Sit upright)
- Make ergonomic adjustments like using a comfortable chair
- Ensure you take frequent breaks -stretch, and walk around
- Quit smoking
- Avoid carrying heavy loads with straps over the shoulders-it strains the neck
- Avoid using the phone while its tucked between your ear and shoulder for long
- Try sleeping in a good position and ensure your neck and head are aligned to the body
- Avoid twisting the neck in bed
- Don’t stay in one position for too long
- Do posture exercises
- Get a good night’s sleep
- Know your limits when performing strenuous tasks or lifting heavy objects
At Axon Health Associates, we understand that neck pain is annoying and can significantly affect your quality of life. Our friendly staff is dedicated to providing pain relief through personalized treatment plans. Contact us today for more information about our treatments, or schedule an appointment online.
Wall Street Office