NECK PAIN

                                                                        

NECK PAIN IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH MAY BE AS A RESULT OF POOR POSTURE. ARTHRITIS IS ANOTHER CAUSE OF NECK  PAIN, HOWEVER IF YOUR NECK PAIN IS ACCOMPANIED BY NUMBNESS, WEAKNESS IN ARMS AND HANDS, OR A SHOOTING PAIN IN THE SHOULDER OR ARM, THEN IT IS TIME TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AS THIS COULD BE AS A RESULT OF A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM.

NECK PAIN AND STIFFNESS ARE  USUALLY CAUSED BY STRAIN OR SPASM OF THE  NECK MUSCLES OR INFLAMMATION  OF THE NECK JOINTS. THEY MAY OCCASSIONALY   BE DUE TO  ARTHRITIS OR DAMAGE TO THE DISCS BETWEEN THE NECK VERTEBRAE. NECK MOVEMENT MAY BE LIMITED TO ONE SIDE OF THE NECK OTHER THAN THE OTHER. NECK  PAIN OFTEN CAUSES HEADACHES OR PAIN IN THE SHOULDER, UPPER BACK OR DOWN THE  ARM.

NECK PAIN AND HEADACHES ARE SOMETIMES RELATED TO TENSION IN THE MUSCLES WHICH RUN FROM THE  HEAD ACROSS THE BACK OF THE SHOULDER. WHEN YOU HAVE NECK PAIN, THESE MUSCLES MAY ALSO FEEL TIGHT AND PAINFUL.

CAUSES OF NECK PAIN

*FORWARD HEAD POSTURE.

*SLEEPING ON A PILLOW THAT IS TOO HIGH, TOO FLAT OR DOESN’T SUPPORT YOUR HEAD.

*SLEEPING ON YOUR STOMACH OR WITH THE NECK TWISTED OR BENT.

*RESTING YOUR FORE- HEAD ON YOUR UPRIGHT FIST OR ARM FOR TOO LONG.

*WATCHING TV OR READING LYING DOWN WITH THE NECK IN AN AWKWARD POSITION.

*STRESS

*A WORKSTATION THAT PUTS THE NECK IN AN AWKWARD POSITION.

*OTHER PRESSURES ON THE NECK MUSCLES.

*INJURY THAT CAUSES SUDDEN MOVEMENT OF THE HEAD OR NECK OR A DIRECT BLOW TO THE NECK.

*STRENUOUS ACTIVITY WITH THE  UPPER BODY AND ARMS.

PREVENTING NECK PAIN

*GOOD POSTURE, BODY MECHANICS AND EXERCISE ARE IMPORTANT IN PREVENTING NECK PAIN.

*SIT STRAIGHT IN YOUR CHAIR WITH YOUR LOW BACK SUPPORTED. AVOID SITTING LONG PERIODS WITHOUT GETTING UP OR CHANGING POSITTIONS. TAKE SHORT BREAKS SEVERAL TIMES TO STRETCH YOUR  NECK MUSCLES.

*IF YOU WORK AT A COMPUTER, ADJUST THE MONITOR SO THAT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN IS AT EYE LEVEL.

*IF YOU USE THE TELEPHONE A LOT, CONSIDER A  HEADSET OR SPEAKER PHONE.

*ADJUST YOUR CAR TO A MORE UPRIGHT POSITION THAT SUPPORTS YOUR HEAD AND LOWER BACK.

*IF NECK PAIN IS WORSE IN THE MORNING, CHECK YOUR SLEEPING POSITION AND YOUR ACTIVITIES THE DAY BEFORE.

IMPROVE YOUR SLEEPING SUPPORT. A HARD MATTRESS OR A SPECIAL SUPPORT PILLOW MAY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

*AVOID  PILLOWS THAT FORCE YOUR HEAD FORWARD WHEN YOU ARE SLEEPING ON YOUR BACK.

*WHEN SLEEPING ON YOUR SIDE, MAKE SURE YOUR NOSE IS IN LINE WITH THE CENTER OF YOUR BODY.

*IF STRESS IS A FACTOR, REDUCE STRESS.

*STRENGHTEN AND PROTECT YOUR NECK BY DOING NECK EXERCISES ONCE A DAY.

*KEEP YOUR HEAD AND NECK IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION OVER YOUR BODY, AVOID SLOUGHING OR FORWARD HEAD POSTURE.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

*WHEN THE NECK PAIN OCCURS TOGETHER WITH A FEVER AND HEADACHE.

*IF THE PAIN EXTENDS OR SHOOTS DOWN ONE ARM OR YOU HAVE  NUMBNESS OR   TINGLING IN YOUR HANDS.

IF YOU DEVELOP NEW WEAKNESS IN YOUR ARMS  OR LEGS.

*IF A BLOW TO THE NECK HAS CAUSED NEW PAIN.

*IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MANAGE THE PAIN AT HOME.

*IF THE PAIN HAS LASTED TWO WEEKS OR LONGER WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT DESPITE PAIN KILLERS.