Neck Pain

Neck pain can affect all of us at some stage of our lives. It may occur because of a number of reasons, but for most of us it may be simply treated and prevented.

Causes

• Mild Neck Pain
  • Incorrect sitting posture particularly when working at a computer
  • Putting your head, neck and shoulders in an unnatural position for too long without moving i.e. sleeping incorrectly
     
• Severe/Persistent Neck Pain
  • Injuries to shoulder/collarbone or from pinched nerves in the spine
  • Whiplash injuries

Symptoms

• Dull     and/or;
• Cramping        and/or;
• Stabbing

Pain by a pinched nerve can also cause:

• Burning/stabbing

Muscle injury

• Cramping and worsens on movement particularly after a period of rest
   

Neck pain can radiate to other areas of the body such as the shoulders and further down the backbone.

Pain may also cause muscle weakness from limiting movement in that area to prevent the pain from occurring and from actual damage to the area.

Treatment and Prevention

• Rest is helpful for mild neck pain
  • Try to limit uncomfortable neck positions for two or three
  • If you must work at a screen, have regular breaks, at least every 20 minutes.  Use this break time to rotate the neck and shoulders or take a short walk for a minute or two before returning to the screen or keyboard again.
• Heat packs/Cold packs 
• Paracetamol
• Ibuprofen
• Diclofenac
• Naproxen
   

Your pharmacist can advise you on neck pain management and prevention from further damage.

If neck pain, or any pain, is severe or crushing, then it is important to consult your doctor or go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital at once in order to rule out the possibility of heart problems or other conditions that may cause pain to radiate out from the heart to other areas.