How Neck Pain  Becomes Serious Harm

<p>Neck pain is a common symptom that happens especially frequently among people who have to sit and work in front of the computer for extended periods of time. Most of the time, it can be alleviated by a massage or by turning the neck a certain way to ease the tension. However, if neck pain is very severe and there is also a sharp pain in the arm and fingers, it is possible that the spinal disc supporting the base of the neck has degenerated to the point that it puts pressure on some nerves or the spinal cord. This type of neck pain is serious and people who have it should urgently go to see a doctor for fast treatment.</p>
<h2><span style="color: #00826a"><strong>Causes of Neck Pain</strong></span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Daily activities such as sitting or sleeping in the wrong posture, using the computer or using the phone and sitting for a long time without stretching are behaviors that cause the neck muscles to work improperly. Extended periods of these behaviors can cause neck pain.</li>
<li>Pressure on the nerves at the neck. This cause is often encountered in older patients due to spinal degeneration and loss of elasticity due to age, which cause bones to move out of place and to put pressure on nerves. Pain symptoms can occur in the neck and upper back and extend to the shoulders, arms or fingers.</li>
<li>Also common in elderly people, the vertebrae, spinal discs, joints, ligaments and muscles of the back have degenerated to the point that the spinal column is no longer elastic and has become more rigid. If degenerated neck vertebrae are located near a nerve, they can be a contributing factor of neck pain.</li>
<li>Infection with many possible causes such as tuberculosis and bacterial infection in the spine, which can cause the spinal discs around the neck to compress a nerve, potentially causing neck pain, headache and neck stiffness.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p>
<h2><span style="color: #00826a"><strong>If these symptoms are present, you should go to see a doctor before they get worsen.</strong></span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Pain in the neck, back, chest, hip or parts of the shoulders close to the neck with pain symptoms similar to electric shocks or sharp pain extending to the fingers, with some cases experiencing numbness or weakness in the hands or arms.</li>
<li>Pain symptoms that come and go intermittently for 2 or more weeks.</li>
<li>Pain throughout the entire back or increasing pain around the hip and lower back that extends down into the legs.</li>
<li>Pain that disrupts daily living and hinder work, for example, neck pain when sitting, lying down or moving into different postures.</li>
<li>Numbness and sensitivity at the base of the neck and neck stiffness to the point of not being able to turn the neck.</li>
</ul>
<h2><span style="color: #00826a"><strong>How to Treat Neck Pain</strong></span></h2>
<ul>
<li>In treating neck pain, the doctor will prescribe pain medications according to the severity of the symptoms, and sometimes a steroid or anesthetic will be injected near the nerve root at the spine or be injected into the neck muscles to help relieve pain symptoms and promote faster recovery from neck pain.</li>
<li>Physical therapy to help widen the gaps between the neck vertebrae to reduce nerve pressure and stretch the muscles and tendons in addition to reducing muscle tension. Proper massage can also provide relief for neck pain.</li>
<li>Sometimes doctors might perform surgery to alleviate symptoms at the nerve root or part of the spinal cord that is being compressed. In most cases, doctors will pursue this option only when the neck pain is chronic, there is vertebral compression on the nerve, or no alternatives are available.</li>
</ul>
<h2><span style="color: #00826a"><strong>How to Prevent Neck Pain</strong></span></h2>
<ul>
<li>Avoid sitting in the same posture for a long time. If you cannot avoid doing this, then at least you should try to sit with proper posture by having the computer screen be at eye level in order to avoid having to look down.</li>
<li>When sleeping, you should choose a pillow with an appropriate height that is neither too high or too low, and you should sleep in a position that places the neck at the same level as the head in order to prevent neck strain and falling off of the pillow.</li>
<li>Avoid lifting heavy objects over your back and shoulders, since doing this can damage your spine and cause neck pain.</li>
<li>Regular exercise your neck by turning back and forth, but you should not move too roughly or too fast.</li>
</ul>


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Neck pain is not a minor concern! Know about these symptoms to reduce risk of dangerous problems.

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