Various Causes of Neck Spasm and Pain
Neck problems can be a hard thing to live with in your everyday life. They can lead to many more problems if your neck is not taken care of properly. There are ways to ensure that your neck is cared for and treated properly.
What Causes Neck Problems?
Your neck is flexible and it supports the entire weight of your head, so it can be vulnerable to injuries. These injuries can cause pain and restrict the motion of the neck. The causes of these injuries can vary. One of the causes could be due to muscle strains, due to many hours in one position like on a computer or using a smart phone. Another cause could be joint pain from worn joints. The cartilage between your joints may start to wear down and the body will develop bone spurs to protect the bones from rubbing, which can cause pain. Nerve compression is also another problem caused by bone spurs or herniated disks that can press on the nerves branching out of the spinal cord. Car accidents can also cause whiplash that damages the soft tissue supporting the neck. Disease can also lead to neck pain, like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and even meningitis.
What Type of Therapies are Available?
There are several things you can do to ensure that you treat your neck well.
- Visit a Chiropractor – Selecting a chiropractor in your area can be the best thing you do for your neck and back. Proper spinal alignment through manual manipulation can alleviate the stress placed on your neck. Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol is available if you are in the area. Dr. Spitz would be happy to help create a plan to get your neck back into working order.
- Heat vs Cold – Usually, when you first hurt your neck, you’d want to use ice several times per day for about 10-15 minutes. You usually can’t go wrong with ice. However, if you’ve just got tired neck muscles, or some spasm due to overuse, you may want to start with moist heat. Eventually, alternating hot and cold can be an excellent way to reduce the pain you are feeling in your neck. It will reduce inflammation and allow your joint area to relax. If you have any questions, you can call my office and we can discuss.
- Home Exercises – There are great at-home exercises and stretches that can loosen the tension in your neck and provide a healthier and stronger neck. Neck rolls and shoulder rolls can relieve the tension found in your muscles and joints. If you have any pain during exercise you should stop and contact my office to help us determine the cause of your neck pain.
- Supplements – There are all-natural supplements that can help with muscle relaxation and tension release. One product is Relax Already by Stone Age Wellness. This product has lemon balm, valerian root, cramp bark, passion flower, and chamomile flower. It will provide a soothing and relaxing feeling as it eases muscle tension and provides restful sleep, even for insomniacs.
Neck tension and pain can be problematic in your life, especially if you have a job that requires your body to stay in one position for long periods of time. If this is the case, keep your neck and spine in check with regular chiropractic visits, home exercises and supplements that can keep your neck and spine aligned and healthy. Your neck can cause other problems downstream like headaches and stiffness that can take away from your everyday activities.
For our article on the Best Neck Pain Treatment, click HERE.
If you have neck pain, give us a call at 860-583-4346 or contact us by filling out this online form below.
Dr David M. Spitz is the founder and clinic director of the Chiropractic Health Center of Bristol, located in Bristol, CT. Since 1982, he has treated thousands of patients for various conditions ranging from neck and back pain, to migraine headaches. He specializes in treating patients who have suffered whiplash injuries and/or back injuries in a motor vehicle accident.
Dr Spitz was a volunteer EMT-I and a lieutenant for several years at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department. He has lectured throughout CT on various topics including, chiropractic, stress management, headaches and preventing back injury in the workplace.
