What to Know about Different Types of Neck Pain

When something is annoying or difficult to deal with, we call it a pain in the neck, but what about actual pains in the neck?

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints people have, and millions suffer from neck pain every year. Whether it’s from poor posture, sleeping in a funny position, playing sports, some kind of accident, stress, or a slew of other causes, neck pain can end up being a – you guessed it – real pain in the neck.

Let’s look at the most common types of neck pain you might experience, as well as some of the best ways to reduce and relieve that pain.

The Most Common Types of Neck Pain

When people complain about neck pain, they are usually talking about one or more of these most common types of neck pain:

Headache. Neck-related headaches are most common in the upper neck area and in the back of the head. Instead of being sharp, neck-related headache pain is usually aching or dull and your neck might feel stiff or tender.

Muscle pain. If your neck and shoulder area are aching or sore, you’re probably experiencing muscle pain. Overexerting your muscles or prolonged physical or mental stress generally causes muscle pain.

Muscle spasm. Muscle spasms are abrupt and powerful muscle constrictions. If you can’t turn your head or your neck feels tight or knotted, you’re most likely experiencing a muscle spasm. They are often caused by muscle overuse and fatigue, dehydration, or even electrolyte imbalances.

Facet joint pain. The facet joints are the joints in your spine that allow you to bend, twist, and be flexible. Facet joint pain, most frequently described as aching, sharp, and deep, could extend to your shoulder and upper back and tends to increase if you lean towards the affected side.

Nerve pain. If your spinal nerves are pinched or irritated, you might feel pain in your neck as well as shooting pains into your arms and even your hands. Nerve pain is typically sharp, abrupt, severe, and it might also be followed with pins and needles.

Referred pain. When you feel pain in a part of your body other than its actual source, this is called referred pain. For example, if you suffer from neck pain when you eat, it could indicate that you have an esophageal issue, whereas an increase in neck pain from physical activity could possibly indicate a heart problem.

Bone pain. Neck pain is usually caused by soft tissue, so if you’re experiencing pain in your cervical vertebrae, you should seek medical attention because it might signify a serious health issue.

All types of neck pain can be either acute or chronic. Acute neck pain occurs suddenly from an injury or stressor and usually resolves itself in a week to 10 days. Chronic neck pain, on the other hand, lasts longer than three months.

How Can I Treat Neck Pain?

Depending on the type of neck pain you are experiencing and the cause of your neck pain, there are a number of treatment options you might want to consider, including rest, taking anti-inflammatories or other pain medication, massage, acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care not only alleviates your neck pain, but it can also treat your whole body to promote health, healing, wellness, and wellbeing. If you are experiencing neck pain, contact an experienced Florida chiropractor to get rid of that pain today.

About the Author:

Dr. Singer has been a practicing chiropractor for more than 20 years, and USA Health & Therapy has been around since 2004. Over the course of his career, Singer has helped tens of thousands of people with all kinds of issues by using a wide variety of treatment strategies. He has extensive knowledge of chiropractic modalities, including Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson Drop Table, and Activator, and in 1997 he earned a special adjunctive Chiropractic Certification in Spinal Trauma (CCST) to better provide care for car crash victims. Dr. Singer is licensed to practice chiropractic medicine in both Florida and New York.