Staying Safe At Work

3 Potential Causes Of Neck Pain

16 February 2016

Brent Chapman

Neck pain can be an annoying experience that can be indicative of a much larger issue at hand. Throughout the course of this brief article, you will learn about some of the issues and disorders that might be causing your neck pain.

Cervical Osteoarthritis

For many people, their neck pain feels alleviated when they are out and about in the day. This means that exposure to movement and a modicum of exercise keeps their neck pain issues at bay. Their pain might also be exacerbated by cloudy, overcast days. One of the main problems associated with this type of pain is cervical osteoarthritis. This is the same type of arthritis that is oftentimes associated with the knees, or occasionally in the wrists. Essentially, cervical osteoarthritis refers to the cartilage in your facet joints wearing down over time; this issue simply occurs with age. There are few preventative measures that you can take to stop the onset of cervical osteoarthritis, but physical therapy, range of motion exercises, and joint manipulations can all serve to alleviate pain.

Cervical Disc Herniation

Pain that originates in the neck, but tends to radiate down the arm, sometimes all the way down to the very tip of your fingers, is often a sign of a herniated disc. A cervical disc herniation is a problem that usually exacerbates over time, and should be addressed as soon as possible. This issue will most likely dissipate with conservative treatment, but if your body does not respond, your physician might recommend therapy to heal the problem.

Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

Like cervical osteoarthritis, cervical degenerative disc disease is a problem that is virtually universal in all humans as they age. As you grow older, you may find that certain positions or ways of moving your neck are more comfortable than others. You might even have a pain that comes and goes, and positioning your neck in these comfortable configurations is the best way to go about alleviating this pain. These are both good indicators that you are suffering from cervical degenerative disc disease. Furthermore, neck injuries can exacerbate the issues or create an early onset of the disease.

If neck pain is a persistent issue for you, it is highly recommended that you contact a trusted physician as soon as possible. He or she can recommend the next best course of action that you should take and the healing process for your neck can begin.

 

Share

Search