Neck pain is often caused by malpositioning of the cervical spine and can be accompanied by pain in the upper back, upper thoracic spine, and lower back. It is estimated that up to 70% of Americans suffer from neck pain at some point in their lives. Upper back pain and neck pain are related because many nerves connect them to the same vertebral region, which can all be connected to each other and affect the same body area. If you have neck pain that lasts more than a week or is severe and accompanied by other symptoms, then seek medical attention immediately.

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Causes

Neck pain and stiffness can occur for a variety of reasons, causing headaches, nausea, dizziness, muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, and exhaustion.

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The neck is particularly prone to injury when the muscles and ligaments in the neck force it to go beyond its normal range. If pain occurs in the neck area, it can be the result of a broken bone, such as a bone spur or a fracture of the cervical vertebrae. Neck injuries caused by sudden twitches of the head are commonly referred to as whiplash. If the cervical vertebrae are broken, the spinal cord can also be damaged, and a neck injury can lead to paralysis.

 

Other Causes:

 

Rheumatoid arthritis causes pain, swelling of joints and bone spurs, and pain and swelling in other parts of the body.

 

Fibromyalgia is a disease that causes muscle pain throughout the body, especially in the neck and shoulder area. This disease is common in the hands and knees but also in the neck and can also cause pain in other parts of the head and neck. 

 

Osteoporosis weakens the bones and can lead to small fractures and neck pain. With increasing age, the intervertebral discs can degenerate, and the space between the vertebrae can narrow. Resulting in a strain on the joints and can cause what is known as spondylosis or osteoarthritis of the neck.

 

A herniated disc is a disc protruding from the spine that exerts pressure on the nerve roots of the spinal cord. 

 

Spinal stenosis occurs when the cervical vertebrae protrude, and a spine exerts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots as it exits the cervical spine and enters the thoracic spine.

 

Long-term inflammation caused by arthritis or other diseases can cause pain in the neck and back and be permeated by long-term inflammation that causes pain, muscle spasm, and stiffness.

 

Treatment

A chiropractor can correct malpositions in the spine that is causing neck pain. Chiropractic treatments such as spinal manipulation and chiropractic adjustments are effective treatments of relieving neck pain by bringing alignment back to the spine. A muscle therapist can also teach you to strengthen your neck and help you reduce pain and relapse. If neck pain persists, your doctor may recommend other treatments. Therapy under the supervision of a doctor and therapist can relieve pain, especially pain associated with nerve root irritation. Depending on the underlying cause of the neck pain, there are many ways chiropractic care can help.