Neck Pain
For most people, the most common form of back pain is lower back pain, however, neck pain affects millions of people at some point during their lives as well. A person can experience acute neck pain, which is pain that lasts a few hours up to a few weeks, or they can experience chronic neck pain. Chronic neck pain lasts longer than a few weeks. This type of neck pain can flare up at times or be exacerbated during certain activities. Both types of neck pain can affect your overall health and activities of daily living. Both should be addressed by a health care professional who can design a personal treatment plan for you to help you begin to feel well by restoring your appropriate range of motion and reducing pain.
Causes
Acute neck pain is most commonly caused by a sprain/strain injury. An example of a sprain would be suffering from whiplash during an accident and an example of a strain would be sleeping in an uncomfortable position for an extended period of time, waking with a sore neck. Poor body mechanics during the day can also lead to strained muscles in the neck. This acute pain can be greatly reduced during the healing process by seeking conservative care, such as a chiropractic physician or osteopath. Chronic neck issues can be caused by cervical disc herniation, cervical stenosis, osteoarthritis, or degenerative disc disease. It is important to get treatment for both types of neck pain as both can cause pain in other areas of the body such as into the shoulders, arms, wrists, elbows, chest and head. Causes of neck pain are generally not serious but some causes can be so issues with your neck should always be addressed.
References Cited in this Article
