Neck pain is a very common occurrence. It may be due to muscles being strained from poor posture. This can happen when you are hunched over a computer desk or leaning over a counter or workbench. Osteoarthritis is also a common reason for neck pain. According to McKinney upper cervical chiropractors, It is rare for neck pain to be a symptom of something more serious. However, if you notice your neck pain is accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your hands or arms, or if you have a shooting pain in your shoulder and down your arm, you should seek medical attention.

Symptoms of Neck Pain

You may notice the following if you are suffering from neck pain:

• Pain that gets worse if you hold your head in one place for a long time, such as working at a computer or driving
• Loss of range of motion when it comes to moving your head
• Abnormal headaches
• Having tight muscles and muscle spasms

Should You See a Doctor?

As previously mentioned, neck pain is rarely serious. Often it will clear up in a few days. However, there are some cases where you should seek the care of your family physician:

• If you have been involved in a car accident, a diving accident, or a fall
• If your pain is severe
• If your pain persists for a few days with no indication of getting better
• If it spreads down your arms or legs
• If it is accompanied by numbness, tingling, weakness, or a headache

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Your neck is very mobile and has the important job of supporting the weight of your head. This makes it vulnerable to injuries and issues causing pain and hindering movement. Your neck pain may be due to one of the following problems:

• Worn out joints: As with other joints of the body, the neck joints wear out with age and wear and tear. The cartilage acting as cushions between your vertebrae begins to deteriorate and cause osteoarthritis. To try to stabilize this problem, your body begins to make cartilage, which creates bone spurs. This affects joint motion and causes pain.
• Muscle strain: Overusing your neck muscles can strain them. Hunching forward while typing on a computer, looking down repeatedly at a smartphone, or similar repetitive movements can cause neck strain. In addition, reading in bed and gritting your teeth can strain muscles.
• Diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis, or cancer can be causes of neck pain.
• Compression of nerves: Bone spurs or herniated disks in the bone spurs of your neck can press on nerves that branch out from the spinal cord.
• Injuries: Whiplash, being rear-ended while in an automobile, causes the head to move back and forth quickly and strains the soft tissues of the neck.

Home Remedies for Neck Pain

There are some things you can do at home to help alleviate neck pain.

• Be sure to use proper posture. Whether you are standing or sitting, your shoulders should be in a straight line over your hips with your ears being directly over your shoulders.
• Take breaks often. If you are traveling a long distance or working long hours sitting at a desk, be sure to get up and move around, incorporating stretching your neck and shoulders.
• Sleep in a good position. Your head and neck should be in proper alignment with your body. Use a small pillow to support your neck. A good position to sleep in is on your back with your thighs elevated on pillows so as to keep your spinal muscles flat.
• Do not carry heavy bags with straps over your shoulder. The weight of this can add stress and strain to your neck.
• Quit smoking. Smoking puts you at an increased risk for neck pain.
• Do not tuck the phone between your shoulder and ear. If you are talking on the phone, use a headset or a speakerphone instead.
• Take a load off. A simple trick is to just rest your neck muscles by lying down and letting them relax. However, do not use a pillow that supports your head at a non-level angle.
• Ice it. Ice helps with pain and inflammation. Put some crushed ice in a plastic bag covered with a pillowcase and apply to the neck for 15 minutes.
• Heat it. Heat increases circulation and can ease stiff muscles. Use a wet towel or hot water bottle or stand in a hot shower. Too much heat can make things worse and cause more pain, so don’t overdo it. It is also helpful to follow your heat application with a few minutes of cold.

Finding Natural Relief for Neck Pain

You may find, even after trying the above suggestions, your neck pain still persists. If this is the case, it may be time for you to seek the care of an upper cervical chiropractor. The pain you are coping with may be due to a misalignment in the upper bones of the neck, the C1 and C2  vertebrae. These bones are susceptible to misaligning due to their location and mobility. It only takes a ¼ millimeter misalignment to cause problems throughout the body, including neck pain. Upper cervical chiropractors in McKinney are specially trained to find these tiny misalignments and then work at repairing them. We do this by using a gentle, low-force correction to help encourage the bones to move back into place on their own. We are not required to pop or crack the neck or spine to get positive results. By correcting the misalignment and allowing the body to begin healing, neck pain often becomes a thing of the past. To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Crowder, call our McKinney office at 972-449-5845. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.