Neck pain or ‘a stiff neck’ is relatively common, and some people can suffer from repeated episodes of intense pain. You might feel pain on just one side of the neck, or feel tense in the whole of the neck and shoulders. The intensity of the pain can also vary from person to person depending on the cause of it – you may feel a sharp pain when you turn your head, or it may be a dull, persistent ache. Neck pain can have an impact on everyday life, and if it doesn’t go away in a couple of weeks you should seek treatment.
Treating Neck Pain
The best way to treat neck ache is to prevent it from ever returning by understanding the causes. Most neck and back pain is caused by factors of a modern lifestyle, so once we are aware of them we can do our best to carry out preventative treatment. Here are four common causes of neck pain.
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Text neck
As the smartphone becomes a permanent extension of the body, it seems it is having a negative impact on the neck and spine. Constantly looking down to text and use a phone puts extra pressure on the neck and upper back. Poor posture during smartphone use is starting to cause problems for younger patients who shouldn’t yet have neck or back issues, according to experts – The Daily Mail has reported the younger generation could be plagued by text neck.
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Injury
The most common neck injury is whiplash, which is often the result of a car accident. A neck sprain or strain can cause intense pain for a short period of time, and some injuries can last for months. You can also acquire a neck injury from a fall or a sports related accident.
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Bad posture
An incorrect sitting or standing posture can also lead to pain in the neck. If you sit for long periods at a desk staring at a computer, you may experience neck or back pain at some point. Make sure you don’t slouch in the chair and that screens are level with your eyes so your neck isn’t in an awkward position.
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Sleeping in an awkward position
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Sometimes a person may wake up with a stiff neck when they were fine the day before, which indicates the problem has occurred during sleep. Try not to sleep on your front and don’t twist the neck while in bed. You should also make sure your pillows aren’t too high which can cause the neck to be at an awkward angle.
Neck pain is a real pain in the neck…excuse the pun! Visit our chiropractors today to try manual therapies and relieve the pain.
