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Pink Eye and Neck Pain

Pink eye is an eye infection. It occurs when there is infection or inflammation in the tissue lining the white part of your eye and the inner surface of the eyelid. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye is common among children, can be very contagious and is usually a minor infection. Neck pain is not associated with pink eye but it is something many people experience at one time or another. It is usually short lived but if the pain is severe, it could mean you have an underlying medical condition and you should see a doctor.

  1. Symptoms

    • Pink eye can make you feel that something gritty is on your eyes. Other symptoms are itching, burning and discharge in the eyes, swollen eyes, light sensitivity, excessive tearing and a pink tint in the whites of one or both eyes. Neck pain symptoms will include dull or sharp pain and a stiff neck. This will cause you to have trouble performing routine daily tasks. The pain can also extend to your shoulder and back.

    Neck Pain Causes

    • Neck pain can be caused by injury or strain from overusing your muscles. Overuse can occur with routine activities such as leaning over your car's steering wheel and reading in bed. Wear and tear on neck joints can cause osteoarthritis which leads to pain and stiffness. As you age, you can develop neck pain when the cushioning in your spine gets dry and stiff, when disk cartilage pushes out from the disk or when bone spurs form and press on nerves around your spinal column.

    Pink Eye Causes

    • There are three main categories of pink eye and each one has a different cause. Allergic pink eye comes from contact with something that triggers an allergic reaction. Infectious pink eye can be bacterial or viral. Bacterial is caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria, contact with infected people, poor hygiene or using contaminated make up or lotion. Viral is caused by viruses of the common cold. Chemical pink eye comes from exposure to irritants such as chemicals and air pollution.

    Neck Pain Treatment

    • Treat neck pain by resting, using an ice pack or heating pad and gently stretching your neck. Over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and creams which contain menthol and camphor can be helpful. Your doctor might prescribe stronger pain medicines, corticosteroid injections or physical therapy. Wearing a soft neck collar or traction and having electrical nerve stimulation can help relieve pain. Surgery may be used if your problem involves nerve root or spinal cord compression.

    Pink Eye Treatment

    • Treating pink eye depends on its cause. For allergic pink eye, try to avoid anything that irritates your eyes, use cold compresses and artificial tears and your doctor might prescribe non-steroidal anti inflammatory medicines, antihistamines or topical steroid eye drops. Antibiotic eye drops and ointments are used to treat bacterial infectious pink eye but there is no effective treatment for viral pink eye. Chemical pink eye is treated with topical steroids and flushing the eyes with saline.

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