Understanding Neck Pain

Understanding Neck Pain

Neck pain is any pain or discomfort felt in the bones (vertebrae), discs between vertebrae, muscles, joints or nerves of the neck. Some such discomfort, such as soreness, can be accompanied by stiffness, or difficulty moving your neck. Numbness, weakness or tingling in the hand or arm may accompany neck pain with compression of nerves.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Like any body pain, the root cause of neck pain can be as simple as muscle tension or muscle strain. However, there are neck pains rooted in disease or less common causes, some of which are:

How Can You Avoid Neck Pain?

For the typical neck pain causing muscle tension and muscle strain, one can likely look toward simple everyday activities. Monitoring your habits, both at home and at work, can help you identify the likely culprits for your neck pain. Keep an eye out:

When Should You Seek Medical Attention for Your Neck Pain?

Some neck pain will go away on its own, but you should be aware that some neck pains combined with other symptoms should be treated as serious. You should seek medical attention immediately if you have:

Even if not an emergency, you should also be aware of when to contact a medical professional if your neck pain is still a concern. Contact your doctor if:

If your neck pain is not severe and does not meet the criteria for immediate or other medical attention, you can also try home care, which can include medicine, ice, heat and other methods.

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