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Whether chronic or acute, neck pain is never fun. Do you know the risk factors that make you prone to neck pain? Read more to discover ways to prevent neck pain from becoming too much of an intrusion into your daily life.
When anything irritating happens to someone, regardless of whether the issue is physical or not, we say that situation is “a pain in the neck.” That tells you something about how frustrating and intrusive chronic or acute neck pain can be! If you suffer from neck pain, chances are you’d love to know what’s causing the issue, so you can take steps to resolve it.
Board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Beejal Amin understands the causes and risk factors that lead to neck pain problems. Here are some common factors he sees in patients with neck pain at his offices in Oak Lawn, South Holland, and Orland Park, Illinois.
Do any of these risk factors for neck pain seem like they could apply to your situation? If you can identify the root cause of your neck pain, resolving the issue effectively and getting rid of your discomfort for good becomes a real possibility.
1. Poor posture
The upper area of your spine that runs through your neck is known as your cervical spine. Your cervical spine doesn’t only support the entire weight of your head but also your neck is affected by alignment issues in the lower part of your spine.
If you’re spending too much time hunched, slouching, or slumping, you are putting excess pressure on the cervical vertebrae bones that make up your upper spine. Results from this include chronic alignment issues or damage to the cushioning discs between the vertebrae in your neck, causing nagging neck pain.
2. Past injury
Your risk of neck pain increases after an injury that affects your spine. Whiplash, often a result of being in an auto accident, can cause neck pain due to stretching or tearing the muscles and tendons of your neck. You’re also more likely to suffer from neck pain at some point in your life if you have a history of sports injuries.
3. Degenerative disease
The discs in your cervical spine can deteriorate due to wear-and-tear or degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. If one or more of your discs becomes herniated with the disc’s core shifting out of alignment and pressing on your spinal nerves, you can suffer from persistent neck pain.
Your risk of disc herniation is higher if you have a degenerative disease, but you can also experience a herniated disc due to injury or wear over time. Either way, you need treatment to restore spinal alignment and relieve neck pain symptoms.
Dr. Amin recommends the best treatment options for you once he has diagnosed the cause of your neck pain; these recommendations range from lifestyle changes to surgeries that can repair damage in your cervical spine.
To learn more about your risk factors for neck pain and what you can do to improve your condition, contact Dr. Amin online or over the phone for a consultation today.