Neck Pain - Causes
Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 14:37
Causes of Neck Pain
Neck pain can arise from a number of possible causes
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Non Specific Neck Pain : Frequently neck pain arises with no obvious cause. This is not that well understood and usually clears up within a few days.
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Bad Posture: Hunching over a steering wheel or slumping at a desk can wreak havoc on your muscles, often triggering muscles spasms and painful muscle strains. Holding a telephone in the crook of your neck. Sleeping in an uncomfortable or awkward position. Carrying a heavy handbag over one shoulder can also cause muscles tension. High heeled shoes can contribute indirectly toawrds neck pain by tilting your spine out of alignment and making your head and neck just forwards.
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Migraine or Tension Headache: The early symptoms of a migraine can include neck pain which then spreads usually to one side of the head. People who are worried or under stress often tighten their muscles more than is necessary to hold their head upright. Tension headaches usually affect both sides of the head.
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Whiplash: The most common type of injury causing neck pain is whiplash. This is usually due to a car accident where the body moves forward while the head tilts back. When the body stops the head tilts forward. The result is usually torn muscle fibres causing inflammation and stiffness. Although this type of injury can be serious, it's unusual to inflict any major damage. Any problems can be identified by an x-ray. Pain usually clears up in a few weeks.
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Osteoarthritis of the Spine: This is also referred to by doctors as spondylosis: cervical spondylosis if the osteoarthritis is in the neck or lumbar regions, spondylosis if the pain is in the lower back. Osteoarthritis is a 'wear and tear' arthritis. In the spine it affects the facet joints and the intervertabral discs. As we age these discs become thinner and the spaces between the vertebra become narrower. Bony outgrowths or spurs called osteophytes format the edges of vertebra and the facet joints. These osteophytes may cause both localised pain and referred pain.
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Abnormal Curvature of the Spine: If your spine curves in an abnormal way or if the curve is exaggerated it may cause pain. Scoliosis is where the spine curves to the right and may also cause pain.
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Cervical Spondylosis: This condition occurs due to wear and tear of the bones in the neck and most commonly affects elderly people.
Rare causes of neck pain include; rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylosis, fibromyaligia, polymyaligia rheumatica fracture associated with osteoporosis or certain cancer that may have spread up the vertebra.
Next: Neck Pain Treatment
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