What is it?
Neck Pain is a common complaint. Most causes of Neck Pain aren't serious. Neck muscles can be strained from poor posture — whether it's leaning into your computer at work or hunching over your workbench doing hobbies at home. Wear-and-tear arthritis [1] also is a common cause of Neck Pain.
But sometimes Neck Pain can signify something more serious. Seek immediate medical care if you experience:
- Shooting pain into your shoulder or down your arm
- Numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands
- Change in bladder or bowel habits
- Inability to touch your chin to your chest
How do I recognise it?
The precise location and severity of your neck pain provides important clues in determining what might be causing it. Make sure to tell your doctor if any head or neck movements make your Neck Pain better or worse.
Causes
Neck Pain can result from a variety of causes, ranging from overuse injuries and whiplash to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and meningitis [2].
- Muscle strains
- Worn joints
- Nerve compression
- Injuries
- Diseases
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Meningitis. [2]
- Cancer. [3]
How do you treat it?
Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:
- Conventional medicines [4]
- Complementary medicines
- Complementary therapies
For information on medicines [4] and therapies relevant to Neck Pain, make an appointment at Lynch's Pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.
Learn all about the drugs [4] used to treat the disease and any complementary medicines or therapies proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.
How do you live with it?
Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes.
When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic, we give you all the necessary information available to make your life more manageable and enable you to live with your condition.
References
Neck pain- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neck_pain
Neck Pain, information for patients http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/neck_pain_arc
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/non-specific-neck-pain