Aside from back pain, neck pain is an incredibly common medical condition that patients experience. This could be as a result of an injury or simply by overusing the muscles in your neck on a regular basis. From strains to sprains, neck pain is an unfortunate type of discomfort that requires immediate treatment to prevent the issue from being lifelong and chronic.

What Causes Neck Pain?

It’s impossible to have a single factor that causes neck pain as it can occur as a result of sleeping improperly or a car accident. With repeated movements of the neck you might experience a strain or a sprain. There’s also the possibility of experiencing spasms in the muscles of your neck. If you’re holding your head in uncomfortable positions on a regular basis, sleeping on a pillow that is either too high or too flat, or performing activities that leave your neck at an awkward angle, you could experience neck pain.

Physical Injuries that Cause Neck Pain

If it’s not a strain or a sprain because of your lifestyle, neck pain can be a result of a recent physical injury. Some of the most severe injuries include: car accidents, falling from heights, direct blows to the face, or sports injuries.

Medical Conditions that Cause Neck Pain

It’s also quite common for neck pain to be a symptom of a variety of medical conditions including: aging, cervical spondylosis, cervical spinal stenosis, meningitis, flu, and fibromyalgia.

The Symptoms of Neck Pain

In most cases the sufferer will easily be able to say that they are experiencing pain in the neck because it is typically localized. There are a variety of symptoms that accompany this condition. You can expect the pain to spread from your arms to your shoulders to your neck, the pain will typically get worse the more that you move your neck, your neck may become tender or quite stiff, and you could experience headaches.

How is Neck Pain Treated?

The majority of injuries that result in neck pain can be treated within a few weeks by combining anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy. Depending on the severity of the injury, it could take up to 1 year for your neck pain to completely dissipate. In most cases your doctor will refer you to a physical therapist that will design a treatment plan that focuses on restoring healthy movement to your neck. You may also be referred to a chiropractor to help adjust your bones for enhanced comfort.