Most of us experience problems with neck pain from time to time; but we don't pay much attention unless the discomfort becomes chronic or interferes with our daily routines. Here is an overview of the most common symptoms of neck pain that may require treatment as well as its possible causes.
The neck does much more than simply support the head: it is composed of a delicate combination of mechanisms that, when working properly, serve to keep our entire upper bodies in sync. However, when any one of the elements that make up the neck area isn't doing its job, the results are often pain and impaired function. Vertebrae, discs and an extensive network of nerves all must work together in harmony to give our head area and shoulders full functionality.
If you suspect your stiff neck may be more serious but are not sure, here are some of the most common symptoms of severe neck issues that should be looked at, diagnosed, and treated:
--Persistent headaches that may go on for months. Of course, headaches can be symptoms for many ailments, but you should never discount the possibility that they stem from neck problems.
--Limited head and neck movement. If you experience stiffness or even tenderness between the bottom of your head and the shoulder areas and cannot freely turn your head from one side to another for a week or more, then the problem may be more serious than a simple pulled muscle.
--The pain you experience in this area becomes worse when you move your neck: you may feel a sharp pain that shoots down one or both arms and your back or the pain may remain isolated above your shoulders.
The causes of chronic and serious neck pain are as varied as the people who experience it, but there are some common events that tend to be more likely to lead to it:
--Degeneration from old injuries: When you have an accident, its physical repercussions are not always immediate. The problem may lie dormant for many years and therefore remain undiagnosed. If you have ever been in a car accident and suffered whiplash, or if you fell out of a tree onto your head as a child, your neck pain may very well have stemmed from this kind of an incident. Slipped vertebrae cause joints in the neck to perform at subpar levels, and over time, degeneration of the bone, connective tissues, and other parts of the neck's "machinery" can cause severe pain.
--Herniated discs: Many things can cause herniated discs such as trauma to the area, improper lifting methods, and other factors. This condition is extremely painful and is usually characterized by severe pain that originates in the neck and then feels like a "burn" all the way down the arm.
Degenerated and herniated discs are just a couple of the myriad causes for neck pain that results from specific trauma; symptoms may also arise from nerve-related problems. In these types of cases, time alone will not usually help your body to heal properly: chiropractic treatment and care is a highly effective and sought-after remedy for neck pain. You don't have to "put up" with that pain in the neck: get help.
Author Resource:-
Northeast Chiropractic, PC (http://www.northeastchiro.net/) offer massage therapy by Licensed Massage Therapists and a chiropractor in Manhattan. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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