Neck Pain causes and effective treatments

The neck, with its intricate structure and wide range of mobility, is particularly vulnerable to stress and strain. The head, which weighs between 10 and 20 pounds, is supported by a stack of seven small bones called vertebrae and held in place by 32 complex muscles. Neck pain is a serious problem that can limit your ability to perform normal, everyday tasks. It can cause you to lose range of motion in your neck, and it may also be a source of pain in your shoulder, arm, or hand.

Causes of Neck Pain

There are many different causes of neck pain. Occasionally, poor sitting posture puts the neck in an awkward position and causes pain. Wear and tear from arthritis or disc problems may also be a cause of your neck pain. Some neck pain is the result of injury and is called whiplash, but the vast majority of neck pain is due to simple muscle tension.

The pain that comes from your neck may be felt in different locations, which can make your condition confusing and difficult to treat. Do not panic if you experience pain in your neck. Oftentimes neck pain gets better in few days, and in many cases the pain subsides greatly in four to six weeks. When pain strikes, gentle neck exercises may be beneficial, and heat or ice can also help control symptoms. If symptoms persist, visit your doctor to see if a prescription medication will help your condition. Physical therapy helps a great deal in lessening the pain.

Exercise can be your main tool in the treatment of neck pain. Your physical therapist may prescribe specific exercises to help you improve the Range Of Motion of your neck.  Few treatment options are:

•         Traction
•          Postural Correction
•          Joint Mobilizations
•          Massage.
•          Therapeutic modalities

Heat and ice are also treatments that may be used to help relax muscles and to decrease inflammation. Invasive treatments like spinal injections may be an option if pain doesn’t subside within weeks of therapy and medication. If the damage in your neck that's causing your pain is severe, you may require neck surgery to help eliminate the pain.