One of the most common sites of physical pain is in the neck. Neck pain occurs when the muscles, ligaments, nerve pathways, or vertebrae sustain damage. While this pain can be relatively minor, such as muscle inflammation, it can also signal a more serious health issue. Below is a helpful guide about the causes and symptoms, including when to see a chiropractor.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Many factors contribute to neck pain. Poor posture causes pain because the head is continually in front of the shoulders, resulting in pressure on the cervical spine. The muscles also work overtime to compensate for slanted posture, causing sprains and spasms. Sitting in one position too long, such as hunched over a computer, has a similar painful effect. Other common causes of muscle strain include poor sleeping habits, including sleeping on your stomach, using an overstuffed pillow, and engaging in exercises that jerk the neck.

Pinched nerves can also cause neck pain, such as those from herniated discs, bony growths, disc degeneration, and spinal stenosis, or when the space housing neck vertebrae narrows and squeezes connecting nerves. Injuries such as whiplash that hyper-extend neck muscles and ligaments cause pain, too. 

When Should I Go to the Chiropractor or Doctor?

The neck usually feels sore and stiff if the pain is in the muscles and ligaments. The muscles may spasm depending on the injury’s severity and make it difficult to move the head. Sharp, stabbing pains from whiplash or a sports injury can also occur. Muscle-related neck pain usually goes away on its own, especially if it’s complemented by good posture, healthy sleep positions, exercise, and sessions with a chiropractor. Topical treatments such as heating balms can also provide relief.

If the pain does not go away in a few days or it is accompanied by other serious symptoms, see a doctor immediately. Neck pain paired with a headache and fever, for example, are symptoms of meningitis, while tingling, weakness, or numbness that spread to the shoulders, arms, and fingers can indicate spinal stenosis. Nausea, vomiting, sweating, and shortness of breath coupled with neck pain can signal a heart attack. 

Never ignore lasting neck pain. Schedule an appointment at Lincoln Chiropractic Center to help alleviate the pain. The chiropractic care center in Lincoln, NE, provides solutions that treat the whole person instead of focusing on symptoms with medications and invasive surgeries. Call (402) 464-5567 today to make your appointment with a chiropractor or visit the new patient center online.