While whiplash is one of the most well-known types of neck injuries and the pain that goes along with them, chronic neck pain usually stems from less spectacular causes like wear and tear over time. Age-related degenerative cervical (neck) disc disorders, which can arise when the cervical spine’s soft, cushion-like discs begin to wear down, are common causes of neck pain in the elderly. However, your neck’s numerous intricate soft tissues, including its muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves, can potentially sustain damage or irritation. Apart from these ailments and traumas, the neck has to continuously bear the entire weight of the head. This increases the strain on the neck and its constituent parts, which may exacerbate the discomfort and inflammation, highlighting the importance of pain management in Dallas for effective treatment and relief.
Causes of Neck Pain
Apart from bad posture and sleeping postures, there are numerous more reasons for neck pain. Neck aches and pains can be brought on by trauma, chronic illnesses, and injuries. It is imperative that you get medical attention as soon as possible if you are unsure of the cause of your neck pain or believe it may be the result of a persistent illness or catastrophic injury.
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Tech Neck
Tech (or text) neck is the colloquial term for the soreness and stiffness in the neck produced by gazing down at phones or other electronic gadgets, which is something that many people in the modern world routinely do. The average human head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds, and the neck can experience pressure from gazing down that can reach 50 to 60 pounds. Pain in the neck may result from this excessive pressure, particularly if applied for prolonged periods.
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Headaches from Stress or Tension
Neck pain can also result from headaches. These specific headaches are typically caused by prolonged durations of muscle strain or increased emotional stress.
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Muscle Sprain
Another typical cause of neck pain is a strained or sprained muscle. Sports injuries, uncomfortable sleeping or sitting positions, lifting heavy things, or even abrupt movements that put too much strain on the neck muscles can all result in these strains.
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Whiplash Injury
As the name suggests, whiplash is a physical injury that happens when the head whips violently back and forth or side to side. This motion stretches the neck’s ligaments, muscles, vertebrae, and nerves, which can occasionally cause stiffness and pain in the neck. Any situation in which the neck is forcefully “whipped” about can cause whiplash, however, car accidents are the most prevalent cause. Football and other contact sports are susceptible to it as well.
Because of their big heads relative to the rest of their bodies and their fragile necks, infants and children are far more likely to suffer a serious whiplash injury. They could get whiplash if they are shaken too violently because of this vulnerability. Adults who have whiplash typically recover with time and minimal care, but babies and kids may suffer long-term neurological damage or brain trauma that stunts their growth. Adults who have whiplash without treatment may lose their ability to move or feel.
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Nerve Compression
Your sense of touch, pressure, temperature, and other bodily sensations are provided by your nerves. Pain that comes on suddenly and seems to have no explanation can be caused by a pinched nerve between bones or other tissues. A slipped spinal disc, gradual cartilage loss, or spinal compression can all result in pinched nerves in the neck.
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Spinal Tumor
A tumor is an atypical lump of tissue resulting from cells that divide too quickly. Benign and malignant are the two categories into which tumors fall.
A benign tumor is benign up until it gets too big or starts to interfere with other body functions. It may grow further, but it won’t spread to the surrounding tissue.
On the other hand, a malignant tumor has the ability to spread to other tissues, occasionally reaching different sections of the body through the bloodstream or lymph nodes. If left untreated, malignant tumors are frequently deadly and carcinogenic.
Tests for Diagnosing Neck Pain
If your neck pain is suspected to be due to a more serious condition, your doctor, potentially a pain doctor in Dallas, might decide to order specific tests to accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your discomfort. Various test kinds are offered based on the potential nature of the problem.
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X-rays
Your joints and bone structure can be seen by doctors using an X-ray. This view will assist in identifying whether the source of your neck pain is a bone spur, growth, fracture, or other skeletal problem.
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MRI
A magnetic field and radio waves are used in MRIs to produce images of your bones, soft tissues, and nerves. These pictures reveal any nerve injury, tumors, inflammatory diseases, and other problems that are not seen on conventional X-rays. Even brain damage can be detected by MRIs.
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CT Scan
CT scans make use of X-rays obtained from a variety of angles. Your internal neck anatomy is seen in depth in this scan, including with your blood vessels, soft tissues, and bones. Compared to a simple X-ray, a CT scan can identify more subtle or sophisticated abnormalities.
Knowing When to Get Neck Care
It’s crucial to pay special attention to your symptoms if you have neck discomfort so you can describe it in greater depth to your doctor or orthopedic surgeon when you visit them. This will help them diagnose and treat you.
While each person’s experience with neck problems is unique, the following are some typical signs you might be observing:
- Hands or arms tingle
- Persistent discomfort in the neck.
- A sensation of awkwardness when utilizing your arms or hands.
- Rubbing
- Absence of feeling
- Discomfort when attempting to realign your neck or posture
- Convulsions
- Back discomfort
- Growing
- Tight or tense muscles
- Too stiff or in agony to nod or shake your head
If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, you may have one of the following frequent neck injuries or problems:
- Disorders of the cervical spine, including spinal stenosis and cervical kyphosis
- Compressed nerve
- Degenerative disc disease
- Cervical disc herniation
- Kyphosis
- arthritic bone
- Spondylosis
- sports-related injury
- Sprain Injury
- Whiplash
