Neck Pain Tips

Do you suffer from neck pain? Do you sit for long hours without backrest and are used to terrible pains in the neck at the end of the day? Neck pains are very common in people of all age. Though they have various reasons for developing, their solutions can be sometimes the same. If you are suffering from neck pain, then you can try these simple methods and ease it.

1. Drink lots of water: This is quite interesting. Not many know that a person is born with their spinal cord made of eighty percent water. As we age, the water content reduces and the spinal discs regenerate. For those who have neck pains originating from the spinal cord, they should particularly drink lots of water to maintain a hydrated body.
2. Use Mobile Phones Cautiously: Sometimes we are unconscious of the fact that we support our mobile phones with our neck to keep our hands free. This puts a strain on our neck causing it to ache very often. In fact, it also affects the muscles of the neck. This can be a serious cause of chronic neck pain and thus it is advised that one keeps track of how they are holding and using their phones, especially during long conversations.
3. Visit a Physiotherapist: Visiting a physiotherapist is one of the earliest treatments that you can undertake to get quick and easy neck pain relief. The physiotherapists have lots of tricks up their sleeves to provide a quick remedy for your pains. Their treatment also helps in strengthening the neck muscles apart from reducing pain.
4. Ice-Therapy: Usually when it comes to pains, we think of using a hot water bag to soothe the pain. But, interestingly, at times ice-therapy might also help in reducing pains. You can take some ice cubes, crush them and put them in the bag and hold it against the affected area or use an ice bag directly. This helps in calming the muscles and reducing your discomfort.
5. Acupuncture: It is a very advanced and critical form of alternative treatment. Acupuncture must always be undertaken by professionals. Administered in the correct manner, it would help you. But if something goes wrong it can lead to dire consequences.

Thus, these are some of the quick and easy ways to reduce your neck pain discomfort. However, it is recommended that if the pain persists one should go and visit a doctor.

An unpleasant experience which not only disturbs the usual routine of a person but also the psychological peace and causes extreme discomfort is called pain. When this pain involves the region above the neck, below the orbitomeatal line and in front of the ear is called as orofacial pain.

Multiple causes for orofacial pain may exist and the symptoms may include such diverse findings as headaches, neck pain, ear pain, dental pain, facial burning or stabbing sensations, and jaw joint pain.

The complaints may either develop gradually or have a rapid onset and can originate from musculoskeletal, neurovascular or neuropathic causes.

Sources of orofacial pain may include:

1. Trigeminal Neuropathy – ant damage or degeneration to the trigeminal nerves that supply mainly to the facial structures causes the orofacial pain. This is commonly referred to as trigeminal neuralgia.

2. Neurovascular Disorder – migraine is the most common neurovascular disorder that causes radiating pain to the mouth eyes and other facial muscles.

3. Temporomandibular Disorder – the major cause of orofacial pain is the temporomandibular joint disorder which causes pain in the lower jaws. Orofacial pain may also be caused by any temporomandibular joint surgeries and due to failure of joint replacement surgery of the jaw.

4. Burning Mouth Syndrome – this condition is caused due to nerve damage, lack of adequate saliva production, fungal infection, certain medications and also noted for patients with diabetes. Orofacial pain is also noted in burning mouth syndrome.

5. Cervicalgia – pain due to spinal cord injury, damage to a spinal nerve, muscle and ligaments may radiate to face and cause orofacial pain.

6. Trauma – accident is the most common cause of the temporomandibular disorder and other spinal disorder that causes orofacial pain.

7. Sleep disorders – sleep disorders include grinding or clenching of the teeth during sleep may also cause orofacial pain.

Symptoms –

Though orofacial pain is caused by several factors, its symptoms include dental pain, ear pain, neck pain, headache, pain in the jaw joint and stabbing sensation over the face. Some patients may also experience burning sensation over the face. Other symptoms include dizziness, insomnia, tinnitus (abnormal ringing or roaring sound in ears), poor muscle coordination, abnormal itching over the face and neck and tingling sensation.

