Is neck pain interfering with your daily activities? Dealing with neck pain alone, especially when you do not know the cause, can be difficult. Our physical therapists at McCabe and Brady Physical Therapy will identify the source of your neck condition and assist you in regaining normal pain-free function.
In the early stages of neck pain, the most common symptom is pain on one side of the neck with associated loss of motion when turning in one direction. Tension (tightness) in the upper back muscles (i.e., traps) is also common. It may be worse at the end of the day or after a long day staring at a computer screen.
Some people wake up with pain that appears to have started for no apparent reason. The pain could be mild or severe, ranging from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pain.
Furthermore, neck pain can occasionally be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Difficulty sleeping due to pain and discomfort
- Weakness in your arms or shoulders
- Headaches that include neck pain and radiating pain from the base of the skull or behind one eye
- Numbness or tingling in the upper extremities
- Stiffness and muscle tightness in the upper back and neck
- Inability to turn or sit up straight
- Pain when remaining in the same position for too long
Why am I having neck pain?
Poor posture and prolonged positions
Our spines need to move. Poor posture and prolonged positions are among the most common causes of neck pain.
Poor posture causes neck pain, which is commonly associated with prolonged activities such as sitting and lying with your head in an awkward position. Overuse of your neck muscles and supporting ligaments can be caused by something as simple as sitting at your desk all day with your head and neck leaning forward toward your computer screen.
These prolonged positions can irritate tissues, cause pain, impair motion, and eventually lead to inflammation or injury.
Neck injuries
When you overstretch your neck muscles and or ligaments, you cause micro-tearing of these tissues. Neck muscle strains are frequently caused by traumas such as sports injuries, car accidents, or repetitive stress injuries (i.e., turning your head repeatedly while swimming).
Whiplash is a type of sprain/strain injury that occurs when the head whips back and forth rapidly, injuring the soft tissues in the back of the neck. Automobile accidents, high-impact sports collisions, and accidents involving a slip or fall are the most common causes of whiplash injuries.
Bulging or Herniated discs
Discs are specialized tissues that connect two vertebrae (i.e., spine bones). The discs help direct the movement of our spines, absorb forces, and protect the bones from injury.
Bending and twisting movements are especially dangerous to the discs, especially when combined with sudden movements from accidents and falls. The disc is also vulnerable to prolonged postures, such as sitting or lying in an awkward position with your head in an awkward position.
Injury to the discs can cause significant neck pain and progress to a more serious condition known as radiculopathy (nerve pain) in your arm, forearm, and hand.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
The neck joints, like any other joint in your body, can deteriorate with age, causing pain.
Pain from degenerative disc disease frequently manifests as changes in mobility and is commonly felt when turning to look over your shoulder while driving or looking up at the sky.
People frequently describe a dull, painful ache in the neck that worsens with prolonged head elevation or turning in one direction.
Will physical therapy help my neck pain?
Approximately 70% of the population will experience neck pain, and up to one-third of people have experienced neck pain at some point in the previous year. Seeking help as soon as possible is often the key to relieving neck pain!
When left untreated, neck pain can persist, worsen, and, in severe cases, necessitate surgery. According to research, seeking physical therapy early on can help alleviate the current situation while reducing the risk of future problems.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, our Warminster or New Britain, PA physical therapist can help! Our therapists are experts at determining and treating the cause of your neck pain!
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