Finally, take inventory of your posture or daily habits that could trigger neck pain, like sitting for extended periods in positions that strain the neck during reading, TV watching, computer work, or sleeping. Attending to the cause may stop some flare-ups of neck pain at the source. If neck pain is severe, lasts for weeks or months, drastically limits your ability to move your head, radiates into the shoulders, or feels worse in the morning, consider seeing a doctor.
Fever or weakness or numbness in the arms are other "red flags" that warrant additional evaluation. In some cases, an underlying physical problem, such as arthritis, an infection, or a compressed nerve, may be the cause. Depending on the diagnosis, you may need additional treatments or even surgery to relieve the pain and get back to your normal activities. Be sure to keep your head level; you should be gliding your head backward, not bending or tipping it. Hold for five seconds.
Repeat five times. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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Recent Blog Articles. Due to its mobility and high use, the neck is prone to injury and developing conditions that make movement difficult and painful.
Listed below are some causes of neck pain:. Icing works for strains and injuries in the neck. It can help reduce swelling, inflammation, and relieve pain. Here are some tips when using ice for neck pain:. If you have been suffering from chronic neck pain, it is possible that misaligned bones in your upper cervical spine caused it.
The C1 atlas and C2 axis vertebrae that sit in the upper cervical spine can easily misalign due to whiplash or other traumas to the head and neck. If these bones are misaligned, they can impact the entire body and cause conditions such as neck pain. We know the connection between the bones of the neck and how their misalignment leads to many health problems.
We are trained to locate and correct these misalignments using imaging and scientific measurements. Once we detect a misalignment, we then perform a method that is more effective and natural than forcing the bones to return into place by popping or cracking the spine.
Instead, we maintain a gentle approach that encourages the bones to move back naturally, resulting in a longer-lasting adjustment.
Want to get help from a neck pain chiropractor in San Diego? Call us and schedule a session. Our adjustments can assist you toward reduction or even elimination of your neck pain.
Facebook Twitter RSS. Neck Pain Symptoms Symptoms of neck pain can be different for every individual, but these are some of the most common ones experienced by many people: Inability to move your head without pain Neck muscle tightness and spasms Headaches Pain that worsens when holding your head in one spot for long periods Neck Pain Causes The neck can move in many directions and does the tough job of supporting the weight of the head.
Listed below are some causes of neck pain: Muscle strains : Often caused by overuse, such as looking down over your phone or leaning forward over the computer. Simple things, including clenching your teeth or reading in bed, can result in muscle strain. Worn out joints : As people age, the joints of the neck and the rest of the body wear down. Use heat before stretching or doing a home exercise program. You can still use ice or cold treatment after exercise or activities to prevent any flare of inflammation.
The inflammation of joints or pain caused by worn-away cartilage in joints can cause pain and stiffness in places like your elbows, knees, shoulders and fingers, just to name a few. The one arthritis experience that ice is best for, according to Dr. Mileti, is with a gout flare-up.
When the sudden onset of pain and inflammation strikes individual joints, ice can calm the flare-ups while also helping to numb the pain. Some are lighter, easily treated with OTC pain relievers while others require some extra steps for relief. Ice can help soothe throbbing pain in your head. While ice is usually preferred for headaches, moist heat or a heat wrap can relax neck spasms that contribute to headaches.
Muscle strains and sprains usually benefit from a combo of both ice and heat when they occur. Only after the inflammation resolves is it a good idea to switch to heat; this can help relieve any muscle stiffness at the injury site.
Tendinitis is a painful inflammation issue that affects the tendons, the connective tissues between your muscles and bones.
A common cause is repetitive activities so tendons in your elbow, knee, shoulder, hip and even your Achilles tendon are common sites. Besides the usual measures to alleviate the pain — rest, pausing of activities that cause pains, OTC pain relievers — ice is the preferred method here as it can ease the inflammation and help numb the pain. Because this condition involves irritation and stiffness in tendons attached to joints, heat is best for relieving stiffness in the joints, but only after the inflammation resolves.
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