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People often joke about something being a "pain in the neck," but when neck pain is real, it's not funny at all. Fortunately, neck pain is rarely a serious problem and will usually disappear within a few days.
“However, for some people, neck pain is a chronic problem that severely limits their daily activities,” says Craig Morton, MD, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist with the Center for Orthopaedics.
“Neck pain affects all of us, whether it's the occasional crick or something serious like a herniated disc,” says Dr. Morton. “In fact, neck pain is one of the most common reasons people see their physician. Research has shown that the majority of both men and women report having chronic neck pain, and a recent study found that one in 20 sufferers said their neck pain had led to major disability.”
While everyone may experience neck pain from time to time, most people don’t understand why. Dr. Morton says, “It’s simple really. Your neck has a hard job — holding up your head.” He says leaning into your computer, hunching over your workbench, or bending your head to hold your phone against your shoulder just makes its job more difficult. “Poor posture certainly contributes to neck pain, but the design of the neck makes vulnerable in the first place. All the interconnected structures that give your neck its incredible range of motion are subject to the wear-and-tear damage of arthritis and the overextension injuries like whiplash. When your neck hurts, there are usually many possible causes.”
Neck pain includes pain occurring anywhere from the bottom of your head to the top of your shoulders. It may spread to the upper back or arms and may cause limited neck and head movement. Most neck pain is caused by activities that result in repeated or prolonged movements of the neck's muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones or joints. This can result in a strain (an overstretched or overused muscle), sprain (injury to a ligament), spasm of the neck muscles, or inflammation of the neck joints. Things like painting a ceiling, sleeping with your neck twisted, slouching, or staying in one position for a long period of time, are all possible causes of neck pain, according to Dr. Morton.
He says neck pain can also be caused by injury, such as in a car accident, a fall, during sports activities, or by another medical condition, such as infection in the neck area, a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck (cervical spinal stenosis), or rheumatoid arthritis.
Neck pain can range from a "kink" or stiffness to severe, debilitating pain. The pain may spread to your shoulders, upper back, or arms, or it may cause a headache. You may not be able to move or turn your head and neck normally. If there is pressure on a spinal nerve root, you may have pain that shoots down the arm or numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm.
“If your neck pain is chronic, it may be difficult to continue doing all the things you need to do every day – both at home and at work,” says Dr. Morton. “This can lead to the common side effects of chronic pain including fatigue, depression and anxiety.”
Neck pain is usually diagnosed through a medical history and physical examination. “We’ll ask about symptoms, injuries or illnesses, any previous treatment, and habits and activities that may be causing or contributing to the neck pain,” says Dr. Morton. “We check the neck's range of motion and look for areas of tenderness and any nerve-related changes, such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or hands.”
If the pain starts after an injury, such as a severe fall or blow to the head, or if your pain does not improve after a few weeks, Dr. Morton says further testing such as an X-ray, MRI, CT, or other imaging tests may be needed to check the neck bones, spinal discs, spinal nerve roots, and the spinal cord.
Dr. Morton says most minor neck pain caused by everyday activities usually goes away within four to six weeks. These steps can help:
· Reducing the pain with ice and NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).
· Improving neck movement and flexibility with exercises or physical therapy.
· Using a good pillow when sleeping, one that does not cause excessive flexion.
· Avoiding further neck injury by changing activities and body mechanics, such as how you sit or sleep, adjusting the height of your computer, etc.
Chronic neck pain is first treated the same way as acute neck pain, says Dr. Morton. In some cases, stronger pain medication, such as muscle relaxers or antidepressants may be prescribed. Stress management and relaxation techniques such as massage or yoga may also be recommended.
Dr. Morton says surgery is rarely required to treat neck pain. It may be considered if neck pain is caused by pressure on the spinal nerve roots, a severe injury that has broken a vertebra in the spine, a tumor, or a condition such as cervical spinal stenosis.
For more information about neck pain diagnosis and treatment, call the Center for Orthopaedics at 721-7236. |
