Neck Pain Diagnosis

Cervical (neck) pain can be caused from a number of different reasons. The normal wear and tear on a body is enough to cause neck pain, or an injury to the neck region can cause pain and discomfort. Neck pain will often accompany stiffness, shoulder and back pain, and difficulty performing daily activities due to the pain, discomfort or stiffness. Severe pain from an injury, shooting pain, loss of strength, or a change in bladder or bowel movements are all symptoms that indicate a patient should seek immediate medical attention.

Muscle Strains

• Overusing the neck or constantly having it in an awkward position can lead to muscular strains. The muscles, particularly in the posterior region of the neck, can become fatigued, leading to pain. Reading in bed, driving a car, grinding teeth or spending too much time hunched over can lead to muscle strains in the neck.

Injuries

• Neck injuries can occur in a variety of different situations. Whiplash injuries from being in a rear-end collision, athletic injuries, or injuries on the job can cause acute or chronic neck pain. When the neck is stretched or moved in the wrong direction or too quickly, it can expand the soft tissue beyond the normal limit, resulting in injury.

Worn Joints

• As the body ages, the joints become worn and can cause pain and stiffness in the neck. The facet joints in the neck degenerate and lead to osteoarthritis of the cervical spine. A patient may find this to accompany radiating pain down through the shoulder blades. Pain may be worse in the mornings and evenings. Pain relievers may be prescribed to relieve the pain from osteoarthritis.

Disk Disorders

• The cushioning between the vertebrae start to become dry, stiff and more narrow as one ages. This narrows the space in the spinal column which the nerves pass through, leading to neck pain caused by the nerves becoming irritated. With the space between vertebrae become compressed, tissues and bone spurs can press on the nerve as they exit the spinal cord. This will require some sort of medical attention or anti-inflammatory medication to open up the nerve roots.

Stress

• Prolonged stress can result in severe and chronic neck pain felt as a stiff or achy neck and back. This stress can be from work, a financial situation or family problems. However, decreasing the stress can also decrease the neck pain.