A Pain in the Neck and The Neck Therapy Treatment

While this common statement can be used to describe an annoying neighbor or an obnoxious nephew, a real pain in the neck can be incredibly bothersome and totally painful. In other words, a real drag. So, what can cause neck pain? How can it be treated? How can someone help to prevent themselves from suffering with neck pain?

Your neck, or cervical spine, consists of seven square-shaped bones, or vertebrae. In between each vertebrae are the cervical discs and these bones and discs are supported by ligaments and long neck muscles. All of these structures form a strong canal in the neck to protect the cervical portion of the spinal cord. With so many important structures in one small area, it is easy to imagine how many ways they can be injured. Some causes of neck pain include cervical strains, spondylosis (a narrowing of the disc space that can cause bone spurs), facet syndrome, diffuse skeletal hyperostosis and whiplash. Most causes of neck pain can be treated conservatively, non-surgically, by a chiropractic physician or osteopath. This conservative treatment generally includes massage therapy, ice and heat therapy, acupuncture, traction and exercises. Exercises and weight management are very helpful in strengthening weak or injured areas as well as possibly preventing future injury. Some exercises include neck bending, tilting and rotation, shoulder rolls and stretches and upper back bends and stretches. From time to time patients have received injections to help with pain but there is no good evidence showing that these injections help decrease pain long term or help with healing. Obviously, prevention is the best and maintaining good posture, stretch breaks from repetitive movements and avoiding hyper flexing and extending are all good ways to keep your neck free from injury and pain.

References Cited in this Article

www.uptodate.com

www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com