The neck is made up of vertebrae with a network of joints, ligaments, nerves, bones, and muscles that provide support and aid in the head’s movement. However, the neck can sometimes feel painful because of abnormalities, inflammation, stiffness, poor posture, or injury. Despite these, neck pain is not a severe condition and can be relieved; however, neck pain can show severe signs, requiring a doctor’s attention. If you experience persistent neck pain that is severe and affecting your daily activities, seek immediate intervention by a medical specialist of neck pain in Henderson. The doctor will first look for your condition’s source and then give you a full diagnosis and customize treatment for your neck pain.
What causes neck pain?
Neck pain happens due to various reasons. It ranges from poor posture due to leaning for long, either looking at your phone or computer or stooping too much in your seat. The strain put on the neck pulls the muscles and the connective tissues on the back of the neck, causing pain. The other causes of neck pain include:
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a widespread condition that affects the joints. It causes the bones and discs of the neck’s spine to collapse, causing the bones to rub each other. As a result of this collapse, unusual growths called osteophytes appear on the neck, causing neck pain and stiffness.
Injuries
The neck is prone to accidents such as falling, accidents from cars, and sports injuries. If the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) are injured, it may also affect the spinal cord. Injury may also occur to the neck when there is a sudden movement of the head (jerking) in a whiplash process.
Infections
Neck pain can be caused by bacterial and viral infections that cause painful inflammation on the neck. The neck has blood vessels, muscles, and the lymphatic system. Any infection on any part of these also infects the surrounding areas. Infection of the lymphatic system causes the lymph nodes to swell due to the accumulation of waste and toxic substances from the body; this results in stiffness and pain in the neck. Other infections that cause pain in the neck can include cold and flu, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, mononucleosis, gonorrhea, allergies, GERD, and cancerous tumors.
If you experience neck pain that lasts for long and does not seem to get better, book an appointment with McNulty Spine for a unique diagnosis from certified orthopedic surgeons who will customize a treatment and help you return to everyday life.
When should you see a doctor?
When you experience persistent neck pain that does not seem to get better, if you were involved in an accident, or if the pain becomes severe and is coupled with headache, weakness, numbness, or spreads to the other parts of the body you should see the doctor immediately. It is essential to see the doctor so that it can be established whether the pain is a result of a severe condition. Schedule a consultation with your doctor to start the journey to healing.
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