Neck Pain - What Are The Causes Of It?

Muscle strains are the most common cause of neck pain. This may be triggered by overuse, bad posture, keeping the neck bent for extended periods of time or any other action that may strain the muscles. Injuries that make the head jerk back and forth suddenly can strain the soft tissues of the neck and cause neck pain. The development of bone spurs on the cervical vertebrae or herniated discs could compress nerve ending and cause pain. In addition, like any other joint, the neck also undergoes wear and tear with age. Osteoarthritis can cause cartilage between the vertebrae to collapse thus making moving the head painful and difficult.

Exercising can help prevent neck pain as well as reduce neck pain. The best exercises for your neck will stretch the muscles and strengthen them while simultaneously repositioning the load-bearing joints of the neck and head to relieve stiffness and neck pain. Rotating your neck and moving the head up and down can very effective in relieving neck pain. However, it is best to consult a doctor or physiotherapist in case of severe neck pain before attempting anything on your own.

The spine supporting the neck or cervical vertebrae is made up of 7 vertebrae interspersed with discs. A disease of injury to any one of these bones or discs can cause neck pain. Neck pain can also be caused by an injury or trauma to the neck muscles, arteries, lymph nodes, veins, larynx, esophagus or trachea. Additionally, diseases that affect the thyroid gland and parathyroid glands in the neck can also trigger neck pain. Thus when diagnosing the cause for neck pain, your doctor will not only try to pin point the location of the pain but will also check if the pain is influenced by turning or repositioning the head.

Neck pain usually resolves itself in a few days, but the pain that lasts longer than 6 weeks should not be ignored. In rare cases, neck pain can be a symptom of more serious conditions like neck cancer. This type of pain is usually constant and worsens with time. It may be worse at night and unaffected by over the counter pain relievers.