How to Treat Neck Pain

How often have you felt that pain that slowly spreads from the base of your head to the top of your back, pulls your muscles into an unforgiving fist, and makes it difficult even to look left or right? This pain distorts moments of rest and relaxation and turns daily chores into arduous tasks.

Yes. We are talking about neck pain, that unwelcome guest who visits many of us.

In this article, we will face this annoying challenge together, and we will provide you with solutions that help you regain your comfort and spend your daily tasks. So, follow with us.

Neck Pain

The neck carries a bowling ball’s weight all day and supports the bones of the upper spine, along with muscles and ligaments, and the head, which weighs about 11 pounds. In order to understand neck pain and its causes, we must know the anatomical structure of the neck. The neck and back are composed of small bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae are stacked on top of each other to form the spine.

The spine supports your head and protects the spinal cord, which is the main structure that connects the network of nerves throughout your body. Messages travel through this network to send sensations such as pain to your brain.

The seven highest bones in your spine make up your neck, and they are called the cervical vertebrae. The bones are held together by the facet joints, which are small joints between the vertebrae that, in conjunction with the neck muscles, allow you to move your head in any direction.

Between the vertebrae are discs of cartilage, which act as a cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. These discs act as shock absorbers and give the spine its flexibility. Disc slip occurs when one of these discs slips slightly from its normal position in the spine.

Neck Pain Symptoms

According to doctors’ recommendations, the symptoms associated with neck pain vary according to the underlying cause. Among the most common symptoms of neck pain are:

1. Pain and Stiffness

You may feel pain and stiffness in the middle of the neck or on one side. The pain may also extend to the shoulder or the upper part of the chest. The following symptoms may also appear:

• Pain or weakness in the arms.
• You suffer from a tension headache, as the pain can radiate to the back of the head and sometimes to the ear or the back of the eye.
• Moving your neck can be painful and your muscles feel tense, especially if you’ve been sitting or sleeping in one position for a long time.
• You notice that your neck can’t rotate as far as it used to, for example when you try to look behind you while parking a car.

If you have neck pain and stiffness that comes on suddenly, perhaps during the night, and you find it difficult to raise both arms above your head, this could be a sign of a condition called polymyositis rheumatica (PMR). It is an inflammatory condition of the muscles that occurs most commonly in people over the age of 65. If you think you may be suffering from this condition, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

2. Numbness or Tingling

A nerve can become compressed when it places excessive pressure on the muscles, bones, or tissues around it. As a result, you may feel numbness, tingling, or feeling that extends up your arm, and sometimes even your fingers.

You will find that the numbness and tingling will go away when the situation naturally improves. However, if symptoms are severe, talk to a doctor. He or she may be able to prescribe medications that target the compressed nerve, properly assess symptoms and diagnose the condition.

3. Dizziness and Fainting

If you feel dizzy when you look up or when you move your head, it may be due to pressure on the arteries that pass beside the spine, also known as the vertebral arteries. Sometimes this happens as a result of changes in the vertebrae of the spine.

Compression of these vertebral arteries may cause a temporary loss of consciousness due to reduced blood flow. However, loss of consciousness can have other causes. Dizziness and temporary loss of consciousness may be accompanied by other symptoms such as feeling nauseous or tired. If these symptoms are chronic or significantly affect your daily life, it is best to consult a doctor to evaluate your condition and get the correct diagnosis.

4. Muscle Spasm

A muscle spasm is a sudden stiffening of a muscle or group of muscles in your body. There is often no known cause for muscle spasms and they can be very uncomfortable. When it occurs in the neck it usually causes pain and stiffness on one side, making it difficult to move your head.

The spasm usually only lasts a few hours or days, although sometimes it can last for several weeks.

5. Headache

When you feel neck pain, this may cause a migraine headache. It may occur when there is tension or spasm in the neck muscles.

Neck pain can be caused by emotional tension, stress, or even sitting for long periods in an incorrect position. It often has disturbing effects on your daily life and may affect your mood and activity. Some people may feel weak, dizzy, or nauseous.

• Other Symptoms of Neck Pain

Neck pain may also be accompanied by some of the following symptoms, including:

• Difficulty with balance and walking.
• Weakness in the arms.
• Changes in vision or hearing.
• Concentration problems.
• Feeling sick.
• Difficulty swallowing.

