Longstanding or chronic neck pain, like other chronic pain syndromes, involves psychological and social aspects. There is an important role of the family as supportive but also potentially counter productive in helping those with chronic neck pain to cope and to gain independence and control over their pain and suffering problems.
Patients with chronic neck pain or other chronic pain syndromes must understand that there will be flare-ups and that they can, with appropriate understanding and training, learn to cope with them.
Dealing with chronic neck pain may be accomplished on your own, or may require professional help. The philosophy is to provide one with tools for self management and strategies to alleviate the pain and/or suffering.
Showing posts with label chronic neck pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chronic neck pain. Show all posts
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Neck Injury
Any neck injury, such as whiplash should be fully evaluated by a health care provider.
In general, injuries involving soft tissues, are similar to a cut on your finger. When a tissue, such as a muscle, is involved in a neck injury, it tears and bleeds. When the bleeding stops a scab is formed. After the scab falls off a scar is left. Scar tissue is weaker, less elastic and more pain sensitive than normal tissue.
During the initial tear of a muscle in a neck injury, there is inflammation present often for the first few days, so it is important not to use heat for neck pain relief which would cause more inflammation. Cold applications are appropriate until any swelling and inflammation is gone along with a soft type of neck brace to help limit further tearing and prevent sudden temperature changes.
It is important to remember that muscles will start to weaken just a few days after motion is restricted. It is important to minmize inflammation so that motion can be restored thus minimizing scar tissue formation and muscle imbalance to limit chronic neck pain.
In general, injuries involving soft tissues, are similar to a cut on your finger. When a tissue, such as a muscle, is involved in a neck injury, it tears and bleeds. When the bleeding stops a scab is formed. After the scab falls off a scar is left. Scar tissue is weaker, less elastic and more pain sensitive than normal tissue.
During the initial tear of a muscle in a neck injury, there is inflammation present often for the first few days, so it is important not to use heat for neck pain relief which would cause more inflammation. Cold applications are appropriate until any swelling and inflammation is gone along with a soft type of neck brace to help limit further tearing and prevent sudden temperature changes.
It is important to remember that muscles will start to weaken just a few days after motion is restricted. It is important to minmize inflammation so that motion can be restored thus minimizing scar tissue formation and muscle imbalance to limit chronic neck pain.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Causes of Neck Pain
There are many causes of neck pain. While most are related to posture and muscle strain, there are some areas of concern that one should be aware.
Initially, the history can shed some light on neck pain and it's causes. A patient's occupation, posture habits, onset of pain, charcter of pain and stress at work and home should be noted. Associated symptoms, such as gait or bladder dysfunction should be noted as certain symptom groups can indicate particular disease processes.
Acute pain (recent onset) with limited motion may, especially in a younger person, is likely to follow trauma or a persistant new activity. Neck muscles are usually tender.
Middle age persons with neck pain may present persisting or recurring pain, which is sometimes associated by tingling in the arms or fingers and may even display chest pain from an affected C6 nerve root, sometimes called cervical angina. These symptoms, without a history of trauma, is suggestive of degenerative disc disease, sometimes called arthritis or cervical spondylosis.
Initially, the history can shed some light on neck pain and it's causes. A patient's occupation, posture habits, onset of pain, charcter of pain and stress at work and home should be noted. Associated symptoms, such as gait or bladder dysfunction should be noted as certain symptom groups can indicate particular disease processes.
Acute pain (recent onset) with limited motion may, especially in a younger person, is likely to follow trauma or a persistant new activity. Neck muscles are usually tender.
Middle age persons with neck pain may present persisting or recurring pain, which is sometimes associated by tingling in the arms or fingers and may even display chest pain from an affected C6 nerve root, sometimes called cervical angina. These symptoms, without a history of trauma, is suggestive of degenerative disc disease, sometimes called arthritis or cervical spondylosis.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Neck Pain and Computer Use
For people who spend a great deal of time using computers, neck pain is a common problem. By computer, we include desktop, laptop, notebook personal computers, video display units and terminals, to include the use of keyboards and associated pointing devices like a mouse or trackball. Neck pain is pain experienced anywhere from the base of the skull at ear level to the upper part of the back or shoulders.
There has been great technological advances in computers along with an industrial shift to a more service oriented economy. This has led to more sedentary jobs as the downsizing of the number of employees is used to minimize losses in corporate profits and resulting increased demands in productivity for those who remain with a company and an increase in sick leave resulting from neck pain. This means more people use computers for work and recreation and we must find better ways of coping with neck pain associated with extended use of computers.
The computer helps a company minimize inefficiencies in the workplace by eliminating wasteful tasks as office workers no longer need to leave the desk to retrieve mail, copy or file documents. This streamlining and increase in productivity through elimination of inefficiencies related to specific tasks has some unfortunate consequences for the worker; there is a reduction in the number of breaks available from repetitive or static job tasks which help to restore health.
Chronic neck pain patients use the health care system twice as often as the rest of the population. The estimated cost associated with work related musculoskeletal problems is projected to be between $45 and $54 billion annually.
There has been great technological advances in computers along with an industrial shift to a more service oriented economy. This has led to more sedentary jobs as the downsizing of the number of employees is used to minimize losses in corporate profits and resulting increased demands in productivity for those who remain with a company and an increase in sick leave resulting from neck pain. This means more people use computers for work and recreation and we must find better ways of coping with neck pain associated with extended use of computers.
