Neck Pain - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

How is the neck structured?

There are seven vertebrae in the neck which form a part of the spine. These surround the spinal cord and canal. Between these vertebrae are discs, and the nerves of the neck. Other structures present within the neck include the skin, neck muscles, arteries, veins, lymph nodes, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, esophagus, larynx, and trachea. Any illness or medical conditions that affect any of these tissues of the neck can lead to neck pain.

Common signs and symptoms of neck pain

The symptoms of neck pain can vary from person to person ranging from mild discomfort to excruciating pain that prevents a person from making any movement. Some of the common symptoms that are associated with neck pain are as follows:

Stiffness in the neck causing soreness and difficulty to move the neck, especially when trying to turn the head from side to side.
Sharp excruciating pain localized to one spot, which might feel like a stabbing or stinging sensation. This type of pain generally occurs in the lower areas of the neck.
Feeling pain in mostly one area of the neck, described as tender or achy but not sharp.
Radiating pain that feels like a burning or searing sensation, moving along a nerve from the neck into the shoulders and arms. The intensity of pain can vary from mild to an unbearable painful sensation.
A tingling, numb, or weak sensation that goes beyond the neck and radiate into the shoulder, arm or finger. Patients might describe this as a “pins-and-needles” sensation. This pain from the neck area can only be felt in one arm, not both.
Having difficulty in picking or gripping objects due to tingling, numbness, or weakness in the fingers.
Headache caused due to an irritation in the neck, often known as a tension headache. This type of pain results from tightening of the neck muscles when a pinched occipital nerve in the neck causes pain to radiate up into the head’s sides and scalp.

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What causes neck pain?

There is more than one reason that causes neck pain. Some of the reasons are related to lifestyle while others are related to pre-existing medical conditions in our body. Lifestyle habits that cause neck pain are as follows:

1. Sleeping in the wrong position at night that might have overextended the neck
2. Sports injury due to collision or sudden movement of the neck in an unusual manner that causes a strain.
3. Poor posture resulting from long hours of standing or sitting that requires the neck muscles tendons and ligaments to work harder, thus leading to neck problems.
4. Overusing the neck muscles when doing activities like dancing or swimming which require the head to be tilted from side to side.
5. Keeping the head in an unusual position for a prolonged time like cradling the phone between the head and shoulders to have a conversation.
6. Whiplash injury can also cause neck pain due to the strain on the soft tissues near the cervical spine.
7. Stress, anxiety and depression can tighten the neck muscles and cause pain.
8. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, but can easily be treated with the help of physiotherapy for neck pain and neck pain exercises.

If neck pain persists for more than 3 months then it is considered chronic. This condition stems from problems in the cervical spine, either with a disc or facet joint. Some of these cause are-
1. Cervical degenerative disc disease
2. Cervical herniated disc
3. Cervical osteoarthritis
4. Cervical spinal stenosis with myelopathy
5. Cervical foraminal stenosis
6. Infection in part of the cervical spine, like meningitis, which causes inflammation resulting in neck pain.
7. Myofascial pain.
8. Fibromyalgia
9. Spinal tumour
10. Spondylolisthesis
11. Ankylosing spondylitis

Neck pain treatment

The neck pain treatment will be determined by your doctor after a complete physical examination and check of your medical history. Hence, you must let your doctor know everything regarding your symptoms, any medication you might be on, or any supplements that you might be using. Additionally, you should also let them know of any recent injuries or accidents that you might have had. One or more of the following imaging studies and tests can help your doctor determine the cause of your neck pain:

1. Blood tests
2. X-rays
3. CT scans
4. MRI scans
5. Electromyography, which allows your doctor to check the health of your muscles and the nerves that control your muscles
6. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
Depending on your results, your doctor might refer you to a specialist or physiotherapist for neck pain treatment, which may include all or a combination of:
● Ice and heat therapy
● Exercise, stretching, and physical therapy
● Pain medication
● Corticosteroid injections
● Neck collar
● Traction
● Muscle relaxants
● Antibiotics (if you have an infection)
Alternative therapies, under the guidance of a professional, include:
● Acupuncture
● Chiropractic treatment

● Massage
● Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Physiotherapy for neck pain

Neck pain treatment with physiotherapy can be instrumental in healing any injuries or restoring full movement of the neck after an injury has occurred. With acute injuries, immobilization is important until the neck can be completely evaluated so that there is no damage done to the spine or back. If you are suffering from persistent neck pain, it is important to see a physiotherapist right away and start the treatment. There are several types of manipulations and exercises that your physiotherapist can use to strengthen, straighten, and stretch your neck muscles by using Physiotherapy for neck pain. With regular physiotherapy for neck pain, the condition can be successfully treated and good body mechanics taught can help you relieve pain, maintain safety, strengthen the muscles, enhance the range of motion and flexibility, rehabilitate and prevent further injuries, and get on with normal life.

Where to find physiotherapy for neck pain?

Physiotherapy for neck pain is a specialised area since it is the part of the spine that is closest to the brain. Therefore, we provide only highly trained, experienced and certified team of physiotherapists in the comfort and convenience of your home to help you manage, relieve and prevent any kind of neck pain. Our team of experienced neck pain physiotherapists will perform a complete assessment of your condition and take your risk factor, pain type, lifestyle and work function into consideration before charting a personalised recovery and treatment plan. Basis your specific needs, our team of expert shoulder pain physiotherapists prescribe specific stretches and movement-based exercises that you can easily perform at home to relieve neck pain. Get rid of neck pain without any kind of strain with our specialised and outcome-based home physiotherapy for neck pain by calling 1800 102 4224 or book it online here.

What results you can expect from physiotherapy for neck pain?

Neck pain is a normal condition and in most cases gets better on its own within few days. Follow the physiotherapy treatment and exercise plan, as prescribed by your physiotherapist, to prevent the symptoms of neck pain from returning. Your pain should ease in two weeks and you should completely recover from it over 4-6 weeks’ time. Tired of living with neck pain? With the expert physiotherapy for neck pain solutions that we offer, you will not have to suffer from the debilitating effects of it anymore. In addition to providing expert physiotherapy for neck pain, our expert team of physiotherapists also deal with a broad range of conditions that affect the musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems. To eliminate pain and claim your life back, get in touch with us on 1800 102 4224 or book a home visit online.

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Say goodbye to neck pain with a certified team of home-based physiotherapists near you.