Any type of abnormalities, injury or inflammation can cause stiffness or neck pain. The neck is made up of vertebrae that elongate from the skull to the upper torso or trunk.

The cervical discs which are present in the neck absorb shock between the bones. The bones, muscles, and ligaments of the neck support the head and allow for motion.

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Many people experience stiffness or the pain occasionally. In many cases, the pain due to overuse or poor posture. Sometimes, neck pain is caused by injury from a fall, whiplash, or contact sports.

Most of the time, the pain problem is not that much serious condition and can be cured within a few days. In some cases, neck pain can indicate serious illness or injury. If you have the pain that continues for more than a week or you are experiencing any other type of symptoms that you should go and talk to your doctor.

What is Neck Pain?

Nowadays, neck pain is a common complaint. The muscles of the neck can be extended from poor posture such as leaning over the computer and hunching over the workbench.

One of the most common causes of neck pain is osteoarthritis.

Unusually, the pain can be a symptom of other more serious problem. Always try to take medical care if the neck pain is felt numbness or the loss of strength in your hands or arms or even if you have shooting pain in the shoulder or down the arm.

What are the Symptoms of Neck Pain?

There are several symptoms of the pain including;

• Muscle tightness and spasms.
• Pain that’s often experienced by holding the head in one place for long periods like when driving or working at a computer.
• Decreased ability to move your head.
• A headache.

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What are the Causes Associated With Neck Pain?

There are several causes that are associated with the pain including;

• Muscle tension and strain which are caused by mainly poor posture, working at a desk for a long time without changing the position, and jerking the neck during exercise.
• Injuries especially in falls, car accidents, and sports.
• Heart attack.
• Meningitis (inflammation of the thin tissue surrounds the brain and spinal cord).
• Other causes like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia.

How Cay You Diagnose Neck Pain?

For diagnosing the pain, your doctor examines the medical history related to tenderness, muscle weakness, and numbness, as well as see how far you are able to move your head forward, side to side, and backward.

• For diagnosing doctor uses imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scan, and MRI.
• The doctor may go for Electromyography (EMG).
• Blood tests.

What are the Treatment Options Available for Neck Pain?

The common types of mild to moderate neck pain usually respond to self-care for like two or three weeks. If the pain continues, you should contact your doctor because he might recommend you other treatment options.

The treatment options also include therapies like physical therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and short-term immobilization.

Surgical and other procedures are also available for its treatment such as steroid injections.

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Conclusion:

As said above, any type of abnormalities, injury or inflammation can cause stiffness or neck pain. But if the problem remains fr longer time you should consult your doctor and take medicines or exercises related to it.