Neck Pain, Causes and Treatment
Pain in the neck is a very common complaint. Because of poor posture (whether it’s hunching over your workbench or leaning over your computer), neck muscles can be strained. There are many other lifestyle-related causes of neck pain.
Neck pain can rarely be a sign or symptom of a more severe problem. Seek medical care when numbness or lack of strength in your arms or hands follows your neck pain or if you have sharp pain in your shoulder or leg.
- Signs and symptoms of neck pain include:
- Pain that often gets worse by keeping your head in one place for long periods of time, such as when driving or doing computer work.
- Headache
- Decreased ability to move your head
- Muscle tightness and spasms
Causes of Pain
Your neck has to work 24/7, which takes a toll on your life. It hurts at times, and many things can make it happen. The following are some of the most prevalent causes.
Sleeping in Strange Positions
Nearly everyone slept in an awkward position at one time or another. Sometimes this is how you start, or sometimes the shifting or twisting that you do while asleep causes pain in your neck. If you fall asleep in a way that twists your neck uncomfortably, you can wake up with a crick, whether it’s in your own home, on an airplane, or in the car. The good news about this thing is that this is generally not a very serious cause of neck pain.