Neck Pain
Neck Pain can be due to: trauma, a mechanical or muscular problem, a trapped nerve caused by a bulge in one of the discs between the vertebrae or from arthritis of the neck.
It can range from mild discomfort to severe, burning pain. If the pain is ‘acute’ – sudden and intense – it’s called a crick in the neck, facet syndrome or muscular rheumatism.
If the pain has lasted more than three months, it’s termed ‘chronic’ neck pain. Neck pain is a common condition and is more frequently seen in women than men. Most people will experience pain in the neck at some point in their life.
Causes of Neck pain?
Many things can trigger neck pain. These include:
• trauma or injury
• worry and stress
• falling asleep in an awkward position
• prolonged use of a computer keyboard.
For some people, no specific reason for the pain can be found.
But in most cases it’s possible to make a precise diagnosis.
The underlying problem could be a slipped disc, brittle bones (osteoporosis), deformed natural curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and, very rarely, structural damage due to tumours or infection.
Finally, Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) involving whiplash injury may result in acute or chronic neck pain that takes several months to improve.