4 Top Reasons Why You May Be Experiencing Neck Pain

Posted on: 16 April 2021

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Together with the neck muscles and ligament, the neck vertebrae support the head and allow neck movement. So, any issues that affect these parts may lead to stiffness or pain. Various factors can bring about neck pain. The article highlights some main reasons you may be experiencing neck pain and how to deal with them. 

1. Wrong Sleeping Positions

You must place your neck in an ideal position when sleeping for increased comfort. So, if you sleep in the wrong position, you'll likely have a stiff neck when you wake up. Stiff neck muscles could then transfer pressure to your back and shoulders. Therefore, it is vital to sleep in the proper sleeping positions. It would help if you also got a good support pillow to keep your neck well aligned during sleep. 

2. Muscle Spasms

Muscle spasms can make turning your head into a nightmare. They are a result of involuntary contraction of the muscles. Various issues could cause muscle spasms, such as neck injury, stress, or imbalance. Sometimes, patients with neck arthritis or spondylosis may also experience muscle spasms. Spasms should go away after a few days when you take the right pain medication. Therefore, it is advisable to visit your physician for the right diagnosis if the issue persists for more than a week. 

3. Whiplash

Whiplash is most common for people who have been in an accident. Whiplash injury, neck strain, or sprains happens when there is a lot of force pushing your head forward or backward, such that it causes damage to the neck structures. Some common indications of whiplash include neck stiffness, numbness, and lower back pain. 

You can treat whiplash by getting various medications from your physician. It is also important that you avoid any intense activities so as not to worsen the injury. Sometimes physical therapy might be a solution, depending on the severity of your injury. 

4. Vertebrae Degeneration

As your age advances, your neck's discs and vertebrae will start wearing down. Therefore, you may start experiencing some persistent and chronic neck pain as you get older. Your discs can also wear out due to other issues, like inflammation and pinched nerves.

Neck pain is such a nuisance and may reduce your quality of life. Therefore, it is best to get medical help whenever you experience serious neck pain. Physicians carry out various examinations to determine the root cause of your neck pain and provide a suitable treatment.