Skip to main content

5 Common Causes of Persistent Neck Pain 

5 Common Causes of Persistent Neck Pain 

Virtually everyone suffers from neck pain from time to time. Unbalanced posture, overexertion, injury, and more can contribute, so rest and self-care solves the problem. 

Persistent, or chronic, neck pain isn’t as frequent, but it can be a big problem when it starts to interfere with your daily life. The team at Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation can help with diagnosis and treatment, as well as developing a plan to keep you pain-free. 

We’re neck and shoulder pain specialists, so contact us the next time persistent neck pain gets in the way of your routine. 

Signs and symptoms of neck pain

Given the weight of your head, the neck has a challenging support role. Since head movement is important, your neck needs to be both strong and flexible, two characteristics that sometimes have different demands. 

Neck pain can take several forms. Common symptoms include: 

Medical attention for neck pain may be urgent if your pain results from an injury such as an auto accident or athletic participation, particularly in contact sports. If your neck issue causes severe pain, spreads down your arms or legs, or includes headache, numbness or tingling, or muscle weakness, seek immediate medical care to rule out serious injuries.

5 common causes of persistent neck pain

You can develop neck pain for a wide range of reasons, but like many medical conditions, there are both common and obscure causes. Let’s look at five general categories of neck pain causes, covering many of the reasons that may be behind your case. 

Muscle and soft tissue strain

Since your neck supports a heavy weight, it’s not difficult to overload soft tissues like ligaments, muscles, and tendons. One of the most common reasons behind soft tissue strain is unbalanced posture. 

Whenever you perform a motion that takes your head out of neutral posture, your neck’s soft tissues come under increased strain. This happens when you tip your head forward to view your computer, smartphone, tablet or book. 

Nerve compression

The spinal column is a complex structure that permits movement while protecting elements of your central nervous system. Nerves branch off the spinal cord and pass through spaces between vertebrae and soft tissue. 

When these spaces narrow, from problems like spinal stenosis or herniated discs, nerve roots can become compressed or irritated. The cervical spine section at the neck is a frequent site of problems. 

Arthritis

Joints can wear out over time, a condition called osteoarthritis, and the joints of the spine are no exception. A common injury response is bone spurs, which can cause spinal stenosis and otherwise interfere with neck mobility. 

Whiplash and other injuries

The weight of the head leaves you prone to motion injuries, such as in car accidents and sports contact, causing an often multifaceted injury called whiplash. Awkward movements and falls can also strain the soft tissues of the neck, causing persistent pain. 

Disease

We’ve already seen how osteoarthritis can affect the bones of the neck. Other forms of arthritis, cancer, and meningitis are some of the diseases that feature neck pain as a symptom.  

The important takeaway from today’s blog is that you don’t need to live with persistent neck pain. Call or click to request an appointment with the nearest location of Active Care Chiropractic & Rehabilitation today. 

 

You Might Also Enjoy...

10 Adverse Health Effects of Poor Posture

10 Adverse Health Effects of Poor Posture

Poor posture is more than a simple musculoskeletal problem causing sore muscles. The effects of posture on your body affect many of your major systems and body functions. Here are 10 adverse health effects caused by poor posture.
5 Essential Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy

5 Essential Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy

“Cold” lasers are low-energy light therapy devices that work well to assist the healing of soft tissue injuries. Unlike other therapeutic lasers, a cold laser device won’t create heat, instead triggering chemical changes that aid healing.

7 Long-Term Benefits of Regular Chiropractic Care

While chiropractic care often offers fast pain relief, it’s intended as lasting therapy to help your body operate at peak efficiency. Here, we outline seven long-term benefits you may gain through regular adjustments.

Feeling Stressed? Try Chiropractic Care

October is National Chiropractic Health Month. While you might know that chiropractic care is great for back pain, fewer people are aware of the stress-busting benefits of an adjustment. Chiropractic care can reduce cortisol levels in your body.
 Can Physical Therapy Help Resolve My Sciatica for Good?

 Can Physical Therapy Help Resolve My Sciatica for Good?

Any condition that irritates or pressures the sciatic nerve can produce the classic signs and symptoms of sciatica.  While physical therapy won’t resolve sciatica on its own, it can be an important part of a sciatica treatment plan.