The neck is made up of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the upper torso. Between the bones, cervical discs absorb shock. The muscles, ligaments, and bones of your neck support your head and allow for motion. Stiffness or neck pain can be caused by any inflammation, abnormalities, or injury.
Stiffness or neck pain can be experienced by many people occasionally. Neck pain isn’t a serious problem most of the time and can be relieved within a few days. Neck pain can indicate serious injury or illness and require a neck pain specialist near me care in some cases. Seek medical attention immediately, if you have neck pain that continues for more than a week and is severe.
What are the causes of neck pain?
For a variety of reasons, stiffness or neck pain can happen.
- Muscle tension and strain
- Injury
- Heart attack
- Meningitis
Some other causes of neck pain are:
- Rheumatoid arthritis- It causes swelling of the joints, pain, and bone spurs. Neck pain can result when these occur in the neck area.
- Osteoporosis- It can lead to small fractures and weakens bones. In the hands or knees, this condition often happens but it can also occur in the neck.
- Spondylosis- The cervical disc can degenerate as your age and this is known as spondylosis or osteoarthritis of the neck. Between the vertebrae, this can narrow the space. To your joints, it also adds stress.
Neck stiffness or pain occurs in rare instances due to
- Abscesses
- Cancer of the spine
- Congenital abnormalities
- Infections
- tumors
Diagnosis of the neck pain
Your neck pain doctor in NYC will do an exam after taking a medical history. He or she will check for numbness, muscle weakness, and tenderness, as well as see how far you can move your head forward and backward.
- Imaging tests-
- To get a better picture of the cause of your neck pain, your neck pain specialist NYC might order imaging tests.
- Blood tests-
- Sometimes blood tests provide evidence of inflammatory or infectious conditions that might be causing or contributing to your neck pain.
- Electromyography (EMG)-
- Your doctor might suggest an EMG if your doctor suspects your neck pain might be related to a pinched nerve.
Treatment options for neck pain
Within two or three weeks, the most common types of mild to moderate neck pain usually respond well to self-care. Your doctor might recommend other neck pain treatments near me if neck pain persists.
- Medications: Stronger pain medicine might be prescribed by your doctor than what you can get over-the-counter, as well as muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants for pain relief.
- Physical therapy: Correct posture, alignment, and neck-strengthening exercises are taught to you by a physical therapist. To help ease your pain and prevent a recurrence, he or she can use ice, heat, electrical stimulation, and other measures.
- Traction: To gently stretch your neck, traction uses pulleys, weights, or an air bladder. Under the supervision of a physical therapist and medical professional, this therapy may provide neck pain treatment in manhattan.
