A pain in the neck is one of the most irritating ailments a person could go through. Not only does is throb continuously, it also makes it difficult to sit continuously for long hours or move your neck around for a better look at things. There are a number of causes that could lead to continuing neck aches, some of them are listed below.
1. Attrition in the Neck
As a natural process of aging, the joints and bones in your neck face ‘wear and tear’-it is a type of arthritis called the cervical spondylosis. The cervical spondylosis normally does not cause any symptoms but in some cases the bone alters its shape causing a stiff neck.
Sometimes as a result of this process the nerves nearby get squeezed that causes pain radiating from the arms, numbness, and pins and needles in the legs and hands. Cervical spondylosis for most cases takes a few weeks’ treatment to improve.
2. A Locked or Twisted Neck
Did you ever wake up in the morning with your neck twisted to one side and locked in that same position? The condition is caused by injury to the muscles in your neck and is known as acute torticollis.
The exact cause of muscle injury in acute torticollis is unknown but it is assumed to be caused by carrying weighty unbalanced load, bad posture or inadequate neck support while sleeping. It normally takes 24 to 48 hours for acute torticollis to last but it can get prolonged for a week too.
3. Squashed Nerve
Cervical radiculopathy is the named given to neck pain in Chicago caused by a pinched nerve. The condition occurs when a disc between the bones in the upper spine split open and the gel inside oozes out on to a nerve nearby. This condition is more prevalent among the elderly as the spinal begin to lose their water content as people age, becoming more rigid and split prone.
For most cases of the cervical radiculopathy, the pain can be subsided using painkillers, although some people may require surgery.
4. Whiplash
A whiplash injury is caused by a sudden jerk of the head sideways, forwards or backwards. Usually a whiplash occurs after an impromptu impact from a road accident; the forceful movement of the head outstretches and damages the neck ligaments and tendons. Apart from this, a whiplash causes neck stiffness and pain, and may also result in painful and reduced neck movements due to tenderness in the muscles.
There may be more serious cause to the neck pain too, especially if you have a history of cancer, been in a recent car accident or have conditions that point at a weak immune system. In such circumstances, it is advisable you see your general physician at your earliest. Contact Chicago Chiropractic & Sports Injury Centers for more information. You can also find them on Facebook.
