What exactly is neck pain?
The vertebrae in your neck run from the top of your head to the bottom of your body. The cervical discs act as shock absorbers between the bones of the neck.
Your neck’s bones, ligaments, and muscles support your head and allow it to move. Neck discomfort or stiffness might be caused by any irregularities, inflammation, or injury.
Many people suffer from neck discomfort or stiffness regularly. Poor posture, misuse, or sleeping in an awkward position are also common causes. Neck pain can sometimes be caused by a fall, contact sports, or whiplash. Neck pain, for the most part, isn’t a significant problem that can be resolved in a matter of days.
Neck pain, however, can sometimes signify a severe injury or sickness that necessitates medical attention. Seek medical help immediately if you experience neck pain that lasts more than a week, is severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Symptoms of neck pain
According to reliable sources, neck pain symptoms might vary in severity and length. Neck discomfort is frequently severe and only lasts a few days or weeks. It can also become chronic at times. Your neck pain could be minor and not interfere with your regular activities, or it could be severe and cause impairment.
Neck pain can cause the following symptoms:
Neck stiffness: People with neck pain frequently describe their neck as “rigid” or “stuck.” Neck pain can result in a reduction in range of motion.
Sharp Pain: Sharp or stabbing pain in one place of the neck might be a sign of neck discomfort.
Pain when Moving: Rolling, twisting, or extending your cervical spine from side to side or up and down might aggravate neck pain.
Pain or numbness that radiates: The pain in your neck may spread to your head, trunk, shoulder, and arms. If a nerve in your neck is compressed, you may have numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both arms or hands. A pinched nerve in the neck can cause a burning or severe pain in the arm that starts at the neck and goes down the arm. If you’re experiencing this symptom, see a doctor.
Headache: A cariogenic headache is caused by pain that originates in the neck. Neck pain accompanied by a headache could be a sign of a migraine.
When palpated, there is pain: If your cervical spine is palpated, your neck pain may worsen (physically examined).
Causes of Neck Pain:
Neck stiffness or pain can occur for a variety of reasons.
Tension and strain in the muscles
This frequently occurs as a result of actions and behaviors such as:
- Bad posture
- Working at a desk for an extended period without shifting positions is unhealthy.
- Having a problematic sleeping position for your neck
- During exercising, jerk your neck
Injury
The neck is particularly prone to damage, especially when the muscles and ligaments are forced to move outside of their typical range, as they do in falls, vehicle accidents, and sports.
The spinal cord may be injured if the neck bones (cervical vertebrae) are shattered. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by an abrupt jerking of the head.
Heart Attack:
Neck pain can potentially be a sign that you have a heart attack. It is frequently associated with other heart attack symptoms, such as:
- Breathing problems
- Sweating \nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain in the arm or jaw
If your neck hurts and you’re experiencing other heart attack symptoms, get yourself an on call doctor Dubai immediately.
Meningitis:
Meningitis is a condition in which the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. Meningitis patients may have the following symptoms:
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Sensitivity to light Fever Meningitis is a medical emergency that can be fatal.
If you develop signs of meningitis, visit a doctor very once.
Other reasons:
The following factors can also cause neck pain:
- Rheumatoid arthritis produces joint swelling, bone spurs, and discomfort. Neck discomfort can develop when they occur in the neck area.
- Osteoporosis causes bone thinning and might result in minor fractures. This ailment most commonly affects the hands and knees, although it can also affect the neck.
- Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes muscle discomfort throughout the body, particularly in the neck and shoulders.
- The cervical discs might deteriorate as you become older. This is referred to as spondylosis or neck osteoarthritis. The gap between the vertebrae may become narrowed as a result of this. It also puts additional strain on your joints.
- As a result of trauma or damage, a protruding disc can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. A herniated cervical disc, also known as a ruptured or slipped disc, results from this.
- This is known as spinal stenosis when the spinal column narrows and puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots as it exits the vertebrae. This can be caused by arthritis or other illnesses that generate long-term inflammation.
Neck stiffness or soreness can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Anomalies that occur at birth
- Infections \abscesses
- Tumors
- Spinal cancer is cancer that affects the spine.
When should you see your doctor?
Consult a doctor if symptoms last longer than a week. See a doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Neck discomfort that is severe and has no apparent cause
- You lump in your throat
- Fever
- Headache
- Glands swollen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Having difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Radiating pain down your arms or legs
- You are unable to move your arms or hands.
- Having trouble touching your chin to your chest
- Bladder or bowel problems
If your neck hurts after an accident or a fall, get medical help right away.
Treatment options for neck pain:
A doctor will examine you and take down your entire medical history. Prepare to describe the specifics of your symptoms to them. Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or supplements you’ve been taking.
Tell your doctor about any recent injuries or incidents, even if it doesn’t appear to be linked.
Neck discomfort is treated differently depending on the reason. In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination by your doctor, one or more of the imaging procedures and tests listed below may be required to help your doctor discover the source of your neck pain and reach a diagnosis:
- X-ray CT scan, blood test
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Your doctor can use electromyography to assess the health of your muscles and the nerves that regulate them.
- Puncture of the lumbar spine (spinal tap)
Your doctor may recommend you to a specialist based on the results. Neck pain can be treated in a variety of ways, including:
- Thermotherapy using ice and heat
- Physical therapy, stretching, and exercise
- Pain relievers
- Injections of corticosteroids
- Medications that relax the muscles
- Traction on the neck collar
- Antibiotics If you have an infection, or if a condition like meningitis or a heart attack is the cause, you should seek hospital treatment.
- Surgery is a procedure that is only used in rare cases.
Alternative remedies include the following:
Chiropractic treatment with acupuncture
- Physiotherapy
- Electrical nerve stimulation applied to the skin (TENS)
- When using these techniques, make sure you’re visiting a licensed professional.
Home remedies for neck discomfort
If you’re suffering from minor neck discomfort or stiffness, use these simple techniques to get some relief:
- For the first few days, use ice. Apply heat using a heating pad, a hot compress, or a hot shower afterward.
- Take over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
- Take a few days off from sports, aggravated-symptom activities, and hard lifting. Resuming regular exercise should be done gradually as your symptoms subside.
- Every day, stretch your neck. Stretch your head slowly from side to side and up and down.
- Maintain a decent posture.
- Avoid cradling your phone between your shoulder and neck.
- Frequently shift your position. Do not remain in one place for an extended period.
- Give yourself a relaxing neck therapy.
- When sleeping, use a specific neck pillow.
- Use a neck brace or collar only with your doctor’s permission. They can aggravate your symptoms if you don’t use them correctly.
What is the prognosis for neck pain sufferers?
Neck pain is joint among people due to poor posture and muscle tension. If you exercise excellent posture and rest your neck muscles when sore, your neck discomfort should go away in these circumstances.
See a doctor if your neck discomfort isn’t improving after trying home remedies.
Neck pain recovery, like any other ailment, demands the advice and treatment of a specialist. Royal Premiere Healthcare is a doctor on call service provider established in Dubai that offers physiotherapy treatments in the privacy of your own home. Highly qualified physiotherapists provide physical therapy at home to help individuals recover from surgeries, impairments, strokes, injuries, infirmities, and disorders. If you require Physiotherapy-at-Home services in Dubai, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at +971 50 357 1916 or info@royalphc.com.
