OUCH! Why is my neck hurting?

We’ve all at some point experienced a “stiff neck” whether this happened while sleeping, turning quickly, poor posture, or it just came out of nowhere, we are looking for relief and fast!

Our necks are made up of vertebrae that lengthen from the skull to the upper torso. Cervical discs absorb shock between the bones. The bones, ligaments, and muscles in our necks support the head and allow mobility. Inflammation, injury or abnormalities can cause neck pain or stiffness.

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 Center or another physician immediately.

Most episodes of neck muscle strain result in a stiff neck and/or pain in a shoulder muscle. The most common symptoms being difficulty, discomfort, and pain when rotating or moving the head or neck.

CAUSES:

Muscle Tension, Strain or Sprain

• Bad posture
• Repetitive motion
• Spending too much time in an awkward position or working at a desk for too long without changing positions
• Sleeping awkwardly
• Jerking of the neck during movement or exercise
• Text neck, get all the details here

Injury or Accident

• Our necks are particularly susceptible to injury, especially in car accidents, falls and sports where the muscles and ligaments in the neck are forced to move outside of their normal range.
• Car accidents
• Whiplash – most commonly from a car crash
• Falling down the stairs
• Work injuries

Medical Conditions Causing Neck Pain

• Herniated Cervical Disk (a.k.a. ruptured disk or slipped disk) – transpires when a disk protrudes from an injury or trauma and may add pressure to the spinal cord or nerve roots.
• Spinal Stenosis – ensues when the spinal column tightens and causes a force on the spinal cord or the nerve roots as it exits the vertebrae. This can be a result of longstanding swelling or tenderness caused by arthritis or other ailments.
• Spondylosis (aka osteoporosis of the neck) – as you grow older, the cervical discs can deteriorate. Spondylosis can restrict the space between the vertebrae, adding stress to your joints.
• Osteoporosis – weakens bones and may lead to small fractures. Osteoporosis commonly happens in knees or hands, however, it can occur in the neck too.
• Fibromyalgia – causes muscle pain throughout the body, especially in the neck and shoulder area.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis – causes swelling and soreness of the joints and bone spurs.

More, but very rare cases…

• Heart Attack – neck pain can be a symptom of a heart attack, however other symptoms, such as sweating, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting or arm or jaw pain would also be present.
• Meningitis – makes it very difficult and painful to tilt the head forward. Of course, meningitis will be accompanied by other serious symptoms. Meningitis often mimics neck pain.
• It’s very rare, however once in a great while, neck pain may be a warning sign of infection, autoimmune disease, cancer or a structural problem such as spinal cord injury or a threat to important blood vessels.

TREATMENTS:

Before beginning any type of treatment, find a physician who specializes in your area of injury. This does not always mean visiting your primary care doctor. Most importantly is to receive the proper diagnosis from a doctor. All too commonly treatment plans aren’t correct because patients weren’t given the proper diagnosis.

Physical Therapy/Exercise Training:

• The combination of exercise training and physical therapy typically includes stretching, strengthening and low-impact aerobic exercises.

• During physical therapy, you will practice a range of exercises to stretch and reinforce the muscles that support your neck. Improving your range of motion and posture will also be covered by your physical therapist.

Injections:

• Trigger point injections – a procedure used to treat painful areas of the muscle that contain trigger points, or knots of muscle that develop when muscles do not relax. Involves the injection of medication directly into the trigger point.

• Facet injections – entails injecting a small amount of local anesthetic and/or steroid medication, which anesthetizes the facet joints and blocks pain.

• Epidural injections – an injection into the spine, delivering steroids that can provide neck pain relief by reducing inflammation in the painful area.

Ice and Heat Therapy:

• Applying an ice pack or heat pad can offer relief.

• Apply an ice pack to reduce irritation or swelling shortly after you experience a strained tendon, muscle or ligament.

• Amazingly, once the swelling and irritation have gone away, heat may help reduce the stiffness that comes with strains.

Medication:

• Used to treat severe pain issues for short-term use and as an adjunct to the other forms of treatment.

Neck Adjustments/Cervical Manipulation:

• A precise procedure applied to the joints of the neck, usually by hand.

• A neck adjustment or manipulation works to improve the mobility of the spine and restore range of motion. It can also boost or amplify the movement of the adjoining muscles.

• Typical results include an enriched ability to tilt and turn the head, decrease in soreness, stiffness, and pain.

Massage Therapy:

• Improves blood flow and reduces stiffness and soreness.

Acupuncture:

• Eases pain by balancing the body’s natural energy pathways.

• Alleviates pain by triggering the body to release serotonin, which relieves pain and discomfort.

• Involves the insertion of very fine needles through the skin at strategic points on the body.

Neck Brace:

• Provides support and stability for short-term use.

If you’re experiencing minor neck pain or discomfort, you can try these simple steps:

• Improve your posture. Sit up straight.

• Practice yoga.

• Take the time to exercise your neck every day. Slowly stretch your head in side-to-side and up-and-down motions.

• Be mindful, change your position often. Don’t stand or sit in one position for an extensive period of time.

• Use a special neck pillow for sleeping.

• Avoid cradling the phone between your neck and your shoulder.