The phrase “pain in the neck” is a tongue-in-cheek way to describe annoying situations or people that test our patience, but for those who experience genuine neck pain, it’s no laughing matter.
Neck pain can be a debilitating condition that affects daily life and leaves sufferers longing for relief. This article will explore some practical strategies to alleviate neck pain and provide self-care tips, neck pain exercises and other helpful treatments to try.
Neck pain causes
Neck pain, also called cervicalgia, is the discomfort experienced in or around the spinal area beneath the head. The Cleveland Clinic says neck pain is common, affecting 10 to 20 percent of adults.
And it should come as no surprise that your neck, medically known as the cervical spine, plays a crucial role in supporting the weight of your head and facilitating its movements. But various injuries and medical conditions can give rise to neck pain. Left untreated, neck pain can become a persistent hindrance, interfering with your daily activities and diminishing your overall quality of life.
In an article, Dr. Zacharia Isaac, medical director of the Comprehensive Spine Care Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and director of interventional physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, writes that neck pain usually builds over time.
“Neck pain rarely starts overnight,” he writes in a school web page. “It usually evolves over time. And it may be spurred by arthritis or degenerative disc disease, and accentuated by poor posture, declining muscle strength, stress, and even a lack of sleep.”
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Fortunately, most neck pain causes are not severe and can be effectively addressed through conservative treatments. The Mayo Clinic provides this list of common neck pain causes:
- Muscle strain — Activities like prolonged computer or smartphone use and seemingly minor actions such as reading in bed can strain the neck muscles due to overuse.
- Worn joints — Like other joints, the neck joints can experience wear and tear over time. This can lead to the development of bone spurs, affecting joint motion and triggering pain.
- Nerve compression — Chronic neck pain can be attributed to the compression of nerves caused by bone spurs or herniated disks within the vertebrae of the neck. As these structures exert pressure on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord, it can lead to persistent discomfort.
- Injuries — Rear-end auto collisions often cause whiplash injuries, where the head is forcefully jerked backward and forward, straining the neck’s soft tissues.
- Diseases — Certain medical conditions, such as meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis or cancer, can potentially have neck pain as a symptom.
Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that pain that may come on quickly or slowly and that lingers for weeks, three months or more is considered chronic. Chronic neck pain is less common than acute pain.
Neck pain symptoms
Recognizing and understanding the symptoms associated with neck pain is essential for