Can Neck Pain Be a Sign of Something Serious?
It is common many people to experience neck pain. In most cases, the pain occurs due to a muscle strain or another benign cause. To treat these ailments it is often enough to take an over-the-counter medication.
Do you often suffer from neck pain? Well, it is better to be cautious than suffer from it in the future. Did you know that neck pain affects about 10 to 20 percent of adults? Generally, people experience neck pain in the right side of the neck. Most often, people prefer treating such aches on their own by medication or some home remedies, which they find online or just know about.
If the pain tends to be severe, it is advised to visit the top orthopedics hospital in Bangalore and your doctor will surely prescribe the medications necessary for the neck pain. The neck comprises spinal bones, muscles, and other tissues. Therefore, it is a very important part of the body.
Consistent moving makes the neck susceptible to strain for people. That’s not all, being an important part of the body; the neck is at risk of injury and there can be consequences. Hence, it is better to be cautious.
But can neck pain be a sign of something that is really serious? Well, yes, it can. What exactly can be the cause of mild or prolonged neck pain? Here are some of the causes:
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- Meningitis: The word is certainly very familiar to you. Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges. These meninges cover the brain and spinal cord. When does meningitis occur? It occurs when the fluid surrounding the meninges becomes infected leading to fever, headache, decreased appetite, seizures, lethargy, and sensitivity to bright light.
Most often, people suffer from a stiff neck along with these symptoms. Meningitis can be lethal and a medical emergency. If you are experiencing these symptoms and feel that your health is impairing, do go and check with the top orthopedics hospital in Bangalore without fail.
- Muscle strain: Neck pain can be a result of being seated in front of the computer or laptop for a long time without changing your position. The other reason can be poor posture. After waking up in the morning, don’t you sometimes experience neck pains?
This is mostly due to sleeping in a bad position that ultimately affects the neck, which you may not realize even after waking up. Neck pain can also occur when you jerk your neck during exercise.
- Heart Attack: What happens during a heart attack? When the heart muscle doesn’t get enough blood, a heart attack occurs and the affected part can be damaged severely. This is really fatal and life-threatening.
The symptoms of heart attack are arm or jaw pain, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Neck pain can also be a symptom. In case, there is a drastic pain in your neck, then it will be better to seek help right away.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis occurs when your bones become very weak or brittle, which makes it difficult to bend or cough, due to the fear of getting a fracture. This fracture normally exists in the hip, wrist, and spine. The symptoms other than neck pain include back pain, a stooped posture, and a bone that breaks very easily.
- Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis narrows the bones within the spine. With less space in the spine, the amount of space available for your spinal cord and nerves that branch off your spinal cord is reduced. Generally, spinal stenosis develops slowly. A few of the symptoms are numbness, pain in the lower back, weakness in the leg or foot, loss of bladder and bowel control, and also neck pain.
To conclude, there can be serious issues and it might be just mild, whatever the case may be, it is better to take precautions and look for medical care from the top orthopedics hospital in Bangalore.
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It is common for many people to experience neck pain. The pain occurs due to a muscle strain or another benign cause in most cases. It is often enough to take an over-the-counter medication to treat these ailments. However, what happens when neck pain is severe and prolonged? The first thing you should do is visit your rheumatologist.
In the following International Clinic article, we’ll mention 8 common causes of neck pain and when it’s time to visit your rheumatologist for better treatment options.
Neck Pain
The neck is a vital part of the human body, comprising spinal bones, muscles, and other tissues. Unlike other crucial parts of the body, the channel is constantly exposed and at risk of injury or strain because it is in constant motion throughout the day.
It is also common for a person to experience pain in related areas such as the shoulders, back, jaw, and head.
Causes of neck pain
Some of the more common causes of neck pain include:
Degeneration or wearGradual wear can cause pain on the right side of the neck. The vertebrae and discs in the neckwear down with age, and as they degenerate, they can cause chronic or persistent pain.
Some medical conditions can also cause the vertebrae, discs, and other parts of the neck to break down:
- inflammation
- pinched or compressed nerves
- cervical fractures
- arthritis
- cervical disc degeneration
Poor sleeping position
When sleeping in the wrong position, it is common to wake up feeling stiffness or pain in the shoulders, back, or neck. Your sleeping position, the number of pillows you use, and the firmness of your mattress can all affect how you wake up.
Falling asleep with a lack of head or neck support also increases the chance of waking up with neck pain.
- Stress and anxiety
Being stressed can cause your muscles to tense up. People often talk about neck or back pain when in situations with high-stress levels.
Sudden or acute torticollis
Torticollis is a medical condition in which the head is twisted to one side, and it is excruciating to try to straighten the head.
The cause of torticollis is not always known. Some rheumatologists suspect that most cases are due to a minor ligament or muscle sprains in the neck. Exposing the neck to cold temperatures for an extended period is also a possible cause.
This condition usually occurs overnight, which means that a person will have no symptoms when they go to bed but will wake up unable to move their neck. In most cases, the pain will subside, and movement will return to normal within a few days.
Occasionally, torticollis can be a symptom of a more serious health problem. Some possible underlying causes of torticollis include tumors, infections, and side effects from taking medications.
Brachial plexus injury
The brachial plexus is a connection of nerves that connect the spinal cord in the neck with the hands. If the nerves that connect the spinal cord to the hands are damaged, they can cause a lot of pain in the neck.
A common cause of brachial plexus injury is blunt force trauma, which can occur due to a sports injury or automobile accident.
You will be interested: “Traumatology or rheumatology? What specialty to go to? “
- Whiplash
Whiplash refers to a neck injury caused when the head moves forward and snaps back very quickly. Many people tend to think that whiplash usually occurs only in car accidents; however, they are also the result of sports activities and other sudden movements.
Cervical radiculopathy
Cervical radiculopathy, often referred to as a pinched nerve, occurs when nerves originating from the spinal cord in the neck are severely irritated, causing pain throughout the arm.
Although this can lead to neck pain, the main symptoms include:
- numbness in the arms
- the sensation of pins and needles in the arms
- pain or weakness in part of the arms
The two most common causes of cervical radiculopathy are cervical spondylosis, or arthritis of the neck, and a prolapsed disc. `
Non-specific neck pain
It is difficult to identify the exact cause of neck pain in some cases. It is usually due to a minor sprain or tear of muscle tissue when this happens.
Pain can sometimes be due to poor posture: Keeping your neck out of proper alignment for long periods can strain your muscles. It is widespread when a person does not control their posture during working hours.
Treatment
When neck pain is mild or moderate, it is usually possible to treat the symptoms at home. Some cases of neck pain will go away quickly over a day, while others may take a few weeks to heal completely.
You can try the following methods to relieve your neck pain:
- take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications
- apply heat to your neck using heating pads or warm, moist towels
- massage your neck
- perform stretching exercises for your neck
- reduce your stress
- apply ice to the area where it hurts the most
- follow good posture when sitting, standing, and walking
- sleep in a position that supports your neck
- perform exercises to help keep your neck strong
However, not all of these tips will be enough to alleviate this discomfort. If the pain you present is extreme, it is recommended that you visit your rheumatologist. Some people may require medical treatment depending on the underlying conditions causing their neck pain.
After a few check-ups, your rheumatologist may recommend specific additional treatments such as:
- muscle relaxants
- physical or occupational therapy
- surgery
At Clínica Internacional, we have the specialty of Rheumatology or Traumatology, where you can find highly qualified specialists who will help you with everything you need. If you want to book an appointment, you can do so through our Online Appointments section.
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