Common Causes of Neck Pain—and What You Can Do About It

At OrthoUnited, we’re focused on easing your pain—wherever you may be feeling it. If you’ve been struggling with neck pain lately, we can get to the root cause of it and help you get back to living a pain-free life. First, let’s explore some common causes of neck pain to see if you can identify the problem.

Symptoms of Neck Pain

If you’re experiencing pain or feeling uncomfortable but not sure where it’s originating from, take a look at the symptoms below. Your headaches or muscle tightness could be stemming from a neck injury or condition.

  • Muscle tightness or spasms
  • Decreased mobility of the neck and head
  • Headache
  • Pain that worsens when your neck/head is held in the same position for an extended period of time

Most Common Causes of Neck Pain

Whether you already know what is causing your neck pain, or you’re unsure, our experienced doctors can help you identify the cause and then make a plan to help manage or diminish your pain.

  • Muscle Strains - Muscle strain occurs when a muscle is stretched too far and tears. This is often a result of poor posture or sleeping in awkward positions. A strain could also occur from pushing yourself too far during exercise.
  • Worn Joints - It’s common for joints to wear with age, and that includes your neck joints. Diseases or conditions such as osteoarthritis can worsen that wear and tear, plus cause the cartilage between your bones to deteriorate.
  • Compressed Nerve - Your neck and spinal cord consist of many different nerves. Herniated disks or bone spurs may press on one of those nerves and cause pain.
  • Injury - An injury to the neck from sports or a car accident may cause whiplash or excess strain.
  • Disease/Condition - Recurring neck pain that doesn’t go away may be a sign of a disease or condition affecting your joints, such as osteoarthritis.

Treatment for Neck Pain

  • Physical Therapy - Therapy will help you to improve your posture and alignment and will supply you with different stretches and exercises you can do to strengthen your neck.
  • Medication - Muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants are often prescribed to control pain.
  • Steroid Injections - Steroid medications may be injected near the nerve roots or into the muscles of the back to help with neck pain.
  • Surgery - When other treatment methods aren’t easing your pain, it may be time to consider surgery. Our experienced doctors can help you determine the right path.

Request a Consultation at OrthoUnited

Interested in taking the next steps toward diminishing your neck pain? Our doctors would love to help. Contact us today to request a consultation!