Neck Pain: What You Need To Know

Neck Pain: What You Need To Know

With people spending more time on digital devices, the occurrence of neck pain has increased in our community. We are also seeing an increase in neck pain related cases at our clinic. Neck pain is not only affecting adults, but children as well. 

While most new cases of neck pain resolve on their own, nearly half of people with neck pain will experience future episodes. There are a variety of causes for neck pain, with muscle pain being the most common. There are over twenty muscles present in the neck, irritating any of them can cause neck pain. Most muscle strain injuries resolve quickly, causing little discomfort. However, muscle injuries from sport injuries, work injuries or from bad posture can cause chronic pain and much discomfort. 

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Other neck pain causes can include irritation of the ligaments, tendons, neck joints, disc injuries, spinal cord compression and arthritis. These injuries mostly occur from an injury, trauma, accident or infection. To determine the source of neck pain, it is best to visit an appropriate healthcare provider. 

Neck pain can exhibit other symptoms, such as:

 pain in the arm, 
numbness or tingling in the arm, forearm 
hand and arm weakness.
Balance and coordination difficulty 

It is often difficult to determine and differentiate the cause of neck pain. However, the history of how the neck pain started can give many clues as to the cause. Sleeping in an awkward position can cause a neck muscle to strain. A car accident could cause a ligament injury. A fall or sport injury can cause disc damage, which in turn can put pressure on a nerve. 

Most neck pain injuries resolve on their own in about two days. Moderate injuries take about two week, and more serious injuries can take about two months to heal. Neck pain that is associated with headaches, numbness or tingling or pain when coughing or sneezing may need to be followed up with imaging, such as X-rays, CT scans or an MRI. 

There are a number of ways to treat neck pain at home. However, seek help if your neck pain persists, call our clinic for a free consultation!

Some home remedies for neck pain include:

• Stretching the muscle that is strained. When stretching, avoid bouncing at the end of the stretch, as this can cause further injury. 
• Ice during the first 24-48 hours, heat afterwards. Hot showers, heating pads and heatable water bottles can help provide sustained moist heat. Be sure to take precautions to avoid injury or burns. 
• Self-massage with pain ointments can help relieve muscle tightness. 
• Over the counter pain medication can help alleviate the symptoms. 
• A firm mattress with a supportive pillow can help promote proper alignment and support. 
• For more severe episodes, a foam neck collar can help support the neck while allowing the muscles to recover. 
• Rest: take time off work/school to allow the muscles of the neck to relax and recover. An extra few days of rest can help decrease recovery time significantly. 

If your neck pain is not going away, or is more severe call our clinic for a free consultation. Treatment for neck pain can include the following:

• Massage Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Chiropractic Care
• Stretch Therapy
• Graston Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Cupping

To help prevent neck pain, try these steps:

• Use a standing desk
• Stretch regularly (10 minutes for everyone 1 hour of computer usage)
• Exercise moderately everyday for 30 minutes
• Strength-train the upper back muscles to help promote good posture
• Use a good mattress and supportive pillow to help prevent pain
• Ensure good work ergonomics to help lessen the strain on the neck.

If you or someone you know has neck pain, and would like a personalized treatment plan, call our clinic today for a free consultation. We can help determine the severity of the neck pain, and help guide you through the steps necessary to get you feeling better.