Reasons for Neck Pain

Most people over the age of 40 have experienced some form of neck pain. Neck discomfort is a familiar side effect of advanced age, but it has sources other than the natural deterioration of the body.

Significance

• It is not uncommon for most people to begin to feel neck pain at some point in their 20s. The deterioration of the cells that make up the discs in the neck begin to show signs of wear after 20 years, and almost every person is afflicted with some sort of deterioration condition by age 60 or 70.
  Fortunately almost 90 percent of neck conditions resolve themselves over time, or the conditions are insignificant enough where they will not register any painful symptoms.

Considerations

• In some cases, the origins of neck pain may not always be local to the neck area. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common affliction that is primarily felt in the wrist and forearm, but it is possible for carpal tunnel syndrome to reach to the base of the muscles in the neck and cause severe neck pain.
  Circulatory conditions can also cause discomfort in the neck, especially those involving the symptoms of angina. It is also possible to develop pulmonary tumors in the circulatory system that travel up and down the neck, and these tumors can lead to extreme cases of chronic neck pain.

Types

• Arthritis is an affliction that affects the tendons in any joint in the body, and rheumatoid arthritis is a common cause of the neck pain primarily found in the region around the upper neck.
  Another common source of neck pain is injury. Often times an impact that is similar to a rear-end car accident will cause the muscles and tendons in the neck to hyper-extend. This hyper-extension can be a source of continuous and chronic neck pain.
  It is also possible that an injury could result in a neck fracture. A neck fracture injury puts the spinal cord at risk, and could result in partial or total paralysis.

Warning

• In the case of neck pain caused by injury, it is critical that the victim not be moved until trained medical personnel arrive. It is difficult to determine what kind of damage has been done when the neck is injured, and moving a person that has just received an apparent neck injury could result in more serious spinal or muscular damage.
  For neck pain that is not caused by any apparent injury, it is important to keep track of the pain and be aware of any changes in the location and severity of the pain. If the pain increases in intensity after a couple of days, or if pain begins shooting from the neck down to the arms or legs, then medical attention should be sought immediately.

Expert Insight

• According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, most cases of neck pain are treated with a combination of physical therapy and rest. Surgery is not a common solution to neck problems. Surgery is primarily reserved for cases of severe injury or trauma where it is necessary to stabilize the neck, or in cases where the disc has degenerated to the point where it is crushing the nerves and surgery is the only way to relieve the pain.