When you have abnormalities, inflammation, and injuries in the neck, it could result in stiffness and pain. It is common to have neck pain and stiffness. Even if you have neck pain, it could not be a serious condition, but chronic pain could indicate other underlying conditions. Greenacres neck pain experts could help you deal with chronic pain through different home remedies and interventional pain management.
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Causes of Neck Pain
Muscle tension and strain
Neck muscle tension and strain could occur due to poor posture or even working on an uncomfortable desk for long. If you sleep in a bad position for long, it could result in slight neck pain. When you jerk your neck while doing physical activities, it could also result in pain. Muscle tension and strain often lead to mild neck pain and rarely cause chronic neck pain.
Injury
The neck might be vulnerable to injuries that result from engaging in activities such as riding a bike, car accidents, and other sports. The muscles and ligaments of the neck could be forced out of their position resulting in pain. Injuries could cause chronic pain that requires interventional treatment.
Sickness
Sickness such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart conditions could result in neck pain. Some of these conditions make the muscles of the neck swell and thus lead to inflammation in the neck. Weakened bones as a result of infections could result in chronic pain, and you might have to treat the underlying condition to deal with the pain completely.
Diagnosis of Neck Pain
Your doctor could take your medical history and conduct a physical exam of the painful part of the neck. The doctor could be checking for tenderness, numbness, and weak muscles on the neck. It could be prudent to incorporate imaging, as this might help pinpoint the exact location of the pain. Some of the imaging options available when treating neck pain include X-rays, CT scans and MRI.
Treatments That Work For Neck Pain
Heat Treatment- You could use heat treatment where you press a hot pad on the hurt part, as this could help with blood circulation and improve the condition. Using ice on the part of the neck with pain could also help alleviate pain.
Physical Therapy– You could practice physical therapy with the directions of your nurse, and they could help you stretch the muscles of the neck. Some exercise could help with elevating neck pain, but you should be careful not to over engage in exercises that further makes the condition worse.
Alternative Methods– You could also manage neck pain with alternative methods of pain management which include acupuncture. The method stimulates the muscles and nerve endings, leading to pain relief. You could also use nerve blocking epidural injections administered directly on the painful part of the neck.
The Bottom Line
Neck pain should not worry you as it is common, and it comes and goes on its own, but when it persists for months, it could indicate other underlying conditions and serious injuries. It would help if you looked for the causes of the neck pain, and seek medical diagnosis and treatment of the problem to elevate the pain that could be hurting you.