The neck consists of vertebrae that extend from our upper torso to the skull. It further has cervical disks that absorb any kind of shock between the bones and prevent them from breaking. The muscles, bones and ligaments present in our neck support the head. Any kind of abnormalities and injuries can be a cause for neck pain. These include:

1. Muscle tension - This is usually caused by:
   • • A poor posture
   • • Working at a desk or in front of the computer for too long
   • • Sleeping in a bad position
   • • Jerking your head during physical activity or sport.
2. Injury: The neck is highly vulnerable to injuries especially during car accidents, sports and falls. An injury in the neck occurs when the ligaments present inside it start to move out of their usual positions or range. It happens when you have had a whiplash of your head.
3. Heart attack: In some cases, neck pain can also be a symptom of a heart attack at times. However, it is usually combined with other symptoms when it shows up. These are:
   • Difficulty breathing
   • Nausea
   • Excessive sweating
   • Vomiting
   • Jaw pain
   • Pain in the left arm
4. Meningitis: When the tissue surrounding the back of the neck starts to get swollen, it is known as meningitis. It can be fatal at times and should be considered a medical emergency.

In the case of the following symptoms show up, you need to see a doctor:

1. Nausea
2. Lump in the neck
3. Severe neck pain without a cause
4. Swollen glands
5. Weakness
6. Numbness
7. Tingling sensations all over the body
8. Trouble breathing or swallowing
9. Heavy headaches

How is neck pain treated?
The first step towards the treatment of neck pain is determining the cause of the pain. this can be determined by:

1. Blood tests
2. X-rays
3. CT scans
4. Electromyography that allows your doctor to check how healthy your muscles are
5. Lumbar puncture or a spinal tap, which might be a little painful

Here are some of the conventional home treatment methods can be tried at home:

• Applying cold and hot pads for pain relief
• Exercising, mainly stretching
• A neck collar of your size
• Traction
• Antibiotics if recommended
• Injections
• Pain medications
• Better sleeping postures
• Maintaining a good posture

Always take good care of your health as well as fitness. Make sure that you sit and stand in proper postures and do not spend your entire day at a desk or in front of a computer. Even if you have to, have brief exercising or stretching sessions in between breaks.

The most common cause of neck pain can be cervical disc disease. It is generally caused by the abnormality of the disc that is the cushion present between the vertebrae. The disc can get damaged because of arthritis or any unknown cause. When damaged it usually leads to inflammation or spasm of the muscles leading to neck pain. There are a number of pain medications, traction exercises, and physical therapy for minimizing neck pain.

However, these home-based remedies help to relieve pain along with a speedy recovery: 

1. Take it Easy: If you have busy and hectic lives then take it easy. Living with cervical disc diseases can lead to an increase in the neck pain; thus cutting down on activities helps. A comfortable position should be observed while resting. If need be then a pillow can be placed under the neck.

2. Apply Cold/Heat Pack: There is always a confusion regarding whether a cold or a hot pack is to be used. The recommendation is to use ice or cold pack for the first 24 to 48 hours of the injury so that the swelling subsides. This should then be followed by hot fermentation in order to improve the muscle stiffness and also loosen them. But in case of cervical disc disease, neither cold nor heat penetrates the tissue to relieve inflammation, so it is best to use the one which feels better. Whichever pack is chosen it should only be used for 20 minutes and then left for 40 minutes. Take care not to use ice or heat should never be used directly against the skin. 

3. Stretch: Stretching exercises should be done in order to improve flexibility and relieve pain in the neck. Exercises can be performed once the warming up of the muscles by a warm towel or bath has been done. Here are a few simple stretches for cervical disc disease that you can do at home:

• Move the neck: As per the study by the American Medical Association, women who had neck pain got relief when they did exercises using lightweight and resistance bands. This increased the endurance and strength of the neck muscles. Also, 30 minutes of exercise in the form of biking, walking, swimming, and biking is recommended to improve the blood flow.
• Maintain the posture of the neck: A bad posture can cause neck pain. Every time while standing, sitting, walking, lifting the posture should be kept in mind. The head and neck should be kept straight and the back should be supported in order to avoid neck pains.

