Neck Pain

What Causes Neck Pain?

Most people experience neck pain at some point in their lives. It is a common issue with many causes that can impact health and quality of life, making it crucial to get the right diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Some symptoms associated with neck pain include:

• Stiffness

• Radiating pain

• Numbness and tingling

• Balance issues

• Loss of fine motor skills

These symptoms can be mild but become progressively more severe if you do not get the appropriate treatment. The right diagnosis is essential for identifying the best treatment options, so you may need X-rays, blood tests, MRI scans, or other tests to pinpoint the exact problem.

Mechanical and Structural Causes of Neck Pain

The most common cause of neck pain is muscle strain. This occurs when the fibers in the neck muscles stretch farther than they should and tear.

Posture can have an impact on whether you suffer from muscle strain, as can moving your neck incorrectly during exercise or even while you sleep. Overuse of the neck muscles can also be a concern.

Neck injuries can also cause cervical pain. Trauma, such as a fall, car accident or sports injury, can force your neck muscles and ligaments to move outside of their range. In addition to muscle strain, injuries can cause damage to the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Conditions That May Cause Neck Pain

Spinal stenosis can be another cause of neck pain. Spinal stenosis is narrowing of the space available for the spinal cord or nerve roots for various reasons. This narrowing in turn, causes pressure/pinching of the nerves. In most cases this condition is caused by wear and tear over time.

Degenerative disc disease (osteoarthritis) is another condition that can cause neck pain. Discs function as cushions between the bones and as people age, they become dry and wear down. In more advanced cases one of more levels can become “bone on bone” causing pain and discomfort.

Less common causes of neck pain are meningitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Although these conditions are fairly rare, they should never be overlooked as possible reasons one may experience neck pain.

Fibromyalgia is another potential culprit of neck pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition in which you experience muscle pain throughout your body, and it often affects the neck and shoulder region.

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