Understanding Neck Pain

Firstly we have to know that our neck is a flexible connection between your head and the rest of your body Many vital structures pass through this area of the body.. Because of its location and range-of-motion, it is often left unprotected and subject to injury.

Neck pain can result from many different causes — from injury, to age-related disorders, or inflammatory disease. Causes of neck pain and problems may include the following:

• Injury

• Herniated cervical disk

• Arthritis

• Cervical disk degeneration

• Congenital abnormalities of the vertebrae and bones

• Tumors

Doctors diagnose neck pain by conducting any or all of the following: Bloodtest, X-ray, Electromyogram (EMG), Computed tomography scan (also called a CT or CAT scan) or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Some of the most common treatment given to patients are:

Treatment may include:

• Medication (for inflammation)

• Medication (for pain)

• Rest

• Physical therapy

• Neck brace

• Exercise

• Surgery

If you develop neck pain, you may feel that if you simply wait, the pain will disappear just as suddenly as it appeared. While this may occasionally be true, there are some things that you should do to help the pain go away. An accurate diagnosis from your neurologist can get you started on the treatment. Most neck pain requires little more than postural correction and exercises, so no need to worry about invasive procedures like injections or surgery. Neck pain generally arises from muscle strain. But since your neck is so complex, there can be other, more serious causes of neck pain.