Neck Pain - Why Does My Neck Hurt?

Neck pain affects almost two-thirds of the global population at some point in their lives.

Diagnosis and treatment of neck pain conditions is the second largest sector of the chiropractic profession, bested only by low back pain. In much the same way as other spinal complaints, chronic neck pain has a tendency to be hard to diagnose and treat, making life a real challenge for anyone who can't find lasting relief.

Among the many types of neck pain, there are some which stand out as being chronic in nature. These problems may exist due to previous neck injuries, such as whiplash or arthritic degeneration. The most common anatomical issues blamed for causing chronic neck pain are disc pathologies, such as disc desiccation (disc desiccation is abnormal dryness of the discs) and herniations (a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion to bulge out). The second most commonly implicated painful process is osteoarthritis (degradation of the joint). Other types of neck pain may include spinal postural concerns, such as hyperlordosis (too much curve) or hypolordosis (too little of curve), cervical spondylolisthesis (anterior displacement of a vertebra or the vertebral column in relation to the vertebrae below ) or non-spinal issues, such as thoracic outlet syndrome (compression at the superior thoracic outlet that affect the nerves that pass into the arms from the neck, and/or blood vessels that pass between the chest and upper extremity. In some cases neck pain may be from an acute spasm or one or more of the supportive musculature of the neck region. You may have just "over did it!"

If you have had chronic neck pain, you could begin to develop neurological symptoms. These may include numbness, tingling, or a "pins and needles" feeling. Sometimes this can be felt in the fingertips or up and down the arm. This could be an indicator that the neck problem is becoming worse.

Most people do not realize how much stress is on their neck, with its great degree of flexibility and support of your 12-14 pound head, coupled with the fact that it has the least amount of muscular stabilization in the spine. This is why a "whiplash' type injury can have such severe effects. Neck pain may also arise from many other physical and emotional health problems.

The National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine (NCCAM) cites Neck pain as the No. 3 reason why people seek alternative medicine care. Reasons for trying CAM include:

-it may work well in conjunction with more traditional type treatment -other traditional treatments have been tried, with unsatisfactory result -CAM is less expensive than traditional treatment -conventional medical professionals suggest it.

Treatments for the different types of back pain and neck pain range from doing nothing to taking medication and undergoing procedures, such as surgery. Treatment of neck pain depends on the cause. For the vast majority of people, neck pain can be treated conservatively.

If you have neck pain it may be wise to consult with a chiropractor before going to the extent of something much more serious such as surgery. Chiropractic has been found to be beneficial in both acute and chronic mechanical neck disorders.

Your chiropractor will ask a number of questions in his or her initial consultation then they will perform a physical examination. The examination will consist of chiropractic tests, orthopedic tests, and a neurological examination. He or she may also perform xrays or other diagnostic imaging tests to gather as much information as possible. This entire process will allow the chiropractor to get to the cause of your problem and allow him or her to come up with a treatment plan and recommendations for your specific condition.

One thing about neck pain to remember is: the spinal cord runs directly through the middle opening of the vertebrae. It sends signals to every muscle, organ, and system of the body. Between each pair of cervical vertebrae, the spinal cord sends out a nerve that runs anywhere from your neck and upper back down to the hands and fingers. This means that if you get pain, numbness, tinging, cold or other symptoms in your hand and arm, it can actually be a problem in your neck! This can often mimic and can be confused with carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes a similar pain in the wrist and hand.

This is a very general overview of neck pain. Treatment varies from person to person and can involve any of the following: chiropractic, massage therapy and surgery in severe cases. Response to treatment and the length of time it can take, varies from person to person, depending on the level of damage. Chiropractic can be a safe, gentle and effective approach to helping with neck pain conditions.

As with any type of health problem it is recommended to see your health care professional for a further in depth assessment and examination for a more accurate individual treatment recommendation.

Back to top