The neck is a small but critical part of your body. You may take it for granted until numbness and tingling make it difficult to sleep, or sharp pain prevents you from turning your head. What could be causing your pain? Get to the bottom of it so you can take steps to treat and prevent neck pain.
Muscle Pain
An aching neck is often the result of overexerted muscles. They may be strained from prolonged physical activity or tense from excessive emotional stress. The neck is a likely spot for hard, knotted areas, called trigger points, to form. These may be tender to the touch and make your neck feel tense and inflexible.
Muscle Spasms
A spasm is a sudden, powerful tightening of the neck muscles. If you wake up with neck pain in the morning, this is most likely caused by a muscle spasm. This can happen as the result of a muscle injury or in response to a spinal disc or nerve problem. Even emotional stress can cause muscle spasms.
Headaches
Headaches that form at the base of the skull are usually the result of muscle tension or spasms. Neck-related headaches are usually described as a dull or aching pain rather than sharp or sudden. Moving your neck usually makes the pain worse.
Facet Joint Pain
Facet joints are those located between the vertebrae in your spine. When these are to blame for your neck problems, you might feel a deep, sharp, or aching pain that radiates into your shoulders or upper back, especially when you lean your head toward the affected side. If you have arthritis in your facet joints, your neck pain might be worst in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
Nerve Pain
You might have a pinched nerve in your spine, which causes sharp but brief pain, sometimes followed by the sensation of pins and needles. Depending on which nerve is involved, you might also feel pain shoot down your arm or into your hand.
Referred Pain
This problem can occur when a health issue in one part of the body manifests elsewhere. For instance, neck pain when you eat could stem from a problem in your esophagus, while neck pain that worsens when you’re physically active could signal a heart problem.
Bone Pain
Most neck pain stems from soft tissues, but bones can also be the culprit. Bone pain requires medical attention because it could signal a serious health problem.
Lifestyle Habits that Cause Neck Pain
Your neck is responsible for bearing the weight of your 11-pound head, so it’s no wonder it hurts sometimes. Here are some habits that can cause neck pain and how to address each one.
- Poor posture: Slouching or craning your head up or down for a long time can cause a crick in your neck. Aim to stand tall with your shoulders over your hips and your ears above your shoulders. Make sure your computer desk is arranged ergonomically, with a comfortable chair and monitor set at eye level.
- Repetitive movements: Avoid tasks that require you to hold your head in an awkward position or move it repetitively for an extended period.
- Bad sleeping habits: If you routinely wake up with a sore neck, experiment with different pillows. Sleep on your back or side, not on your stomach, to allow the muscles and ligaments in your neck to remain properly aligned with the rest of your spine.
- Grinding your teeth: Try sleeping with a special mouthguard designed to help you stop grinding your teeth. This can help prevent neck pain caused by muscle tension.
- Carrying a heavy backpack or purse: Use both straps when you wear a backpack, and switch your purse between shoulders if you must carry it for a long time.
Seek Neck Pain Treatment at Spine Correction Center
Understanding why your neck hurts and how to avoid it is one thing, but treating existing pain effectively is another thing entirely. At Spine Correction Center of the Rockies, we tackle neck pain with non-invasive, drug-free techniques, such as chiropractic care and massage. We use advanced diagnostic equipment to pinpoint the precise cause of your pain to ensure our treatment methods are effective.
If you’re struggling with numbness, tingling, or neck pain that won’t heal, please call us at (970) 658-5115 today to schedule a free consultation. We can discuss your concerns in person, over the phone, or online.
