Types of neck pain: Symptoms and causes
The neck and lower back tend to experience the most pain because they endure the most movement and stress daily.
Pain in these areas occur if the muscle structures supporting your spinal column from head to sacrum are affected by injury or if it is out of alignment for whatever reason.
Neck pain (also called cervical spine pain) can originate from the muscles, joints, and nerves in your neck and is often caused by muscle tightness, strains, joint sprains, dysfunction, joint degeneration, back pain (discal pain) and nerve compression.
Other conditions that may spur on neck pain include:
- Degenerative disc disease
- Neck injury (such as muscle strain, whiplash, herniated disc or pinched nerve)
- Wry neck (may include a painfully twisted or tilted neck. May also include muscle spasms in the affected region)
- Stiff neck
- Cricked neck
- Tension headaches (can go both ways with chronic neck pain leading to headaches and migraines)
- Neck pain can also be a symptom of some infections and diseases (such as meningitis)
- Tooth grinding or toothaches
- Jaw pain or clenched jaw
- Lifestyle factors (see below)
- Chronic lower back pain
- Weak postural muscles supporting core and spine
- Musculoskeletal conditions affecting the muscles of the neck or upper back (such as fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica)
- Unsupported neck position during sleep
Other common symptoms accompanying neck pain are nausea and dizziness, and often, people can also experience pain in the head, shoulder, arm or hand areas at the time.
Pain associated with nerve damage or pinching feels different to pain associated with the musculoskeletal structure. Any burning, tingling or numb sensations in the neck are most likely related to a pinched nerve or damaged nerve pathways. These sensations can also commonly travel down one side of the neck, shoulder and arm.
To understand what might be causing your neck pain and get relief quickly, book an appointment today.