Neck Pain Causes

Many wonder what are the causes of neck pain. Neck pain may be annoying and painful, and may affect movement and the ability to perform daily tasks normally. The causes of neck pain vary and may include several factors, including:

Muscle Stress

It usually occurs as a result of the following activities and behaviors:

• Incorrect sitting position.
• Sitting for a long time at a desk without changing position.
• Sleeping with an incorrect neck position.
• A sudden movement of the neck while exercising.

These factors can tense the muscles in the neck area and cause pain. Therefore, it is important to avoid these habits and replace them with healthy behaviors.

Injuries

The neck is vulnerable to injuries, especially in cases of falls, car accidents, and sports. As the muscles and ligaments of the neck can move beyond their normal range.

If the bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae) are fractured, the spinal cord may also be damaged. Injury to the neck as a result of a sudden movement of the head is commonly known as “neck trauma”.

Joint Wear

Degeneration of the joints in the neck naturally occurs with age. Just as it happens in other joints in the body, and to face this wear and tear, bony protrusions usually arise in the body that affect joint movement and cause pain.

Meningitis

It is a type of inflammation and infection that affects the fluid and membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. Meningitis is usually accompanied by obvious symptoms such as headache, fever, and a stiff neck.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It causes pain and swelling in the joints and excessive bone growth. When these symptoms occur in the neck area, it can result in neck pain.

Osteoporosis

Bones weaken and can lead to small fractures. This condition most often occurs in the hands or knees, but it can also occur in the neck.

Fibromyalgia

It is a condition that causes muscle pain all over the body, especially in the neck and shoulder area.

Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a progressive condition of deterioration of the bones and cervical discs in the spine. This condition can cause a variety of problems, including slipped discs and bone spurs.

The prevalence of this disease increases with age, and it affects more than 85% of people over the age of 60.

There are rare causes of neck pain, including the following:

• Congenital anomalies.
• Infection.
• Cysts.
• Tumors.
• Spinal cancer.

When to See a Doctor

If symptoms persist for more than a week, a doctor should be consulted. A doctor can also be seen when the following symptoms are present:

• Severe neck pain for no apparent reason.
• A lump in the neck.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Swelling of the lymph nodes.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
• General weakness
• Tingling or numbness.
• Pain in the arms or legs.
• Inability to move the arms or hands.
• Inability to touch the chin to the chest.
• Urinary or stool disturbances.

Many people can suffer from stiffness and pain in the neck for no apparent reason, and this may happen after sitting in a place where there is a flow of cold air or after a minor injury. And if you suffer from neck pain due to an accident or fall, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

Neck Pain Treatment at Home

Although neck pain may result from injuries or chronic conditions, it is often the result of muscle tearing or weakness. Years of incorrect body posture can lead to weak muscles and joints in the neck. Which over time leads to chronic pain. In cases of mild to moderate pain, home remedies may help.

Ways to treat neck pain at home include the following:

1. Move more

You may have heard that rest is the best remedy for muscle pain and stiffness, but in the case of neck pain, movement can actually help.

Exercising improves blood flow to stiff muscles and reduces inflammation. Just be sure to avoid vigorous movements or sharp turns that can increase neck pain or stiffness, and avoid lifting heavy objects.

2. Make cold or warm compresses

Compresses can be used to relieve neck pain quickly. As cold compresses contribute to reducing inflammation, while warm compresses relax stiff muscles. For best results, you can alternate between them for up to 20 minutes several times a day.

3. Sitting position

Be careful about how you hold your head throughout the day, especially when staring at a computer screen or using a mobile phone. Many people tend to tilt their heads down, which puts extra stress on the neck muscles and can lead to recurring injuries.

To improve your posture and reduce neck pain, make some simple changes such as:

• Hold the phone or computer screen at eye level, rather than with the neck down.
• Keep your head in line with the center of your body.
• Extend the shoulders down and away from the ears.
• Do pilates and yoga to improve neck posture.

4. Sleep in a correct position

Sleeping in the correct position is an important step in treating neck pain in general, especially when treating neck pain due to wrong sleep. You can follow these tips to avoid neck pain:

• The head and neck should be level with the body.
• Pillows that are too hard or too thick should be avoided.
• Choose a comfortable pillow that adequately fills the space between the neck and shoulder.