Neck pain is fairly common among adults. It results from the soft tissues such as ligaments, muscles and tendons. It can result from spasms and muscle strain from neck problems such as disc degeneration and spinal stenosis. Be it a chronic pain or a sudden one, addressing it is important to get on with the daily office life. 

Here is a list of some quick solutions, which when followed can give considerable relief from the pain:

1. Computer should be at eye level: While sitting at it you must ensure that the middle of the computer screen is parallel to the eye. If it is required that you bend your neck to view the screen, then you should adjust the screen, without bending your neck. This happens most often while working with a laptop. The chair length can be adjusted to fix this problem.
2. Refrain from neck straining while typing: If typing requires straining the neck, it should be ensured that the same doesn’t happen. This is the case while texting in a mobile. A better solution is to fix this is to take the mobile at a level which does not require the neck bend down. It will ensure that the joints and discs of the neck are not stressed.
3. Use headset: If the work demands longer time on the phone, instead of bending the neck it makes sense to use a headset. Practicing the chin tuck exercise can help in this case. This exercise can strengthen the soft muscles of the neck. It also maintains the alignment of the head and the shoulder.
4. Stay hydrated: Enough hydration is necessary to ensure spinal alignment and disc height. Hydration also takes a eases the spine and relaxes the soft muscles. A practice of adequate hydration throughout the day can help stop the degeneration of the cervical disc. While drinking water is a matter of practice, keeping a water bottle serves as a constant reminder to drink it throughout the day. Keeping an alarm after 2 hours also serves as a constant reminder to drink water.
5. Carrying weight: One common mistake committed by most people is to carry weight with one hand. Since the load doesn’t distribute evenly, it strains the neck muscles causing pain. It should be ensured that the office briefcase or the heavy purse is carried with equal stress on both the shoulders. This will ensure a painless day at the office.
6. Maintaining a good posture: Poor sitting or walking posture is often the cause of neck pain. While sitting it should be ensured that the back is straight and rests in the chair once in awhile. The neck and head should fall in a line while working.

As we get older, the physical components of the body start wearing out, and the effects are felt in the joints, ligaments, intervertebral discs, and spine. Spondylitis is a form of arthritis that affects the human spine. A degenerative spinal disorder, it originates in degradations in the quality of human bones.

Spondylitis may affect all parts of the spine and causes pain in the neck (cervical spine) and the back of the body (thoracic or lumbar spine). Symptoms of this degenerative ailment include pain and stiffness in the neck and back regions. The condition often reduces the range of motion and movements possible in human beings. Thankfully, medical science has fashioned various effective means to cope with this problem.

1. Exercising: Regular physical workouts help to lubricate the discs of the spine and counter degeneration of the discs. Exercise also helps the body to remain strong and supple with the passage of time. If you are already affected by spondylitis, it is best to avoid high-impact exercises, such as running, since the shock of impact can worsen the condition. Talk to your physiotherapist about managing the condition effectively.
2. Yoga Postures: Some yoga postures like Bridge and the Cobra pose can stretch the muscles of the neck while making them stronger. The benefits of Yoga are not just limited to improving the neck and the back. They help to make the body stronger and more flexible. Yoga also confers proven benefits to mental health in human beings.
3. Accentuating the ergonomics: The ergonomics of the workplace can make a significant difference to the health of the employees. Right from the lighting to the height of the desk to the placement of the laptop or the computer all of these actions play a crucial role in improving the comfort of the spine. While sitting, the back of the back should be tilted at 10 to 15 degrees back rather than being straight as a rod. Tall individuals should adjust their chairs to offer support to their thighs. You should also take a break from the workstation every 30 minutes and stretch the body.
4. Early diagnosis: Even ten years back, the condition of spondylitis affected people aged more than 60 years. However, in recent times, people as young as 40 years suffer from neck and back pain. Most cases of spondylitis are triggered by repeated injury and stiffness owing to the lack of adequate movement. Health experts recommend early detection of the condition. Those suffering from the condition should take measures to alleviate the disease instead of ignoring it.

