January 22, 2025

Neck pain can be extremely painful and very disconcerting. But it has now become a common ailment. Most people will have experienced neck pain of some intensity at some point in time. Those who work on computers are more susceptible because they have to spend long times in one position staring at the monitor. There are many other reasons why neck pains occur and some of them can be from other medical conditions or from a simple thing like wrong sleeping position. The most common types of neck pains are:-

1. Muscle Pain: Overexertion or prolonged physical or emotional stress might cause neck muscle to become sore and painful. They develop hard knots.
2. Headache: Muscle tension or spasm often causes neck-related headache and is often felt in back of the head or upper neck. It is not a sharp pain but dull or aching. Moving the neck usually makes it worse.
3. Muscle spasm: This results from sudden tightening of neck muscles. It can be due to muscle injury and makes it impossible to turn the neck.
4. Nerve pain: When the nerves of the spinal roots are irritated or pinched may cause the neck to feel pain ranging from fleeting to severe and sometimes accompanies by pins and needles. It may sometimes even shoot down the arm or even to the hand.
5. Facet joint pain: Facet joint, or part of the vertebrae of the neck, sometimes develops sharp pain that may gravitate towards the shoulders. It worsens if you lean your head towards the affected side.
6. Referred pain: This pain occurs when some other part of the body is affected and it causes a pain in the neck (pun unintended). For example, if you feel pain in the neck when you eat, it may be due to a problem in the esophagus.
7. Bone pain: Cervical vertebrae pain is less common and it needs immediate medical attention as it may be due to a more serious health problem.

When neck pain first occurs, it may be addressed with life style changes and simple exercises. Sometimes, you might even take medication available over the counter at most pharmacies. But if it persists, it is prudent to consult your doctor. In no case should persisting neck pain be ignored or treated with continuous pain killers or creams, balms and sprays.

pic courtesy: medium.com