What's Causing Your Ongoing Neck Pain?
Posted on: 10 August 2020
It's not at all unusual to wake up with a stiff or sore neck now and then. However, if your neck is sore day after day, week after week, there is probably an underlying cause that deserves some attention. Every case is different, and you should certainly consult with your doctor to determine the underlying cause of your neck pain. In the meantime, though, take a look at these possibilities.
Muscle Strain From Poor Posture
Arguably the most common cause of ongoing neck pain is ongoing poor posture. If you work at a desk, staring at a screen all day, then hunching over and looking down can put strain on the muscles to either side of your spine in your neck. Consider moving your computer screen higher so you can hold your head higher as you work, or consider working at a standing desk, which tends to reduce the tendency to slump.
Lingering Whiplash
Think back over the last few years of your life. Were you in a car crash or did you suffer any other type of trauma that resulted in neck pain? What you're dealing with could be lingering whiplash symptoms from that incident. Sometimes the symptoms even go away for a little while and then come back, which causes patients to overlook whiplash as the cause. If your doctor determines this is your issue, they may recommend chiropractic care, cold laser therapy, and massage to finally stimulate the injury to heal.
Nerve Compression
If a muscle somewhere in your neck is inflamed, it could be pressing on a nerve, and that nerve compression could be leading to your pain. Sometimes scar tissue forms around a nerve, so the compression remains even after the muscle inflammation itself goes away. Nerve compression sometimes resolves with injections of cortisone. Other times, surgery is needed — but luckily, removing the scar tissue tends to be a simple procedure.
Arthritis
There are joints in your neck, and like any other joints, they can develop arthritis. If you are someone who used your neck extensively, perhaps in playing a sport, or who suffered a neck injury in the past, you are at an increased risk for arthritis. NSAID pain relievers and topical creams can typically ease the pain and stiffness.
Do not ignore ongoing neck pain. Regardless of its cause, there are ways you and your doctor can manage and treat it, restoring your comfort. If you suffer from neck pain, speak with a professional about treatment options.
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