The computer helps a company minimize inefficiencies in the workplace by eliminating wasteful tasks as office workers no longer need to leave the desk to retrieve mail, copy or file documents. This streamlining and increase in productivity through elimination of inefficiencies related to specific tasks has some unfortunate consequences for the worker; there is a reduction in the number of breaks available from repetitive or static job tasks which help to restore health.
Chronic neck pain patients use the health care system twice as often as the rest of the population. The estimated cost associated with work related musculoskeletal problems is projected to be between $45 and $54 billion annually.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and complex condition with pain frequently involving the neck and back
Whereas muscle pain usually involves one or two regions of the body, the pain of fibromyalgia is more widespread with multiple tender points that have a quality different than the neck and back strain patterns we have discussed.
Women tend to be affected with fibromyalgia more than men, with the onset of symptoms in the 20's and 30's. Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed lending to its chronic nature, unnecessary medical treatment and emotional distress and frustration.
Predisposing factors for fibromyalgia have been postulated to be physical trauma, psychological stress, history of abuse and genetic.
Other chronic conditions are associated with fibromyalgia including chronic fatigue, sleep disturbance, myofascial pain, irritable bladder syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and cognitive dysfunction.
The pain of fibromyalgia is often made worse by physical activity, stress, lack of sleep, cold and damp weather. Complaints often found associated with fibromyalgia are generalized weakness, daily fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, generalized tenderness, unrefreshed sleep, disturbed mood, anxiety, frequent urination, irritable bowel and multiple chemical sensitivities.
Women tend to be affected with fibromyalgia more than men, with the onset of symptoms in the 20's and 30's. Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed lending to its chronic nature, unnecessary medical treatment and emotional distress and frustration.
Predisposing factors for fibromyalgia have been postulated to be physical trauma, psychological stress, history of abuse and genetic.
Other chronic conditions are associated with fibromyalgia including chronic fatigue, sleep disturbance, myofascial pain, irritable bladder syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome and cognitive dysfunction.
The pain of fibromyalgia is often made worse by physical activity, stress, lack of sleep, cold and damp weather. Complaints often found associated with fibromyalgia are generalized weakness, daily fatigue, muscle and joint stiffness, generalized tenderness, unrefreshed sleep, disturbed mood, anxiety, frequent urination, irritable bowel and multiple chemical sensitivities.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Choosing the right neck pillow to help relieve neck pain
Almost one third of our life is spent sleeping. Sleep is an essential biological need. In addition to rest and relaxation, proper sleep is necessary in order to maintain good physical and mental health. In recent years, changes in lifestyle because of too many activities, sleep time is compressed to lesser and lesser amount. Neck pain can affect the time and quality of sleep. How to improve the quality of sleep by reducing the level of neck pain or discomfort and in such a limited duration of sleep is a very important issue which leads many people to seek a new pillow.
Many experts have suggested that poor neck posture and support during the night may be responsible for waking with neck pain and stiffness, headache and shoulder blade or arm pain. Headaches originating from the neck are called cervicogenic headaches. They are referred from the upper levels of the neck. Shoulder blade and arm pain can be referred from the lower levels of the neck. It is suggested that individuals who wake in the morning with symptoms that were not present the night before, or patients whose symptoms are worse in the morning than when they retired the preceding night, are probably either using an unsuitable pillow or adopting poor neck posture overnight.
Many experts have suggested that poor neck posture and support during the night may be responsible for waking with neck pain and stiffness, headache and shoulder blade or arm pain. Headaches originating from the neck are called cervicogenic headaches. They are referred from the upper levels of the neck. Shoulder blade and arm pain can be referred from the lower levels of the neck. It is suggested that individuals who wake in the morning with symptoms that were not present the night before, or patients whose symptoms are worse in the morning than when they retired the preceding night, are probably either using an unsuitable pillow or adopting poor neck posture overnight.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Muscle Strain Of The Neck
When neck pain and muscle soreness has been present for some time, often it can be traced to factors which strain muscle such as poor posture. Correcting such factors along with self massage and heat directed to specific areas of the neck muscles may provide relief from neck pain.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain
Neck and shoulder pain causes are many. Problems with the neck joint and nerve injury can refer pain to these areas in certain patterns, as we have seen.
The most common complaints of chronic neck pain and shoulder pain I have seen is caused by strain in 2 particular muscles which connect the neck and shoulder. The first muscle is the levator scapula which uses the neck as a base to raise the shoulder from the back.
The other muscle which commonly causes neck and shoulder pain is the Trapezius. This is a complex muscle often called "The Coat Hanger" which can also cause pain into the head and at the base of the skull.
Common causes are from stress of constant chronic elevation of the shoulders as in holding a phone without proper elbow support or sitting in a chair without proper armrests. Other causes are injury to the joints from a side to side force and long term or chronic compression of the muscle as with tight bra straps or a heavy coat that does not fit right. Other less common causes are skeletal variations such as a short leg, pelvis or arms.
The most common complaints of chronic neck pain and shoulder pain I have seen is caused by strain in 2 particular muscles which connect the neck and shoulder. The first muscle is the levator scapula which uses the neck as a base to raise the shoulder from the back.
The other muscle which commonly causes neck and shoulder pain is the Trapezius. This is a complex muscle often called "The Coat Hanger" which can also cause pain into the head and at the base of the skull.
Common causes are from stress of constant chronic elevation of the shoulders as in holding a phone without proper elbow support or sitting in a chair without proper armrests. Other causes are injury to the joints from a side to side force and long term or chronic compression of the muscle as with tight bra straps or a heavy coat that does not fit right. Other less common causes are skeletal variations such as a short leg, pelvis or arms.
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