Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common complaint. Neck muscles can be strained or tense from poor posture — such as leaning over your computer. It is also the area that tenses with stress and anxiety. Another common cause is Osteoarthritis. It’s rare for a more serious problem to be the cause of neck pain but if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands or if you have shooting pain into your shoulder or down your arm we would recommend that you consult your GP.
What causes Neck Pain?
Your neck is flexible and supports the weight of your head, so it can be vulnerable to injuries and conditions that cause pain and restrict motion.
Causes of Neck Pain Include:
- Muscle strains; Overuse, such as too many hours hunched over your computer or your smartphone, often triggers muscle strains.
- Worn joints; Just like the other joints in your body, your neck joints tend to wear down with age. Osteoarthritis causes the cushions (cartilage) between your bones (vertebrae) to deteriorate. Your body then forms extra bits of bone - spurs that affect joint motion and cause pain.
- Nerve compression; Herniated discs or bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck can press on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord.
- Injuries; Such as those involved in road traffic accidents causing whiplash injuries which occurs when the head is jerked backward and then forward, straining the soft tissues of the neck. (We recommend that you seek medical advice if you experience this type of injury)
- Diseases; Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer, can cause neck pain.(Rare, but again require medical attention).
At The BackBone Osteopathic Practice our team of Osteopaths are skilled in assessing and diagnosing the possible cause of your pain. Our aim is to provide you with long-term pain relief and if necessary we always refer you back to your GP for further tests or treatment.
