According to recent studies, more than 30% of adults in the US suffer from neck pain every year; while as much as 50% are reported to continue to suffer chronic neck pains. In both cases, the respondents have reported that their neck pain gets in the way of their performance of certain activities of daily living.

Neck pain is more than just a trivial matter. It affects our lives and if not given the proper attention, it may cause some serious life-threatening effects later on We shall shed some light on understanding neck pain, its causes, how it occurs, and its remedies –

What is Neck Pain?

Your neck consists of vertebrae stacked upon another that connect your skull to your upper torso. In between the bones that make up your spinal column are cervical discs that function as shock absorbers between the bones.

Your spinal column, along with the ligaments and muscles attached to it, support your head and allow for motion. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness. About 10% of neck pain is associated with illnesses such as polymyalgia rheumatica, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, and infections.

Many people suffer from the soreness/stiffness that occurs occasionally and disappears after applying some warm or cold compress. This type of neck pain occurs due to poor posture or overuse. It can also be caused by injury from a fall, contact sports, or whiplash. This type of neck pain may not be a serious condition and can be relieved within a few days.

However, there are certain instances where neck pain can be a symptom of a serious injury or illness and requires a doctor’s care. Neck pain of the milder kind disappears after a few days. You will continue to feel some tenderness and soreness around the area, but the generalized feeling of pain usually subsides. If you have neck pain that continues for more than a week, is severe, or is accompanied by other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Possible Causes

Many things may cause neck pain –

Neck muscle strain – Since your neck muscles function the same way as the rest of your body’s muscles, they are prone to overuse and strain. Some activities that cause this strain are poor posture, being static in a position without movement, sleeping with your neck in a bad position, jerking your neck during exercise, and Injury.

In cases of injury, the common cause of muscle trauma is when the impact causes the muscles and ligaments to be hyperextended beyond their normal range. In addition, if your cervical vertebrae are fractured, some fragments may find their way to your spinal cord. If that happens, there could be long-term repercussions to your overall mobility and health.

Heart attack – Neck pain, along with other symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, and arm/jaw pain, may indicate an impending heart attack.

Illnesses such as meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, spondylosis, or osteoarthritis of the neck, herniated cervical disk or slipped disk, spinal stenosis, and congenital abnormalities may also cause neck pain.

Treatment and Home Remedies

If you are suffering from neck pain, you can expect that your physician will perform a physical exam and take your complete medical history. Being forthcoming about the symptoms you are feeling without exaggerating them will give your physician a clear picture of your illness and let him plan the appropriate treatment needed.

The doctor may order you to go through various laboratory tests such as, but not limited to blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, electromyography, and lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

Once your physician has an idea of the cause of your neck pain, he may prescribe one of the following therapies as palliative care (treating symptoms only) notwithstanding other treatments for the cause of the neck pain itself.

If the cause of the neck pain is as simple as poor posture or overuse, some alternative therapies may be suggested instead. Acupuncture, chiropractic treatment, massage, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are among these alternatives.

One tool that you can use to release your tense and often overused neck and shoulder muscles is the Electric Shock Pulse Neck and Shoulder Kneading Massager from elayansolution.com With its portable design, you can carry the massager anywhere you go, without attracting too much attention. Its built-in smart controls provide different treatment options to relieve and rejuvenate your tired neck and shoulder muscles. Check it out by clicking this link.