Another thing that deserves mention in this regard is avoiding painkillers every time the pain strikes. Chemical interventions are not the best course of recommended actions. Doctors suggest that it is best not to depend on any medications but to seek natural means of improving the condition and arresting any deterioration.

1. Sitting for long hours in front of the computer and mobile screens is a major cause of neck and lower back pain, take regular breaks in between working hours

2. Lack of exercise leading to weakness of back muscles causes early fatigue of muscles, spare 30 minutes for jogging, running, back strengthening exercises

3. Weight gain, BMI more than 24 another important factor due to lifestyle and food habits, cut down junk and carbs, consume more salad and fibre diet

4. Vitamin d deficiency along with mineral deficiency is so common due to lack of sun exposure and healthy diet, take vitamin d and multivitamins

5. Stress is an additional insult on the body, enjoy your hobbies, spend time with family, friends, utilize weekend for sports etc, rather than sleeping alone

6. Smoking, alcohol addiction has been shown to worsen the back pain, try rehabilitation and self-introspection and exploration

7. Posture correction is very important as bad posture precipitates pain, try posture correction belts and sit leaning back as much as possible and keep the laptop at eye level

8. Do not ignore warning signs like evening rise of temperature, loss of appetite, weight loss more than 10%, radiation of pain down the thigh, weakness or numbness of arms and legs

9. Talk to your body and consult regarding your health with a doctor and get whole body checkups on a yearly basis at least

10. Ask questions always, don't hesitate!

Neck pain is fairly common among adults. It results from the soft tissues such as ligaments, muscles and tendons. It can result from spasms and muscle strain from neck problems such as disc degeneration and spinal stenosis. Be it a chronic pain or a sudden one, addressing it is important to get on with the daily office life. 

Here is a list of some quick solutions, which when followed can give considerable relief from the pain:

1. Computer should be at eye level: While sitting at it you must ensure that the middle of the computer screen is parallel to the eye. If it is required that you bend your neck to view the screen, then you should adjust the screen, without bending your neck. This happens most often while working with a laptop. The chair length can be adjusted to fix this problem.
2. Refrain from neck straining while typing: If typing requires straining the neck, it should be ensured that the same doesn’t happen. This is the case while texting in a mobile. A better solution is to fix this is to take the mobile at a level which does not require the neck bend down. It will ensure that the joints and discs of the neck are not stressed.
3. Use headset: If the work demands a longer time on the phone, instead of bending the neck it makes sense to use a headset. Practising the chin tuck exercise can help in this case. This exercise can strengthen the soft muscles of the neck. It also maintains the alignment of the head and the shoulder.
4. Stay hydrated: Enough hydration is necessary to ensure spinal alignment and disc height. Hydration also takes a eases the spine and relaxes the soft muscles. A practice of adequate hydration throughout the day can help stop the degeneration of the cervical disc. While drinking water is a matter of practice, keeping a water bottle serves as a constant reminder to drink it throughout the day. Keeping an alarm after 2 hours also serves as a constant reminder to drink water.
5. Carrying weight: One common mistake committed by most people is to carry weight with one hand. Since the load doesn’t distribute evenly, it strains the neck muscles causing pain. It should be ensured that the office briefcase or the heavy purse is carried with equal stress on both the shoulders. This will ensure a painless day at the office.
6. Maintaining a good posture: Poor sitting or walking posture is often the cause of neck pain. While sitting it should be ensured that the back is straight and rests in the chair once in a while. The neck and head should fall in a line while working.

The neck and back are closely related, and pain in one area can easily affect the other. Both neck and back pain have become lifestyle problems, due to prolonged sitting and incorrect working postures. Treating one area can help in subtly treating the other and also reduce the onset of pain.

