Neck pain that persists for more than 12 weeks is considered to be chronic neck pain. It can be the result of various spinal disorders such as spondylosis, slipped disc, disc degeneration, etc. Chronic neck pain has become common among working professionals due to hour-long desk jobs that restrict activity and cause stiffness of the spine.
Let’s learn about the different types, causes and treatment options for chronic neck pain.
Types of Neck Pain
Following are the common types of neck pain:
- Neck Stiffness: It is the pain experienced while moving the head that generally involves soreness and may also be accompanied by headache, arm/shoulder pain, etc.
- Sharp/Stabbing Pain: It is an intense pain experienced in a particular area of the neck that feels like getting stabbed with a sharp object.
- Dull/Sore/Tender Pain: It includes soreness or dull pain spread over a neck region.
- Radiating Pain: It is the pain that gives a feeling that it’s travelling from the spine to various body parts like arms, shoulders, hands, fingers, legs, etc.
Common Causes of Chronic Neck Pain
A wide range of conditions and factors can cause chronic neck pain. Hence, an early, accurate diagnosis is vital to ensure speedy pain relief and avoid potential complications.
The most common causes of chronic neck pain include:
- Cervical Spondylosis: It involves wear and tear of the spine present in the neck region that generally occurs due to age and sometimes by injury.
- Traumatic Injury: As the name suggests, it is an injury that causes severe trauma to the joints, muscles, discs, bones and other tissues in the neck.
- Poor Posture (Forward Head Posture): As per a research study, an extra 10 pounds of weight is exerted on the cervical spine for every inch of forward head posture. Hence, regular poor posture, particularly that of the head, is closely associated with cervical spine disorders and chronic neck pain.
- Cervical Herniated Disc: A slipped disc or ruptured disc in the neck region is referred to as a cervical herniated disc. It can cause extreme neck pain that may also radiate to other body parts.
- Cervical Osteoarthritis/Spondylosis: Arthritis of the neck is called cervical osteoarthritis/spondylosis. It comprises degeneration of the bones in the cervical spine.
- Cervical Spinal Stenosis: This spine condition involves the narrowing of the spinal canal due to wear and tear or injury.
Prioritise You Treatment
Identifying the reason behind chronic neck pain is very important as it could be the result of an underlying condition that may worsen over time, causing permanent damage and chronic conditions. Hence, it’s recommended to consult a doctor at the earliest and get yourself evaluated if you are experiencing persistent neck pain that is causing havoc with your everyday life.
About ANSSI:
ANSSI Wellness focuses on improving the quality of life for patients suffering from spinal issues, aiming to provide relief where other conventional treatments have failed. Through advanced non-surgical spinal decompression treatment, ANSSI is committed to helping patients avoid surgery and recover in a safe, effective, and compassionate environment.
