Anatomy
Your spine is made up of 24 bones, called vertebrae, that are stacked on top of one another. The seven small vertebrae that begin at the base of the skull and form the neck comprise the cervical spine. The spinal cord has three main parts:
Cervical /Thoracic /Lumbar
Nerve roots branch out from the spinal cord through the openings in the vertebrae (the foramen) and carry messages between the brain and muscles. Between your vertebrae are flexible intervertebral disks. They act as shock absorbers when you walk or run. Any damages to your spinal cord can affect your movements or function.
Neck pain cause
Neck pain may result from abnormalities in the soft tissues — the muscles, ligaments, and nerves — as well as in bones and discs of the spine. The most common causes of neck pain are soft-tissue (muscle and ligament) abnormalities due to injury (a strain or sprain) or prolonged wear and tear (commonly known as arthritis). In rare instances, infection or tumors may cause neck pain. In some people, neck problems may be the source of pain in the upper back, shoulders, or arms.
If the problem is muscle strain, your neck may feel achy or stiff. Often physiotherapy and over-the-counter painkillers are enough to treat this type of neck pain. If your neck pain is caused by a disc, bone or ligament in your spine pressing against a nerve (compression), you may experience numbness, weakness and/or shooting pains down your arms.
Neck pain can come with a range of symptoms, depending on the cause and severity. Common ones include:
- Stiffness: Difficulty moving your neck, particularly after long periods of inactivity.
- Aching pain: A dull, persistent pain in the neck region.
- Sharp pain: This can happen in a specific spot in the neck and often worsens with certain movements.
- Radiating pain: Pain that extends into the shoulders, arms, and sometimes the fingers.
- Headaches: Tension headaches can result from neck pain.
- Muscle spasms: Sudden, painful contractions of the neck muscles.
- Numbness or tingling: Especially if a nerve is pinched or compressed.
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
You should seek medical care when your neck pain is:
- Continuous and persistent
- Severe
- Accompanied by pain that radiates down the arms or legs
- Accompanied by headaches, numbness, tingling, or weakness
If you experience radiating pain or numbness in your arms or legs causing weakness, you should be evaluated by a medical professional even if you don’t have significant neck pain. Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as changes in handwriting, trouble buttoning buttons, and dropping keys and cups, may be a subtle sign of serious spine issues.
How you can ease neck pain yourself
Do
- use a low, firm pillow
- put heat or cold packs on your neck
- try neck exercises
- rest
- check your posture-sit upright-roll your shoulders back gently and bring your neck back
- avoid driving or other activities that may force you to strain your neck
Don’t
- do not wear a neck collar – it’s better to keep your neck moving (unless a doctor tells you not to)
- do not sleep on your front
- do not twist your neck when you’re in bed
You should seek a professional help, if your symptoms are not improving within few weeks
If you have others symptoms, like pins and needles or cold arms-this could be something more serious
Or if you are worried about the pain ,seek professional help
Elena Blagoeva-Physiotherapist