Pain in The Back of the Neck: Causes, Home Remedies, and Treatments

Pain in The Back of the Neck:

Causes, Home Remedies, and Treatments

The Causes

Neck-back pain is a very common occurrence and can be caused by a number of factors.

Generally speaking, if you have shoulder pain then your neck could be to blame.

Pain in the neck is normally related to pain in shoulder and doctors will typically examine the neck when a patient complains of shoulder pain and vice-versa.

The shoulders are complex and comprised of a number of ligaments, tendons, and muscles, all of which can become damaged and cause pain to the neck and shoulder area.

In many cases where neck and shoulder pain is evident, a cervical disk disease or an injury or disease to the bones or nerves in the neck area could be the cause of the problem.

Cervical Disk Disease

Cervical disk disease can cause neck and shoulder pain.

The cervical spine is located in the neck and contains seven different vertebrae or spinal bones.

These bones are separated by disks that absorb shock and allow you to move freely without pain.

Cervical disk disease will affect the disks in the neck and can cause stress to be placed on the nerves located in the neck.

The disks will no longer cushion the bones and nerves and can cause friction when you move which will cause pain in the neck and shoulder area.

Types of Cervical Disk Disease

There are different types of cervical disk disease that can cause neck back pain.

A herniated disk or a slipped disk means that a disk has been pushed out of its proper place due to injury or disk degeneration.

The herniated disk will cause pressure to the spinal nerves which will result in pain in the neck and shoulder area as well as be tingling in the shoulders or arms.

Bone spurs often form in cases of advanced disk degeneration and can cause pain as well.

Bone spurs are small growths that occur on the bones of the spine which will irritate the nerves and cause irritation and pressure in the neck as well as the arms and shoulders.

Arthritis is another cause of neck back pain and can occur as a result of disk degeneration.

The condition will cause problems with the disks and ligaments found in the spine and could constrict the nerves in the neck which will cause pain and numbness in the neck and extremities.

Any of the above conditions will need to be diagnosed by a doctor.

If you are having pain in the neck and shoulder area and you are unsure of the cause, it is highly recommended that you visit your physician to find the root of the problem.

 

Other Causes

At times, neck and shoulder pain could be a signal of something very serious.

While many of these conditions are not commonly found, they do happen.

A spinal cord tumor can cause pain in the shoulders and the neck.

This is a condition that will need to be diagnosed by your physician and could lead to a much more serious problem.

Meningitis can cause pain as well and again, should be diagnosed by your physician as quickly as possible.

If you are experiencing chronic pain it is very important that you speak with your physician as soon as possible to get a diagnosis and begin treating your pain and any underlying cause of that pain.

For More Information check out The Main Causes of the Pain In The Back of Neck

 

Home Remedies & Treatments for Pain in The Back of the Neck

Rest is one of the best treatments if you are experiencing pains in your neck, but you need to make sure you really are resting comfortably.

If you have sustained an injury, rest periods will be heavier for the first two or three days, but after that, you will most likely be advised to begin using your neck again so that you do not lose any mobility.

Ice compression packs may be recommended and these can help to reduce the inflammation at the site of an injury or even simply pain from another condition.

Some doctors will advise you on the type of pain control medication you can take, adjusting the type and dosage to match the severity of the pain you are in.

In some cases, depending on the injury or disease, surgery or physical therapy could end up being an option.

Your doctor will know specifically what can and should be done for your particular case.

Neck and shoulder pain could be caused by something as simple as stress or overwork.

Minor injuries that include only minor pain can easily be treated at home.

If you are unsure of what is causing your pain, however, you should check with your doctor.

Treatment at home can include heat and ice packs to minimize swelling and pain as well as over the counter pain medication such as aspirin or acetaminophen.

Cold therapy works very well for reducing swelling which will normally help to dissipate pain.

There are exercises that can help to strengthen both the neck.

These are typically part of a physical therapy regimen, but there are a few which can also be performed at home.

You will definitely want to try and obtain a physician’s advice before you try them yourself, but they can often help to alleviate neck back pain and repair things such as a loss of mobility.

Eventually, if all goes the way it should, the pain will also decrease because your body will be stronger and better prepared to deal with the strain that you might end up placing on your neck and shoulders.

 

When to See Your Doctor

If you are experiencing neck back pain that seems to be worsening or is accompanied by numbness, color changes in the skin, weakness or deformity then you should visit your doctor right away.

If you develop a fever, chest pain, shortness of breath or you become dizzy then this could be the sign of a serious and life-threatening illness and should be checked by your local emergency room as soon as possible.

Living with neck pain is not something that you have to do.

There are a number of treatments for many injuries and diseases.

Find out what is causing your pain and allow your doctor to offer treatment that will alleviate your pain and allow you to begin enjoying a healthier and happier life.