Neck Pain Physical Therapy

Physical therapy aims to relieve pain and help you function, move, and live better. You may need it to:

• Relieve pain.
• Improve movement.
• Preventing or recovering from a sports injury.
• Prevention of disability or surgery.
• Rehabilitation after a stroke, accident, injury, or surgery.
• Work on balance to prevent slipping.
• Managing a chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis.
• Postpartum recovery.
• Bowel or bladder control.
• Adaptation to the prosthesis.
• Learn to use assistive devices such as a walker or crutch.
• Get a splint.

The physiotherapist organizes an individual program for each case that includes several sessions, and the duration of treatment varies from person to person according to the cause of the pain. And the therapist may also teach how to perform exercises to practice them at home.

Neck Pain Relief Exercises

There are several useful exercises for stretching the neck muscles and relieving symptoms, including:

1. Head presses: You can perform this exercise by applying the following steps:

• Clasp your hands behind your head or sit on a chair with a headrest.
• Make sure the chin is flat.
• Gently press the back of your head against your hands or a headrest.
• Hold this position for 5-10 seconds and repeat the movement.

2. Head tilt: Instead of rotating the neck, try a head tilt. Firstly, move your neck back and forth by bringing the chin to the chest, relax a bit, and then lift the chin up to the sky.

After you have repeated this movement a few times, switch to the side-to-side tilts. Move your ear towards the right shoulder, hold this position for a few seconds, and then repeat the movement on the other side.

3. Neck and shoulder stretch: It is one of the simplest and most effective exercises to relieve neck and shoulder pain, and you can perform it with the following steps:

• Sit on a sturdy chair and relax.
• Put your feet straight under the knees.
• Turn your body to the right, and place the back of your left hand on the thigh.
• Hold this position for 30 seconds, then repeat the process on the other side.
• Repeat this stretch for each side 3 to 5 times.

4. Shoulder rolls: This exercise can help relieve tension in the shoulders and upper back and relieve neck pain as well. Follow these steps:

• Try to sync up your shoulder rolls with your breathing.
• As you inhale, raise your shoulders toward your ears.
• Then rotate them downward along the back while breathing out.
• Repeat 5-10 times.

Neck Pain Treatment with Medication

Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to relieve neck pain. such as:

• Acetaminophen (Paracetamol, Tylenol): This contributes to relieving neck pain.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: including ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve). These medications work by reducing swelling and inflammation in the affected area, which contributes to relieving neck pain.

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe the following:

• Opioids: The doctor may prescribe opioid analgesics. For the treatment of chronic neck pain when non-steroidal and other analgesics are not effective.

The job of opioids is to bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body, blocking pain messages from the body to the brain.

• Muscle relaxers: such as diazepam and chlorzoxazone. The doctor may prescribe them in addition to analgesics to treat neck pain that occurs due to stiffness of the neck muscles or damage to the nerves of the spinal cord.

Different muscle relaxers work in multiple ways. They can act on the brain, spinal cord, or directly on a muscle to reduce stiffness, pain, and any associated infection.

• Antispasmodics: These medications bind to receptors on the muscle cell membrane and block sudden, involuntary muscle contractions known as muscle spasms, such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These increase levels of serotonin in the brain, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Lustral), fluvoxamine (Favrin), and paroxetine (Seroxat).

Neck Pain Treatment with Surgery

In very rare cases, surgery may be the necessary option to treat neck pain and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. You may be a candidate for surgery in the following cases:

• If the physical and medical treatment did not result.
• If you fall short in daily tasks due to persistent pain.
• If you have neurological symptoms, they develop and involve the arms and legs.
• If you have difficulty with balance or walking.

The goal of surgery includes removing stress factors, such as narrowed spinal canal or crowded vertebrae, restoring spinal balance, and relieving pain.

So the doctor resorts to surgery when the symptoms become very severe and cannot be controlled by other treatments, and the decision for surgery must be made based on a comprehensive assessment of the situation and in consultation with the specialized medical team.

In conclusion, honey, I hope that this information and tips will help you make progress toward getting rid of neck pain.

Do not forget that comfort and health are your priority, and that living without pain is your natural state. Do not hesitate to seek help if pain interferes with your daily life.

And always remember, you deserve to live comfortably and happily. Here at our magazine, we care about you and your health, and we work hard to provide you with the information and support you need. So, do not hesitate to come back to us again if you need more information or advice.

Do not forget to watch Sara popfit’s video on YouTube, in which she talks about neck pain and how to treat and get rid of it with simple movements in just 3 weeks:

Frequently Asked Questions about Neck Pain

Sources:

healthline

versusarthritis

aurorahealthcare