Neck pain
Causes of neck pain
Neck pain or stiffness can happen for a variety of reasons such as:
- Muscle tension and strain due to poor posture while working, sleeping, reading
- Injuries due to sudden jerk to the neck during exercise or whiplash injury in car collisions
- Carrying heavy weight on shoulder, such as bag, purse, etc
- Medical conditions such as Osteoarthritis, pinched nerves, slipped (herniated) disk, fibromyalgia, infection, spinal stenosis
- Due to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if you have following symptoms:
- lump in your neck
- loss of bowel or bladder control
- numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both legs, especially if pain extends below the knee
- difficulty in swallowing or breathing
- presence of fever, headache, nausea or vomiting
Treatment of neck pain
Below are some common treatments that are likely to be suggested.
- Ice and heat therapy
- Exercise, stretching & physiotherapy
- neck collar, traction
- pain medication & muscle relaxants
