Neck Pain & Neck Pain Related Injuries

Pain affects more people in the U.S. than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. 126 million, or 55% of all adults experienced pain in the past three months. Of those in pain, 15% are experiencing neck pain.

That’s a lot of Americans suffering from neck pain!

Nearly all of us experience neck discomfort or pain at some point; unfortunately it’s a part of life. All too commonly, it’s from sleeping funny, poor posture or overuse. Luckily, neck pain usually isn’t a serious condition and can be relieved within a few days. If you have neck pain that continues for longer than a few days, is severely painful or you have other accompanying symptoms consult Michigan Sports & Spine Centeror another physician immediately.

You can read our article on neck pain causes, treatment and relief here.

Most cases of neck pain originate from strain and can be treated non-surgically. Commonly, this involves relieving neck pressure and muscle spasm. Daily wear and tear, growing older, and injury and accident are common neck injuries.

WHIPLASH

Whiplash is a sudden forced movement of the head or neck in any direction, and the resulting rebound of the neck or head in the opposite direction. A sudden whipping motion causes damage to the supporting and surrounding tissues in your head and neck. Muscles in the neck react by tightening and contracting, creating muscle fatigue, thus resulting in stiffness and pain. Severe whiplash can also involve damage to the intervertebral discs, ligaments, muscles, joints and nerve roots.

Car accidents are the most common cause of whiplash.

We share more alarming whiplash statistics with you:

• People assume whiplash injuries are only caused by being struck from a vehicle from behind. Whiplash injury and damage can occur from being hit from the side, by falling from a bicycle or horse, or by a contact sports injury.
• Each year roughly 3 million new cases of whiplash occur, of those more than half of those cases incur some degree of chronic pain.
• Whiplash injuries are more severe in children and in women; this is because their necks are smaller.
• Symptoms of whiplash often appear weeks or even months after an accident.
• People, who are 30 – 50 years of age, experience more whiplash injuries.
• Most whiplash injures occur when traveling less than 12 mph.
• Over half of those who experience whiplash injuries will still undergo chronic pain 20 years following the accident.