Chronic Neck Pain

Neck pain

Neck pain is a common complaint among people in the world.

Common causes of neck pain:

• Poor posture: strain of neck muscles such as inappropriate leaning over your computer or reading books
• Strains and sprains: The most common causes of neck pain is strain and sprain that heal within a few days or weeks.
• Sleeping in wrong position. a person might wake up in the morning with neck pain due to sleeping in an awkward position or inappropriate position (see best pillow article  in our site for more information)
• Sports injury
• Repetitive motions of neck
• Whiplash injury. This type of injury commonly occurs in an auto accident that involves a rear-end collision. The soft tissues can be torn or ruptured as a result.

Neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Seek medical care if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands.

Neck Pain Symptoms

• Stiff neck. Difficulty moving the neck, especially when trying to turn the head from side to side.
• Sharp pain. This symptom can be pain localized to one spot and might feel like it’s stinging. Often, this type of pain occurs in the lower levels of the neck.
• General soreness. The pain is mostly in one spot or area on the neck, and it’s described as tender or achy, not sharp.
• Radiating pain. The pain can radiate along a nerve from the neck into the shoulders and arms. The intensity can vary and this nerve pain might feel like burning.
• Tingling, numbness, or weakness. These sensations can go beyond the neck and radiate into the shoulder, arm or finger. There could be a “pins-and-needles” sensation.
• Trouble with gripping or lifting objects. This can happen if tingling, numbness, or weakness in the fingers is present.
• Headaches. Sometimes an irritation in the neck can also affect muscles and nerves connected to the head.

 When Neck Pain Is Serious?

Some symptoms associated with neck pain could indicate the nerve root or the spinal cord is at risk. These symptoms can include radiating pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness into the shoulders, arm, or hands; as well as neurological problems with balance, or bladder and bowel control.

In addition, severe neck pain from a trauma, such as a car crash or falling down steps, needs emergency care. The neck should be immobilized by stabilizing collar to reduce the risk for paralysis and other complications. Philadelphia collar is applied in this condition.

 

What is chronic neck pain?

Neck pain is considered chronic when it persists for more than 3 months. Common causes include:

-Cervical degeneration disc disease. Everyone experiences wear and tear on the cervical spine over time. It’s natural for the discs to gradually lose hydration and the ability to cushion the spine’s vertebrae.

-Cervical herniated disc. A cervical disc is herniated when its jelly-like inner layer, the nucleus pulposus, leaks out through a tear in the disc's protective outer layer. This could result from an injury or aging.

-Cervical osteoarthritis. When the cartilage in a cervical facet joint wears down enough, it can lead to cervical osteoarthritis.

-Cervical spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis occurs when the spine’s degeneration leads to a narrowing of the spinal canal, such as from a herniated disc that pushes into the spinal canal or bone spurs that grow into the canal.

Other causes of neck pain which are less common include:

• Emotional stress. Sometimes muscles in the neck can tighten up and ache in response to stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Infection. If part of the cervical spine becomes infected, then inflammation could cause neck pain.
• Spondylolisthesis. This condition occurs when one vertebra slips over the one below it. It can be due to a tiny fracture in the vertebra, or possibly from advanced disc degeneration, or ligament laxity.

Risk Factors for Developing Neck Pain

• Inappropriate amounts of sleep
• Being inactive
• Smoking
•  working longer hours

What are treatments of neck pain?

Treatment of neck pain varies depend on severity of pain and reason of neck pain includes:

• Rest. Is important to be careful to avoid strenuous activities or movements that are causing more pain.
• Ice. Applying ice can work as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and pain after an acute injury or trauma to the neck.
• Heat. Using heat pack to eliminate muscular stiffness and spasms
• Massage. Often employed after applying ice or heat, a massage can soothe muscle tension and spasms, reducing pain.
• Better posture. If poor posture is causing the neck pain, then simple changes might be the solution.
• Modify lifestyle.
• Physical therapy.
• Drugs. Only they used when doctor prescribe.
• Cervical steroid injections. This procedure involves injecting cortisone steroid solution into the outer layer of the spinal canal.
• Manual manipulation. A chiropractor may make manual adjustments to the spine in an effort to improve range of motion and reduce pain.
• Cervical collar: collars depend on severity of problem can be used for immobilization or stabilization of cervical column.

 

 

        Soft collar                                          rigid collar                    rigid collar with chin support              

• Surgery. In severe cases, specialist may be considering operation for decreasing pain.