Most people develop neck pain at some point, and the risk is high for those who do repetitive work. Neck pain is also known as cervical spine stenosis and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as headaches or arm and shoulder pain. Patrick S. McNulty, MD is a leading expert on neck pain in Henderson, ready to offer relief from debilitating pain.
Causes of Neck Pain
Several factors can increase the risk of neck pain, such as disorders in the facet or intervertebral joint. It can lead to the narrowing of the nerve outlet opening and pressure towards the neck. A neck pain associated with muscle twisting can be due to a herniated disc and an irritation of the nerve endings.
In addition, the pain can be due to an infection such as meningitis or a viral attack. You may experience discomfort when swallowing due to the tensions in your neck muscles. Also, when you grind your teeth, you may feel pain in the neck.
Strenuous workouts can also cause neck pain, especially when not using the correct form when lifting weights or when doing repetitive motions.
Your nature of work can cause neck pain, more so if you sit in the same position for many hours. Sometimes neck pain can occur due to overload or poor posture. A flexible working arrangement can help solve the problem, such as changing your sitting position from time to time.
Neck pain can also occur when you turn the head suddenly, which can occur due to tension of the muscles.
Symptoms of Neck Pain
The most notable symptom resulting from neck pain is a headache at the back of your head and can radiate to your forehead.
The pain also can be felt around the shoulders and upper arms. Sometimes the headache and pain can occur and radiate to the arms, and you may experience weakness or numbness. You can also experience dizziness, nausea, ringing in your ears, and visual disturbances.
A stiff neck can occur due to muscle tension and cranking in your neck area when walking. You may experience jerky movements when the joints pull apart and create a vacuum. Likewise, a loud crunch in the neck can occur when a bone rubs against another. Neck pain can also be accompanied by a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your doctor will acquire the details for your medical history and conduct a physical examination. The doctor performs a series of tests to assess the mobility of the cervical spine. Imaging tests may be ordered if the neck pain is continuous and fails to respond to therapy.
Treatment options may include pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medications in addition to physical therapy to relieve pain and enable you to live normally. Surgical intervention is necessary if therapy and workouts fail to resolve the problem.
Neck pain is treatable, and you can resume your daily activities quickly if you seek treatment in good time. Contact the experts at McNulty Spine for an examination and treatment.
