It is the pain we are all familiar with. It comes at different times and places but whenever it comes it makes us suffer. It is the
pain in the neck- literally.Neck pain is also known as cervical pain or cervicalgia. It affects about two-thirds of the population that is 330 million people at any given instant, according to a survey held in 2010. It is more common in women than in men. Neck pain is a medical condition that has a number of causes. The head is supported by upper back and lower neck joints. Any complication in this area will lead to neck pain.
SymptomsThe symptoms of neck pain chiefly depend on the cause of pain. But some symptoms are common to all kinds of neck pain which include numbness, tingling and sometimes pins and needles sensation. Sounds and irritation in the ear as it is closed to the ear canal. Lightheadedness and dizziness can also occur on occasion. Shoulder pain also accompanies neck pain as well as upper body pain. It frequently affects upper arm as well. A headache and facial pain are widely observed in patients suffering from cervicalgia.
CausesThe causes of neck pain have a wide range but it is primarily connected tovascular, digestive, nerve, airway, and skeletal disorders. It can have less serious to more complicated causes.
Less Serious Causes Of Neck pain- Poor sleeping posture – the cause of neck pain can be as simple as a bad sleeping posture.
- Prolonged Posture –falling asleep on desks and chairs can give you a sore neck.
- Stress– emotional or physical stress can lead to neck pain as well.
- Pinched nerves – during exercising or playing we can get compressed nerves. A herniated disc can put pressure on nerves in the neck which causes pain and numbness.
- Minor accidents- getting hurt during the day -to- day activities, playing sports may get you hurt but these are minor injuries and heal fast.
More Complicated Reasons for Neck Pain- Spinal disc herniation –one or more spinal disc can fracture causing herniation which results in bulging disc at the nape.
- Spinal Stenosis – it is the narrowing if spinal canal which can cause compressed nerves
- Head and Neck Cancer –this cancer begins in the mouth, nose, throat and spreads in larynx, sinuses and salivary glands. Usually, a lump is formed at one of the above-mentioned places that do not go away.
- Carotid Artery Dissection – it is the most common cause of stokes. In this, the walls of arteries that supply oxygenated blood become separated.
TreatmentMedication, conservative treatment and surgery are available
neck pain treatment for now.
- Medication–Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are most commonly prescribed. Sometimes muscles relaxants can also help lessen the pain. Over the counter relieve-pain patches are commonplace too.
- Conservative Treatment –it includes exercises and spinal adjustment. It is similar to physical therapy as it immensely helps chronic and acute neck pain.
- Surgery –surgery is only recommended when the cause of beck pain is cancer or another internal disease.
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