Are you suffering from chronic neck pain and looking for neck pain treatment in Krishna Nagar? As we understand, neck pain is a common problem that can affect anyone at any time and at any age. It can occur due to long and poor sitting postures, uncertain injuries and can even be due to age. So, in this guide, we will understand the common causes of neck pain and how it can be treated.
What is Neck Pain?
Neck pain, also known as cervicalgia, can last from a few days to years if not treated on time. Some of the common causes of neck pain include poor sitting posture, physical strain, mental stress, spinal stenosis, tumors and other health problems.
You can suffer either from axial neck pain, a pain that is felt in your neck only or radicular neck pain, a pain that can occur in other body parts such as shoulders and arms. It can last from a few days to months or years if not treated on time.
Neck pain can even reduce your quality of life by not letting you perform daily tasks easily. However, most of the neck pain can be treated well with a physiotherapist in East Delhi.
How does a physiotherapist diagnose neck pain?
With the help of a few medical history questions, physical exams and tests, a physiotherapist diagnoses neck pain.
Medical history-related questions
● Where is your pain, and how often does it occur?
● How and when did the pain start?
● Who Does any activity or position relieve your pain or make it worse?
● What are your work duties and interests?
● How is neck pain affecting your daily life?
Physical Exams & Tests
● X-rays to assess the vertebrae.
● MRI or CT scans to get a detailed look at discs and soft tissues.
● EMG or NCV studies to evaluate muscle and nerve function.
What are the common causes of Neck Pain?
Neck pain can have many causes. Here we will understand a few common reasons.
Age: Aging is one of the most common causes of neck pain. Natural wear and tear can cause the parts of your cervical spine to deteriorate or degenerate, causing the pain. Degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis and spinal stenosis can lead to neck pain.
Injuries: Injuries caused in car accidents where the head jerks forward and backward can hurt the soft tissues of your neck. This injury is also known as whiplash.
Diseases: Certain diseases can also cause chronic neck pain, such as arthritis, meningitis, or cancer.
Worn Joints: Unlike other joints, neck joints can also wear down with age. Neck arthritis can cause severe pain and limit neck movement.
Muscle Strains: Sitting for long hours over a computer, using a smartphone, or even reading a book in bed can cause neck pain. Such poor postures for long hours can pull on your neck muscles, resulting in pain in muscle strain. Neck pain is very common among working employees. They spend hours on computers or laptops while sitting in poor posture.
How to treat neck pain?
Most mild or moderate neck pain can be treated with some simple self-care techniques or medicines. You can purchase medicine from your nearest chemist or simply apply ice or heat packs to ease symptoms.
If you’ve had neck pain for a long time, it’s best to consult a doctor or physiotherapist in East Delhi or nearby. A physiotherapist can help you get relief from your chronic neck pain with the help of a few therapies such as:
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can also be used to improve your sitting position and strengthen the muscles that will help in positioning your neck in a good way. This therapy includes heat, ice or other methods to relieve your pain.
Neck Collar: A neck collar is a soft foam collar designed in a way to help reduce pain by taking pressure off the neck. If your arm pain is linked to a pinched nerve, it can be even more helpful. It’s recommended not to wear a neck collar for more than 2-3 hours a day or 1 to 2 weeks in a row, as it may worsen the condition.
TENS or Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation: Tiny electrical impulses are delivered through patches on the skin. It helps in reducing multiple types of pain. It’s always recommended to consult a therapist before opting for the TENS method.
Steroid Injections: If you are not getting relief with multiple therapies, then your therapist can also suggest steroid injections. They are injected near the nerves, spinal joints, or neck muscles to reduce pain and swelling. Before giving steroids, numbing medicine such as lidocaine can be used.
Dry Needling: Dry needling is generally done to reduce stiffness and improve blood flow in the neck, which can reduce neck pain. Very thin needles are inserted in the tight muscle areas. The process is known as “dry needling” because no medicine is used during the process.
Surgery: In a very rare case, surgery might be required for a neck pain problem. If other therapies or treatments offered by professionals don’t help, surgery may be required.
FAQs
- How to heal neck pain?
With cold or heat therapy, gentle neck movement, or medication, you can help heal mild neck pain. If you still don’t feel relief, consult a physiotherapist.
- How to massage a stiff neck?
First, wrap a towel-covered heating pad around your neck and then gently rub it with your fingertips. Then press and stroke the tense muscles at the back and sides of your neck.
- What causes neck pain?
Neck pain can be caused by multiple reasons such as: growing age, poor posture, worn joints, injuries, trauma or stress, or other health problems.
- Which Vitamin deficiency causes neck pain?
Vitamin B and vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neck pain.
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