The neck is quite an amazing part of the body with an extremely tough job to do. It holds the head, which is about 11 pounds, in position all day long year after year. Surprisingly, it is quite a delicate balance, and therefore, issues such as bad posture and wrong sleeping position do lead to issues of neck pain in West Orange, NJ. It is, therefore, not surprising that almost everyone has experienced neck pain at some point in life. Luckily most cases of neck pain go away within a few days without any treatment. Below are some important things you should know about neck pain.
Causes Of Neck Pain
There are many things that can lead to neck pain. Some of the most common ones include:
- Poor Posture
- Repetitive motion or overuse
- Bad sleep habits
- Gritting the teeth
- Carrying a heavy purse or shoulder bag
- Pinched nerve
- Sports injury
- Whiplash resulting from car accidents
- Infections
- Arthritis
- Tumors
Treatment For Neck Pain
In most cases, neck pain usually goes away on its own after a few days. Unless the pain has resulted from severe trauma, you can try to manage it with or without pain medicine such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and aspirin. You can also try icepack to reduce or prevent swelling. After that, you can make use of moist heat, such as a heating pad to help with healing.
However, if the pain does not go away within a few days, or it seems to be getting worse, you can seek the assistance of a pain management doctor or a chiropractor. You may also have to see a doctor is the neck pain is accompanied by weakness, numbness, pain, or tingling in the arms and legs. The doctor will carry out a physical exam and check your medical history to determine what could be causing you the pain. It may also be necessary to do an imaging test such as MRI, CT scan, or X-ray. Depending on the cause of your neck pain, the doctor may recommend pain medication, corticosteroids, physical therapy, or even surgery.
Prevention
Perhaps, the best way to deal with neck pain is to prevent it from happening. There are several things that you can do in this regard. For instance, you should learn to stand or sit with your back and neck in an upright position. You should also avoid tucking your phone between the shoulder and the ear. You can use a headset instead. If you are waking up with a stiff neck, you should try a different pillow.
The Takeaway
Overall it is apparent that neck pain is quite a common issue. In most cases, it can be treated at home, and it can even go away without medication after a few days. However, if the issue does not improve or it seems to get worse, you may have to seek the assistance of a doctor. If you are looking for a reliable pain management doctor to help you with treating and preventing neck pain, SamWell Institute for Pain Management is an excellent pain management facility to visit.
