WHAT CAUSES NECK PAIN
Neck pain can develop from one of many sources. The main goal is to determine if the pain is coming from muscle, joint, or nerve dysfunction. Most often, it is a combination of all three. By locating the source of the pain, your likelihood of fixing the problem are optimal
What is it?
Neck pain can develop from one of many sources. The main goal is to determine if the pain is coming from muscle, joint or nerve dysfunction. Most often it is a combination of all three. By locating the source of the pain, your likelihood of fixing the problem are optimal.
1) Muscle Tissue: Muscle pain can manifest itself as tightness, soreness, inability to recover, or a deep ache. If it is muscle related, you may also notice slight reductions in your range of motion. Always remember though, muscle becomes tight and dysfunctional for a reason. So other areas and components must be assessed as well.
2) Joint Dysfunction / Misalignments: The vertebrae of the spine are a complex unit of moving parts that if not working properly together, can lead to neck pain. Joint dysfunction can range from mild changes in joint motion, all the way to severe damage in the discs and bones themselves. Proper joint motion is like the gears of a car engine, they need to run correctly so they last as long as possible.
3) Nerve Pain / Discomfort: Nerve pain can manifest as many different types of discomfort. Ranging from numbness, tingling, burning, or shooting pain. If you are experiencing nerve pain, see a Health Professional IMMEDIATELY. Nerve discomfort can be an indicator of a more severe problem, such as degenerative disc disease, spinal misalignments, or even spinal stenosis.
When assessing these components in the neck, it is important to note that they work together to maintain normal spinal alignment, mobility, and function. That’s why its crucial that an assessment addresses the three components, the muscle, the nerve, and the bone. This way, instead of just feeling short term relief, you can correct the problem.
There are other components that can lead to neck dysfunction as well.
1) Global postural changes: This simply means that if you have abnormal curvatures in the spine, or postural changes, it can lead to muscle imbalance, abnormal wear and tear on joints, or even nerve pressure. It is critical to have a birds eye view of posture, as you posture is the window to your spine.
2) Repetitive Motions: Performing the same motions over and over can create abnormal wear and tear on the body. Look for new ways to perform tasks if possible. If your pain is coming from the same motion over and over, rest may also play a key role in recovery.
3) Shoulder/Mid back problems: There are many connections between the mid back and shoulder, and these can lead to or cause neck pain. While it’s easy to always think that the pain is in a specific region, remember that the pain does not always indicate what the problem is.
4) Stress: Most people have heard the term “I carry my stress in my neck and shoulders”. There is evidence to support that people with higher levels of stress are at an increased risk of developing neck pain. So instead of treating the neck pain, fix the source. We have a resource on a later page on how to best eliminate stress and anxiety, be sure to follow up in the article.
5) Old injuries that never healed properly: When you have an old injury and never restore the area fully, or rehab for optimal healing, it is possible to have residual symptoms. Old injuries can heal abnormally, which may include formation of fibrotic tissue (scar tissue). If that is the case, the goal is to determine the initial injury, and what kind of treatment is needed to restore it to normal, if possible.
Since neck pain is a complex condition, that can stem from many sources, be sure to see your health care practitioner for optimal treatment and healing.
Check out our segment on “The Best Natural Solutions to fix Neck Pain” to learn more.