Pain in neck and back can be due to strained muscles, wrong posture, injury or stress due to knots in muscles and can be easily treated with a number of ways such as physical therapy, muscle relaxants and trigger point injection. Also, facet joint arthritis occurs due to degeneration of joints in elderly, excessive strain in some type of jobs or injury. Physical therapy along with injection in the nerves that carry a message from these joints to the brain along with medications that can numb sensation and Radiofrequency Rhizotomy for long-term relief is performed by pain specialists. Disc prolapse of neck/ lumbar vertebrae can also cause back pain.

Read on to know the best ways to manage back and neck pain, as the following techniques work for both.

• Ice and heat therapy: Alternating heat and ice therapy can help reduce pain. It helps by reducing the sensation of pain and improving blood flow, thereby providing relief.
• Physical therapy: Exercising and stretching, whether as a preventive measure or as a part of therapy, can work wonders. It improves the agility of the bones and tendons, improves movement, reduces stiffness, and relieves pain. A program should be drawn up based on the patient’s overall health condition and symptoms. Patients should be monitored for any improvements or changes in symptoms.
• Pain medication: When nothing else works, then pain medications become the next course of action. These can be taken for immediate relief, but cannot treat the pain permanently.
• Steroids: Injecting corticosteroids into the bone and joint spaces can help with acute pain management.
• Collar or brace: A neck collar or brace is used to keep the neck in place to reduce movement and provide support, thereby, it helps in reducing pain.
• Acupuncture: Each area has associated pressure points in the body. These pressure points are identified and needles are applied to provide relief from pain.
• Massage: The Massage can help by stimulating tissues, improve blood flow and also to relax muscles. The herbal oils that are used provide added benefit too, and so periodic massages are being widely used for pain management of neck and back.
• Chiropractic therapy: This involves manipulation of the spinal cord with the belief that the spinal cord could be incorrectly settled. The cord is manipulated to get it to the correct location, thereby relieving pain and stiffness and improving movement
• TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation): The nerve in the affected area is stimulated by electrical impulses, thereby providing pain relief. This needs to be repeated at frequent intervals and is often reserved for acute cases.
• Surgery: Often, used as a last resort, where all other measures have failed. Whether it is a herniated disk or a pinched nerve, the cause is identified and then surgery planned.

The most common cause of neck pain can be cervical disc disease. It is generally caused by the abnormality of the disc that is the cushion present between the vertebrae. The disc can get damaged because of arthritis or any unknown cause. When damaged, it usually leads to inflammation or spasm of the muscles leading to neck pain.

There are a number of pain medications, traction exercises, and physical therapy for minimizing the neck pain. However, these home based remedies help in relieving pain along with a speedy recovery:

• Take it easy: If you have a busy and hectic life, then take it easy. Living with cervical disc diseases can lead to an increase in the neck pain; thus cutting down on activities helps. A comfortable position should be observed while resting. If need be then a pillow can be placed under the neck.
• Apply Cold/Heat Pack: There is always a confusion regarding whether a cold or a hot pack is to be used. The recommendation is to use ice or cold pack for the first 24 to 48 hours of the injury, so that the swelling subsides. This should then be followed by hot fermentation in order to improve the muscle stiffness and also loosen them. But in case of a cervical disc disease neither cold nor heat penetrates the tissue to relieve inflammation, so it is best to use the one which feels better. Whichever, pack is chosen it should only be used for 20 minutes and then left for 40 minutes. Take care and do not use ice or heat directly against the skin. 
• Stretch: Stretching exercises should be done in order to improve the flexibility and relieve pain in the neck. Exercises can be performed after warming up of the muscles by a warm towel or bath. Here are a few simple stretches for cervical disc disease that you can do at home:
• Move the neck: As per the study by the American Medical Association, women who had neck pain got relief when they did exercises using light weight and resistance bands. This increased their endurance and strength of the neck muscles. Also, 30 minutes of exercise in the form of biking, walking, swimming, and biking is recommended to improve the blood flow.
• Maintain the posture of the neck: A bad posture can cause a neck pain. Every time while standing, sitting, walking, lifting the posture should be kept in mind. The head and neck should be kept straight and the back should be supported in order to avoid neck pains.