Types of Neck Pain You May Experience

The National Health Institute of Georgetown University established that more than 65% of adults in America experience neck pain in their lifetime. Sometimes the pain can be so intense that it is difficult to engage in daily activities. Although Memorial Area neck pain is prevalent, patients usually experience different symptoms. That is because neck pain manifests differently among people, even if the underlying cause is similar. If you can best describe your pain, that can help your neck specialist know the approach to diagnosis and treatment. An accurate description of symptoms is only possible if you have a good idea of the source of the pain.

Consequently, below are the different types of neck pain you are likely to experience.

Muscle neck pain

You may have neck pain due to the spraining, straining, or tearing of the muscles in your neck region. Your neck muscles have many fibers, a group of proteins that enable contraction and the usual twisting and turning.

However, due to different causes, you can overextend your neck muscle, causing a minor tear or strain in its connective tissue layers. As a result, the damaged muscles cause pain. An intense straining delivers severe inflammation and pain that makes your recovery longer.

Muscle neck spasm

If you have experienced waking up with a stiff neck, making it difficult to turn your head, you have a muscle spasm. A muscle spasm results from an abrupt tightening or contraction of muscles around your neck; thus, your neck feels tight and painful, and moving your head in any direction becomes a problem.

It may be difficult to pinpoint the precise cause of the muscle spasm in your neck. Sometimes, it may indicate that something is wrong with your spinal disc. If you have a problematic issue, which happens rarely, you need to visit the office of a neck pain specialist.

Headache

You will always feel this type of headache in the upper part of your neck or the head’s back. A headache emanating from your neck usually aches dully and may have other symptoms, such as a stiff or tender neck.

Often, you just have to rest for the headache to pass.

Facet joint syndrome

A facet joint syndrome is an arthritis-like condition that attacks your spinal area and can cause neck and back pain. The pain comes from degenerative changes experienced by joints connecting your spinal bones. The facet joints have cartilages that can disintegrate and swell, thus causing signals of pain in the adjacent nerve endings.

A facet joint syndrome or pain can also extend to your body’s upper region.

Referred neck pain

This type of neck pain emanates from another part of your body having a problem.  For instance, you may have referred to pain in your neck due to a health issue with your cardiovascular system. Referred neck pain is often a sign of a severe health issue; therefore, you should seek professional help immediately.

A pinched nerve (cervical radiculopathy)

Generally, the pain is burning and sharp and comes due to compression of your neck’s nerve roots. You can increase the pain if you turn, extend, or strain your neck.

Contact Expert Pain today to treat your neck pain through conservative or advanced interventions.