When it comes to physical ailments and chronic pain, the neck and back area are usually the most common areas people complain about. Not only is the neck and back area an extremely common source of pain, but it is also an extremely limiting and tough pain to deal with. Pain in the neck and back area can greatly restrict your movement and make being productive a tall task. As a result, it’s extremely important to identify the causes of neck and back pain, allowing you to alleviate your pain or even prevent it from happening in the first place.
What are the most common causes of neck and back pain, and how can you prevent them from happening? Let’s explore how you can alleviate your neck and back pain by rooting out the causes.
Poor Posture
One of the most common causes of neck and back pain is poor posture. While having poor posture won’t immediately give you neck and back pain, but it will cause damage to your spine, joints, and muscles over time. The damage that poor posture causes to your body will build over time, and your pain will slowly get worse as time goes on. Bad posture plagues many people, especially as people spend so much time hunched over their desks and phones. Although fixing your posture and standing up straight won’t immediately fix your neck and back pain, it will slowly remove the strain on your spine, and your pain will diminish in time.
Strains or Tears
In more serious cases of neck and back pain, you could have sustained an injury. Some of the most common neck and back injuries include strains and tears, injuries that can both cause a lot of pain and greatly restrict your range of motion. Simply moving the wrong way or overworking your body can be more than enough to cause a strain or tear. Strains are a little less serious, and although they hurt at first, they will likely go away quickly with some rest. However, tears are much more serious and may even require to go to neck and back physical therapy. Here they can give you exercise routines that strengthen your neck muscles and help you regain your lost range of motion. If you get a sudden pain in your back or neck, keep an eye on it as it could be an injury like a strain or tear.
Sleeping Position
Sleep is considered an extremely peaceful time, allowing you to rest and recover from a hard day. However, the position you sleep in can actually be a major source of your neck and back pain. If you’re someone who sleeps in a weird or unnatural position, then you could experience pain. In addition, repeatedly sleeping on a hard or uncomfortable surface can also contribute to neck and back pain. If you’re someone who experiences chronic neck and back pain, try sleeping on a softer and more comfortable mattress, and try sleeping in more comfortable and ergonomic positions.
Herniated Disc
One of the more serious causes of back and neck pain are herniated disks. A herniated disc is when one of the discs in your back is pushed through to your spine. The disc will then press on several nerves, causing lots of pain. Side effects of herniated discs include pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling. Herniated discs are serious physical injuries, and you’ll likely want to seek out treatment right away. Conditioning and strengthening you back through physical therapy can be a fantastic way of easing the pain caused by a herniated disk, making physical therapy a great option. However, other methods, such as surgery and medication, can help you cope with your herniated disc.
Disease
Another common cause of neck and back pain are chronic physical diseases like arthritis. Arthritis is defined as the painful inflammation of the joints, resulting in stiffness and limited movement. When arthritis affects the neck and back, the effects can be particularly painful and limiting. Osteoarthritis is arthritis of the spine and is one of the leading causes of lower back pain. Cervical spondylosis is arthritis of the neck and affects the vast majority of people over the age of seventy. These two ailments combine to cause many people pain and suffering, but there are ways to fight back. Maintaining proper physical health, massage treatments, hot and cold therapy, and physical therapy can all be great ways to combat arthritis and eliminate the pain it causes.
