A Pain in the neck?! 

Neck pain, sometimes called cervicalgia, is pain in or around your spine beneath your head. Your neck is also known as your cervical spine. Neck pain is a common symptom of many different injuries and medical conditions. 

You might have axial neck pain (felt mostly in your neck) or radicular neck pain (pain that shoots into other areas, such as your shoulders or arms). It can be acute (lasting from days to six weeks) or chronic (lasting longer than three months). 

Neck pain can interfere with your daily activities and reduce your quality of life if it’s not treated. 

Fortunately, most causes of neck pain aren’t serious and improve with conservative treatments, like pain medicine, exercise and stress management. 

Symptoms? 

• Persistent ache 
• Stabbing or burning pain 
• Shooting pain from the neck to the shoulders/arms/hand 
• Headaches 
• Stiffness in neck, shoulders, or upper back 
• Being unable to rotate or tilt your head 
• Numbness or tingling feeling in the shoulders/arms 

Possible Causes? 

• Aging: As you age, natural wear and tear can cause parts of your cervical spine to deteriorate, or degenerate, causing pain. Degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis (the wearing down of joint cartilage) and spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spaces in your spine) can lead to neck pain. Over time, stress and repeated movements can cause the disks in your spine to weaken, causing a herniated disk or pinched nerve. 
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• Physical strain: Overusing your neck muscles during repetitive or strenuous activities can lead to stiffness and pain. Poor posture, weak abdominal muscles and heavier body weight can affect your spine’s alignment and contribute to neck pain. For example, straining your neck to view a computer screen for long periods is a common cause of neck pain. 
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• Mental stress: Tightening your neck muscles because you’re stressed can lead to neck pain and stiffness. Many people who tighten these muscles when they’re stressed or agitated don’t realize they do it until their neck starts hurting. 
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• Injury: Trauma and other injuries can damage muscles, ligaments, disks, vertebral joints and nerve roots in your spinal cord and lead to neck pain. Whiplash during automobile accidents is a common injury that causes neck pain. 
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• Growths: Masses, including tumors, cysts and bone spurs, can put pressure on the nerves in your neck, causing pain. 
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• Other health conditions: Neck pain is a symptom of many health conditions, including meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer. 

Diagnosis:  

Medical history: Your health care professional will ask about previous neck injuries that may have caused whiplash or a herniated disk. They may ask about work or other activities that could strain your neck. They’ll ask about your pain, including when it started, where it’s located, how long it lasts and how intense it is. 

Physical exam: Your health care professional will check your head and neck alignment and observe your range of motion when you move your neck. They’ll feel your neck and supporting muscles to check for tenderness and signs of strain. 

Potentially you will be referred for further investigation i.e. X-rays/MRI but in most cases this isn’t necessary.  

Treatment and things you can do at home: 

• Hot therapy: Take a hot shower or place a hot towel or heating pad (on the lowest setting) on the site of your pain for 15 minutes every few hours. The heat loosens your muscles and promotes blood flow. 
• Cold therapy: Place a cold pack or a bag of frozen vegetables (wrapped in a thin towel to protect your skin) for 15 minutes every few hours. The cold narrows your blood vessels, reducing inflammation and swelling. Use cold instead of heat immediately after an injury. 
• Exercise: Follow your healthcare provider’s guidance on neck exercises you can try to relieve neck pain and improve your range of motion. Don’t attempt exercises if you are unsure if the problem is more serious- seek advice first. 
• Stress reduction techniques: Mindfulness, meditation, breathing exercises and yoga can help relieve tension in your body that may contribute to neck pain. 
• Quit smoking: Smoking damages bone structure, accelerates degenerative disk disease and slows healing. 
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If you are suffering with neck pain please reach out to your Health Partner (Az, Sian or Oxana) and they will be able to help.