How to Handle a Pain in the Neck

Dr. Bradley Weiner, Methodist Center for Orthopaedic Surgery

Know the Conditions
"Neck strain or injury is one of the most common ailments we see," says Bradley Weiner, MD, Methodist Center for Orthopaedic Surgery. "If pain persists for longer than a couple of days (or is associated with numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms), it's important to seek treatment." Some of the causes
may include:

• Repetitive strain injury. This occurs with any body part repetitively used for everyday tasks. These injuries can include carpal tunnel or back strain and can result in a loss of strength or coordination with the involved muscles.
• Pinched nerve. Often caused by a herniated or "slipped" disk in the neck that causes pain to shoot down the arm.
• Spinal instability. This is too much movement between two vertebrae that is often the result of pinching of the spinal cord. The pain can feel like tingling in the neck or arms.
• Spinal stenosis. This is a narrowing or stiffening of the nerve openings either around the spinal cord or nerve roots that can cause problems similar to those of a pinched nerve.
• Non-spinal causes. Stress, shoulder and elbow injuries and seemingly unrelated diseases can bring pain and discomfort to the neck area.

Take Care of That Pain
The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation says that treatment of neck pain often occurs in three phases: diagnosis and treatment, recovery and maintenance. It's vital that patients continue healthy habits to avoid any recurring and possibly seriously damaging neck pain.