Why Do I Have Sore Neck - Find out All Possible Causes

Everyone who has ever had to deal with a sore neck knows that it’s anything but a trifle. Whether you’ve encountered constant dull aching, occasional sharp shooting pain or bothersome numbness, it interferes with your daily routines significantly and, therefore, can’t be left without attention, diagnostics and proper care.

Neck pain, also referred to as cervical pain, can occur due to a wide array of conditions, affecting different tissues in the neck. It can be evoked by cold air from the window at night that caused your neck muscles to stiffen or an uncomfortable sleeping position. This kind of pain in the neck is normally fixed easily with a relaxing massage, warm shower, herbal analgesic balms and stretching exercises, such as slow circular motions of your head.

One of the most frequent causes of a sore neck, involving injuries and traumas of the neck muscles, is associated with contact sports or vehicle accidents. In case you haven’t been engaged in any kind of accident or trauma, you are likely to deal with internal triggers of neck pain, such as, for instance, a pinched nerve, herniated disc, lymph node swelling or any infectious disease.

Cervical pain can be manifested through a number of diverse symptoms:

Dull aching in the neck, aggravated when turning the head
Sensation of fullness and difficulty swallowing
Sharp shooting pain
Lymph node swelling
Numbness and tingling
Neck stiffness and headache

Causes and Types of Sore Neck and Injuries:

Neck pain can be a symptom of different types of possible neck injury. The only way to really determine what the cause is and win any type of neck pain must be examined by a doctor. A physical examination, X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging may also be needed to determine the exact cause of pain. Once the test is over, it is more likely to be diagnosed with a result of neck injury.

Crick in the neck or bend the jack-term used to describe the pain associated with sleep in the morning in a delicate situation position. It can also happen to work in a stationary position for too long, and suddenly, the sudden movements of the neck during exercise or injury. This is not a true medical diagnosis, although the reason behind this can be arthritis, muscle spasms, and even a spinal disc conditions can cause this type of neck pain.

Muscle Strain: Strains are usually related to an injury to the muscles along the spine. If lesions can occur in the neck that can belower back instead. The symptoms of this disorder often include muscle spasms, flexibility and reduce pain.

Neck sprain: Distortions are caused by injury to the ligaments. This may be caused by falls or twists that can overload or stress on the joints. Symptoms of whiplash may include swelling, flexibility and pain reduction. If you think this could be the cause of neck pain, see your doctor immediately because your spine and neck should be immobilized to prevent accidents.

Pinched nerve in the neck: this is one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose effectively. Assessment of neuropathic pain is not always easy, because the real damage could be even along the nerves that the area where we feel the pain, especially when it comes so close to the nerves of the spine. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience numbness, tingling or intermittent pain that radiates down the neck and spine.

Whiplash: Whiplash is a combination of symptoms that occur after an incident in which the head is thrown forward, backward, or side by side, particularly in car accidents. Hyperextension what happens in terms of whiplash can also cause damage to the joints, nerves, vertebrae and the spinal cord itself. The neck should be immobilized to prevent further injury, and should be seen by a doctor immediately after the accident so that your injuries can be quickly evaluated true.

Disc herniations: the neck and back pain applicants may be a sign that you have a herniated disc. This occurs when the soft lining of a damaged spinal disc, worn, or hunted. This is often associated with heavy lifting continues when your body is not aligned properly, and symptoms of muscle weakness, numbness or tingling that radiates from the neck down through his arms.

Aging: Aging is often simply because of unexplained pain in the neck which may be due to arthritis, cervical dislocation, or spinal stenosis. As we age, our bones become thicker in some places and lower in others. The bones that support the neck are likely to become thinner and weaker, while those at the base of the spine may thicken and pressure along the spinal nerve, causing neck and back pain to be intermittent.

The main thing to remember neck injury or pain is to see your doctor immediately if you feel pain, tingling or pressure on your neck spine. Anything that touches the area of the spine may represent a serious risk to health if treatment is delayed. Certain conditions can deteriorate quickly, so immediate attention is the best in all circumstances.

If you’ve got a sore neck all of a sudden or after an injury, it’s strongly recommended to seek for professional medical advice rather than practice self-treatment or leaving the situation as it is, hoping that it will be solved by itself.

Sometimes simple physical examination is enough to detect that a patient is suffering from a muscle strain. In more complicated and severe cases neck pain is diagnosed with X-rays, MRI or CT scanning and electro diagnostic studies.

Read: 8 Methods to Reduce Sore Neck and Shoulder Pain

Very often sharp pain in the neck makes even the slightest movement intolerable. In such situations anti-inflammatory medications and pain-relievers (Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen) may be taken to bring a fast relief. While waiting for your appointment with a doctor, make sure you’ll provide comfortable support for your neck and head, using pillows or a neck brace, made with a rolled bath towel. Place it under your neck and rest in a comfortable position.

Before you get a consultation of a medical professional, you may get some clues to your condition. Here is a list of the most common conditions, affecting neck and resulting in cervical pain.