Neck pain is a very common ailment and can stem from a large variety of things. It is estimated that 60-70% of the population will suffer from neck pain at some point in their lives. It can sometimes be severe enough that it can interrupt your day to day activities. Some common causes of neck pain are whiplash, neck injuries, and even poor posture. Different types of neck pain that we treat are Acute Cervical Sprains/Strains, Cervical Radiculopathy, Muscle Spasms/Myofascial Pain Syndrome, and non-specific types of neck pain.
Being the most mobile segment of the spine, the cervical spine is very susceptible to strains and sprains. Luckily, they are a soft tissue injury and are easily treated. Symptoms of cervical sprains and strains are sharp pain, swelling, stiffness, and difficulty moving the neck. If your injury is the result of whiplash, some additional symptoms to look out for are dizziness, headache, shoulder discomfort, and difficulty swallowing.
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Cervical Radiculopathy, commonly called a “pinched nerve”, is a damage or disturbance of nerve function that causes pain in the upper body. This can be caused from normal wear and tear of your body as you age, conditions such as arthritis, or a sudden injury. Common symptoms of Cervical Radiculopathy are muscle weakness and numbness from the arm into the hand, pain radiating into the shoulder, and a tingling sensation in the shoulder, arm, or hand.
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Muscle spasms in the neck are involuntary contractions of the muscles, where the muscles get hard, tight, and painful. Myofascial Pain Syndrome occurs when you get repeated muscle spasms in your neck. This can be caused by stress, muscle tension, repetitive motions, and more. Some common symptoms of Myofascial Pain Syndrome and muscle spasms are a tender knot in the muscle, a persistent, aching pain that sometimes worsens, and sometimes headaches.
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Sometimes there isn’t a specific cause for your neck pain. Most often, it is temporary and will disappear in a few days. Other times, you will need treatment, such as manual therapy, deep tissue mobilization, and more. Some common causes of non-specific neck pain are falling, whiplash, and poor posture, especially at the computer or work desk. Symptoms are a sharp pain in the neck, restricted movement, weakness in the arm or hand, and numbness or tingling.
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Radiating neck pain is when there is pain that can go from the neck region and then extend elsewhere to another part or area of the body. Individuals who experience radiating neck pain often feel pain down to their shoulder, arm, back, and shoulder blade.
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We treat all forms of neck pain at any of our offices. We have hundreds of locations across the United States. If you would like to set up an appointment, please fill out our online form. We look forward to seeing you!
