Complaints about constant neck pain are not uncommon today. Poor posture or an underlying health issue can cause neck pain. While exercises may be recommended to correct posture while sitting and standing, one may need to consult with a doctor to recover from symptoms such as loss of strength in arms, feeling of numbness, and shooting pains in the shoulder or the arm. Knowing about the causes and symptoms of cervical pain is a starting point toward effective treatment.
Symptoms Of Cervical Pain
In the event of cervical pain, one is likely to experience the following symptoms:
Consistent pain in the neck turns intense by holding the head in the same position over a long time, such as while driving or working on a computer.
Events of tightness around muscles and spasms
Reduced ability to move the head
Frequent and severe headaches
Localised sharp pain that feels like stabbing
Stiffness in the neck which gives a feeling that the neck is stuck
Radiating pain in the head, shoulder, and arms
Difficulty in balancing while walking
It is necessary to identify the underlying cause of cervical pain, which can help treat its symptoms, and recommend a proper corrective course.
Causes Of Cervical Pain
People can experience neck pain for a variety of reasons, some of which are as follows:
Strain Or Tension In Muscle
Activities such as poor posture, long working hours on the desk with limited movement, bad sleeping posture, and constant neck jerking during exercise can often result in tension and strain on the muscles around the neck.
Injury To Neck
The human neck is among the most vulnerable parts for injuries. Any incidents of a fall, accident, or extreme activity, such as when playing sports, can injure the neck. At such times, the muscles and ligaments surrounding the neck tend to move outside the normal range. In cases where the bones in the neck are fractured, the spinal cord may also undergo damage.
Heart Attack
Neck pain can indicate an imminent heart attack and should be observed for concurring symptoms such as sweating, shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, and pain in the arm or jaw. If a person encounters one or more of these symptoms along with neck pain, they should immediately rush to a hospital.
Meningitis
Meningitis can result in inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the human brain and the spinal cord. Those suffering from meningitis may experience stiffness in the neck, headaches, vomiting, nausea, fever, and sensitivity to light.
Others
There are some other reasons why one may experience cervical pain. These include Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia, spondylosis, herniated cervical disc, and spinal stenosis. In some rare cases, stiffness in the neck can also result due to infections, tumours, cancer in the spine, and congenital abnormalities.
Treatment For Cervical Pain
Treatment for cervical pain begins with a physical examination by a doctor and observing your family history. At this stage, it is best to inform your doctor about any previous injuries or accidents you may have encountered.
Opting for any form of treatment for cervical pain is dependent upon the underlying cause of such pain. To perform an accurate diagnosis, a doctor may want to perform one or more imaging tests to determine the cause of neck pain. These include a blood test, CT scan, MRI scan, X-ray, electromyography, and lumbar puncture.
After receiving the results of such tests, your doctor may recommend one or more treatments for your neck pain. These may include ice and heat therapy, stretching exercises, medication for the pain, corticosteroid injections, relaxants for muscles, wearing a neck collar, traction, antibiotics for an infection, and surgery in rare cases. Patients also seek alternate therapy, such as acupuncture, massage, chiropractic treatment, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
Those experiencing low or severe cervical pain must observe certain precautions to ease the extent of the pain. Some of the ways to do that are:
- Use a proper posture when sitting, walking, and sleeping.
- Take frequent breaks and move about to stretch your neck and shoulders.
- Make adjustments to your work desk to make it easier to maintain a good posture.
- Avoid carrying too heavy bags with straps over your shoulder, which can put pressure on your neck
- Avoid tucking your phone between your shoulder and ear.
When To See A Doctor?
Do not ignore the symptoms for a prolonged period, and make sure you visit a doctor as soon as possible. At-home treatments should solve common neck pains, but you should seek treatment at a reputed facility such as Max Healthcare group if your condition remains the same for a long time.
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