Learn more about neck pain and injuries

So many of us experience some kind of minor neck pain or injuries at some point.  Whether from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or injury, sleeping funny, sitting at a desk looking at a computer, being on the phone too long, sports, recreational activities, or other work related activities neck pain is common.

The pain may feel like “kink”, stiffness or pain, the latter of which can spread to the shoulders, upper back, arms and may even cause a headache.  Movement may be limited.

Any pain from the base of the skull and into the shoulders is referred to as neck pain.

The Neck Includes:

• Bones and joints of the cervical spine (neck)
• Discs separating the cervical vertebrae and absorb the shock from movements
• Muscles and ligaments in the neck holding the cervical spine together.
• Activities that may cause neck pain:
• Holding your head in a forward posture or odd position while working, watching tv, reading, at the computer, using your cell phone, studying etc.
• Sleeping on a pillow that is too high, too flat, doesn’t support your head; sleeping prone with your head twisted or bent.
• Resting your forehead on your first or arm upright (thinker’s pose) for long periods of time.
• Stress. Tensions can make the muscles that run from the back of the head across the back of the shoulders (trapezius) feel tight and painful.

Sudden acute neck injuries:

Tripping, falling a short distance, excessive twisting of the spine, whiplash, falls from higher distances, direct blows to the back of top of head, sports related injuries etc.

Injuries to the ligaments or muscles, i.e. sprains or strains (what’s the difference?) Muscle strain will result in aches and stiffness that spread to the upper arm, shoulder or upper back.

Pinched nerve symptoms will include a shooting pain that spreads down the arm into the hand and fingers.  More serious if it’s in both arms.

Torn or ruptured disc: when the tear is large enough the material inside the disc may leak out (herniated) and press against a nerve or spinal cord.  Symptoms include headache, dizziness, sick to your stomach feeling, pain in shoulders or down your arm.

There are many other causes for neck pain and injury.

Not all neck problems are related to injury.  Neck pain and problems can be related to arthritis, meningitis, the flu, heart attacks, torticollis (severe muscle contraction on one side of the neck causing head to tilt to one side, chin usually rotated towards opposite side of neck.  May be congenital or caused by injury of disease.)

Treatment depends on location, type and severity of the injury; age, health condition and activities (work, sports, hobbies).  A doctor will be best to determine what type of treatment will best suit your condition.  Some possible treatments are, first aid, physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, medicine, surgery.

Some of the areas where physical therapy, exercise and in particular Pilates, can help are in strengthening and stretching, stabilizing the shoulder girdle resulting in less tension in the neck and in particular improvements in postures will usually positively affect neck pain and injuries.

More about neck pain

There are so many pains out there.  Some of the more common ones are back pain, knee pain and neck pain.  What exactly is neck pain?  What causes neck pain? What can be done about it?  Most experience neck pain at some point in their life.

What can cause neck pain?

• poor posture e.g. sitting at a desk or computer for prolonged hours, poor standing posture, sitting at a too low desk, anything that will encourage a forward head posture, stretching neck muscles
• injury, trauma, mechanical or muscular problem
• trapped nerve caused by a bulge in one of the discs between the vertebrae
• arthritis of the neck
• worry or stress
• falling asleep in an awkward position or sleeping on a too soft or on the wrong thickness of pillow

 What does neck pain feel like?

• pain in the neck area
• pain may radiate down to the shoulder, between shoulder blades, out into the arm, hand or up into head causing headaches
• sore, tense muscles in the neck that feel hard to the touch

What to do about neck pain?

• Bed rest isn’t necessary.  Stay as active as possible, try to keep up with a regular routine and normal everyday activities.
• If a neck collar has been prescribed, try not to use it for more than a day or two.
• Neck pain lasting for a longer period of time should be brought to the attention of a doctor or physical therapist.

Additional symptoms to neck pain such as, a co-existing illness, tenderness or pain in the neck bones (cervical vertebrae), pain gets worse despite treatment, one or both arms become affected e.g. persistent numbness, weakness or clumsiness, may mean a more serious underlying problem than just neck pain.

Acute pain at the base of the skull may disappear without treatment. This is probably the best kind of neck pain.  Otherwise, 

Possible treatments for, or ways of alleviating neck pain:

• Chiropractic treatment or physiotherapy and pain-relieving medication may be sufficient for short-term problems.
• For longer-term pain (3 months or greater) some options are, chiropractic treatment, exercise, physiotherapy, postural advice, acupuncture
• Exercise can help restore range of movement, promote strength and ease localized stiffness.
• Learning to relax neck muscles can also help.