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Neck pain (or cervicalgia) is a common problem, with almost two-thirds of the population having neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain is a pain that occurs in the area of the seven cervical vertebrae in the neck area. Because of its location and range of motion, the neck is often left unprotected and subject to injury. Pain in the back or neck area can be acute, which comes on suddenly and intensely, or chronic, which can last for weeks, months, or even years. The pain can be continuous or intermittent.
Causes
Major and severe causes of neck pain include:
- Carotid artery dissection
- Referred pain from acute coronary syndrome
- Infections: retropharyngeal abscesses, epiglotitis,
- Spondylosis - degenerative arthritis and osteophytes
- Spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal
- Spinal disc herniation – protruding or bulging discs, or if severe prolapse.
More common and lesser neck pain causes include:
- Stress – physical and emotional stresses
- Prolonged postures – many people fall asleep on sofas and chairs and wake with sore necks
- Minor injuries and falls – car accidents, sporting events and day to day minor injuries
- Referred pain – mostly from upper back problems
- Over-use – muscular strain is one of the most common causes
- Whiplash
Symptoms
- Headaches
- Pain in the shoulder, arm or hand
- Reduced range of motion in the neck
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Slower reflexes in the arms, hands, legs or feet.
Natural Cures
- Menthol when applied to the neck stimulates the nerve endings sensitive to cold, producing a sensation of coolness, and also has a local analgesic effect.
- Methyl Salicylate, the primary constituent in Oil of Wintergreen, a naturally fragrant oil, is a chemical relative of aspirin, that relieves the inflammation causing pain and dilates blood vessels.
- Camphor is a penetrating aromatic herb distilled from camphor wood and has a warming property. It alleviates pain, removes swelling, promotes blood circulation and is used for contusions, sprains and traumatic injuries.
- Capsaicin extracted from red chili peppers, is used for pain relief by reducing substance P, which is found at nerve endings and is involved in transmitting neuralgic and arthritic pain signals to the brain.
Treatments
- Acute pain at the base of the skull may well disappear without treatment.
- For short-term problems, manual treatment (chiropractic or physiotherapy) and pain-relieving medicine are recommended.
- With longer-term pain, there is the following choice of treatment:
- chiropractic treatment
- intensive muscle training
- physiotherapy.
- acupuncture provides relief for significant numbers of people with chronic neck and shoulder pain.
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