5 Main Causes of Neck Pain (And How to Handle Them)

At any given time, around 10% of the population is experiencing neck pain. If you’re in that 10%, you may be desperately trying to figure out what is causing your neck pain, and, more importantly, how to cure it.

At AllCare Chiropractic locations in Bowie, Laurel, and Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Jonathan Nou and our chiropractic team offer diagnoses of many common conditions that can cause neck pain, as well as noninvasive, gentle care to help resolve the issue and relieve discomfort. 

Five common causes of neck pain

Neck pain can come from many sources. You might have sudden neck pain after an injury, wake up with neck pain after sleeping wrong, or experience daily neck pain due to a chronic condition. Your chiropractor can help you determine the cause of your neck pain and recommend treatment.

Tech neck / text neck

The human neck is designed to hold a 10-12 pound head in an upright position. When you hunch or look down at a screen or keyboard for hours on end, you can develop “tech neck” (also known as “text neck”). This neck pain is caused by tight muscles that are strained from the head being kept in a forward tilted position. Eventually, the discs between the neck vertebrae can also be damaged.

Nerve compression 

If you damage the vertebrae in your neck, the discs can herniate. This causes intense shooting pain as nerves are pinched in the neck, and can also mean you feel pain radiating down into your shoulder and arm.

Osteoarthritis 

Further damage to the joints in your neck can cause deterioration to the vertebrae and cartilage. Once osteoarthritis sets in, you’ll be at risk for bone spurs, which can cause more nerve pain and limit your neck mobility. You could notice numbness along with the pain, as well as difficulty turning your head. 

Injury

A common cause of neck pain is whiplash injury, which often occurs in minor traffic accidents or when playing sports. Whiplash occurs when a sudden back-and-forth motion causes mild damage to the soft tissues of the neck.

Disease

Certain chronic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or acute illnesses, such as meningitis, can cause intense, ongoing neck pain. Rheumatoid arthritis can be managed with a combination of chiropractic care, diet, and medication. However, if you have persistent neck pain that is accompanied by a fever plus a severe headache in the back of your skull, and you can’t turn your head from side to side, it’s time for an ER visit to rule out meningitis.

Treatment for neck pain

At AllCare Chiropractic, you can find help for your neck pain. Your chiropractor first determines its cause, then creates a treatment plan. You may need regular chiropractic sessions to help correct the position of the vertebrae in your neck, physiotherapy to reduce inflammation and pain, and rehabilitation to strengthen your neck muscles. 

If you are ready to get rid of your own personal pain in the neck, call one of our three convenient locations or book an appointment online using our scheduling tool.