Your neck plays an extremely important role in the overall wellbeing of your body. Read on to learn more about neck pain – its symptoms, causes and when to seek treatment.
When you think about it, the neck really is the most vulnerable part of your body. Sure, your brain and heart are the key organs keeping you vertical, but they both have a strong armour protecting them from external forces. Your neck, on the other hand, is the corridor that houses all the essential lines of communication for life. So, if you are experiencing any problems in your neck, you need to know to when to act and get neck pain treatment before it worsens.
Any sort of pain that occurs in your neck can prevent you from going about your daily activities. It is important to understand what kind of pain you are experiencing in order to determine its riskiness. The two main types of neck pain that you may be experiencing are acute neck pain or chronic neck pain.
Acute Neck Pain
Acute neck pain usually occurs due to a muscle or soft tissue strain. This type of injury can be a result of a sudden movement or from straining your neck for a long period of time. Swelling will usually occur in the joints and this is what causes the pain. An acute injury usually heals with time, commonly over 2 to 3 weeks, assuming there is no other biochemical issues involved.
The most common type of acute injury to the neck is a cervical facet joint sprain. The neck is comprised of many bones known as vertebrae. A facet joint forms between the vertebrae where the vertebrae is sitting atop another. In total, there are 14 of these joints in the neck. The Cervical spine provides the most movement in all the spinal joints, so it is no wonder that these joints occasionally get “jarred” or “sprained”.
Chronic Neck Pain
If your neck pain persists for over a number of weeks of month, chronic neck pain is what you are experiencing. A minor pain that may not seem to be a problem can easily turn out to be an ongoing problem. Some neck pains come and go whilst some are constant. It is important in these instances to seek help from one of our professionals immediately.
An example of chronic neck pain is a Cervical disc bulge of herniation. Between each vertebrae, lies a disc. The disc is a soft structure that acts as a shock absorber designed to reduce the stress on the joints of the Cervical spine. These are often damaged when the neck is stuck in a position that is alternate to its natural posture. This uneven pressure causes the disc to bulge in a direction opposite to where it is being squashed.
Causes Of Neck Pain
The neck is one of the greatest compensators of our body. Lift your arm up far enough and your neck will move forward. Twist yours hips to the left and your neck will move to the right. It is this sort of chain reaction effect, that the neck produces with any other movement of the body, that is at the heart of its demise.
The job of the neck is to maintain a level outlook of the horizon and to keep its eyes focused straight ahead for any oncoming danger. Therefore, anything that will cause the body to be twisted or tilted will cause damage to the neck, given the displacement is severe enough. Depending on the degree of pain you are experiencing, you may consider getting neck pain treatment with a professional. Our highly-qualified team of physiotherapists and osteopaths are here to help with any neck pain you may be experiencing.
At-Home Neck Pain Treatment
Before seeking help, though, there are a number of relief options you can attempt at home. The first thing you can try is heat. A heat pack can immediately reduce the neck pain you are experiencing. It should be noted that cold, as opposed to heat, is seldom suggested for the neck. This is because it is rare for visible swelling or redness to occur with neck problems.
Anti-inflammatories can also offer short-term relief but remember to consult with your pharmacist before taking any medication. Another relief option is to get a massage as it offers short-term symptomatic relief. Although beneficial, it should not be relied upon for ongoing management of neck pain. At-home neck pain treatment may work in the short term, but if you experience pain lasting more than three days, it’s important to speak with a member of our team.
When To Get Neck Pain Treatment At Point Cook Physical
If you are experiencing severe neck pain because of a traumatic injury (i.e. car accident) or a high fever (i.e. meningitis), please contact for help immediately. If at-home care does not ease the pain, then get in touch today with one of our highly-qualified experts who can assist with all of your enquiries. We typically suggest booking an appointment if:
- Neck pain has been bothering you for more than three days
- The pain is not improving/It’s getting worse
- You develop other symptoms such as numbness, weakness, dizziness or headaches
If you have any questions or concerns in regards to neck pain treatment or your pain in general, please do not hesitate to contact us on (03) 9369 9766, or book online now! Make sure to follow us on our Facebook page as well to keep up with latest promotions and activities.
