Why is My Neck Pain So Badly
Neck pain can range from mildly annoying to completely debilitating. If you’re dealing with persistent, intense pain in your neck, you’re probably frustrated and wondering what’s causing the pain and how you can get relief. There are many potential reasons why your neck might be hurting so badly. Getting an accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause is important in order to get the right treatment and find relief.
The most common causes of neck pain involve strained muscles, tendons or ligaments. Poor posture, awkward positioning of your neck for prolonged periods, overuse from activities or even sleeping in a strange position can lead to sprains and painful spasms. For example, if you’re constantly looking down at a phone, computer or work surface, it strains the muscles and tendons in your neck. It can even lead to development of a “dowager’s hump” over time. Muscle tension from stress or jaw clenching can also create neck pain. If you’ve suffered a blunt injury from an accident, blow to the head or whiplash, strains or sprains in the neck tissues may result. These issues cause localized pain in the neck area along with tightness and reduced range of motion.
Arthritis, degenerative disc disease and disc herniations are other common sources of significant neck pain. Between each vertebra in your spine is a disc that acts as a cushion and allows flexibility. As you age these discs lose integrity and shrink. This causes the individual vertebrae to rub against each other, potentially resulting in bone spurs and inflammatory pain. Degenerative arthritis can also develop in the facet joints located between vertebrae. These conditions frequently lead to radiating pain, headaches and restricted mobility. In some cases, a severely damaged disc can rupture or herniate, pressing on spinal nerves. This typically causes severe pain or numbness/tingling down the arms.
Rarely, a neck injury can lead to more serious damage of the cervical spine. In severe car accidents or falls, vertebrae can become fractured or even dislocated. Spinal cord compression may result, leading to alarming symptoms like paralysis or loss of bladder control. These rare cases constitute medical emergencies requiring surgery. Other uncommon but serious causes of neck pain include spinal tumors, infections like meningitis, and inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
Red flag symptoms that indicate a potentially serious problem include:
- Numbness or muscle weakness in arms, hands or legs
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Shooting pain down shoulders or arms
- Fever or unexplained weight loss along with neck pain
- Loss of balance or inability to walk
If you develop any of these neurological symptoms along with neck pain along with neck pain, seek prompt medical care. For most neck pain however, the underlying cause is mechanical strain or arthritis and is non-life threatening. Still, getting a thorough medical evaluation is prudent, especially if pain lasts over a week or severely limits mobility. Your doctor will perform neurological tests and order x-rays or MRI scans to pinpoint the exact source. An accurate diagnosis is essential for proper treatment.
Here are some common conservative treatments that may help alleviate nonspecific neck pain:
- Over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen can reduce inflammation and pain. Apply heating pads or ice packs to relax tight, spasming muscles.
- Get ample rest and avoid movements or activities that aggravate pain. A soft cervical collar can provide support and immobilization.
- Try gentle stretching, neck rotations and massage therapy to increase range of motion once initial spasms settle. Maintain proper posture and ergonomics.
- See a physical therapist for strengthening/stabilizing exercises, joint mobilization, massage and modalities like ultrasound or TENS therapy.
- Chiropractic manipulation can provide short term relief by mobilizing restricted joints. Acupuncture may release muscle knots and calm irritated nerves.
- Muscle relaxants, antidepressants or anti-seizure drugs may be prescribed to relieve chronic nerve-related pain. Steroid injections around facet joints can reduce localized inflammation.
- Surgery like cervical fusion or disc replacement may be necessary in cases of severe disc herniation, fractures or spinal instability with neurological deficits.
Treating neck pain properly requires identifying the underlying cause, whether it is muscle strain, whiplash, arthritis, disc disease or something more serious like a tumor or infection. While waiting for a definitive diagnosis, using ice, rest, over-the-counter pain medication, gentle stretching and modifying activities can provide relief in many cases of neck discomfort. If pain persists beyond a week or is accompanied by headache and neurological symptoms, be sure to see your doctor promptly. Most neck pain can be successfully managed with a combination of conservative treatments, physical therapy and medications.
