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Why is our neck so important, and why does it hurt?
Simply put, our neck helps us hold our head up, look straight ahead, and turn it from side to side. It has 7 bones, called vertebrae, that are stacked on top of each other. These bones, along with the muscles around them, support the weight of our head and provide it with the necessary movement. Just imagine, the neck, which carries so much weight and does so much work, doesn't get a little rest, right? So this pain can occur for various reasons.- Poor Posture: This is the main cause. Staring at the computer all day, hunching over your phone for hours, and using a pillow that is too high while sleeping all put unnecessary pressure on the neck muscles .
- Trauma : Pain can occur due to an injury to the neck, such as a car accident or a fall.
- Degenerative Disease: As we age, the bones and cartilage in our neck, like other joints, begin to wear down. This can also cause pain.
- Other medical conditions: Neck pain can also be a symptom of some medical conditions, such as Ankylosing Spondylitis .
Home remedies for neck pain
Most of the time, neck pain will subside within a few days with simple home remedies. However, you need to be a little careful when doing these.| Treatment method | How to do it and what to be careful about |
|---|---|
| Rest and light exercise | Avoid heavy lifting or exercise during the first few days when the pain is severe. Once the pain has subsided, do simple exercises that gently rotate your neck from side to side and up and down. It is best to seek advice from a physical therapist and learn some exercises that are right for you. |
| Heating Pad | Wrap a hot water bottle or heating pad in a cloth and apply it to the painful area of your neck for about 15-20 minutes. This will relax the muscles, increase blood flow, and provide pain relief. |
| Bathing in hot water | Taking a hot shower is also a good way to relieve neck pain. Let the warm water run down your neck. |
| Common painkillers | You can use a common painkiller like paracetamol, which you can buy from the pharmacy without a prescription. However, if you are taking medication for another serious condition (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, gastritis), you should definitely ask your doctor before taking this type of painkiller. |
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Check Availability →When should you see a doctor?
If the pain doesn't subside after a few days of home remedies, or if you have any of the symptoms below, see a doctor without delay. These could be signs of a more serious condition.Be very aware of these symptoms. They could be a sign of something more than just a simple neck pain.
Seek medical advice immediately!
When you see a doctor, he or she will examine you and, if necessary, refer you for tests such as an X-ray or MRI scan. Treatment may include painkillers, physical therapy, immobilization, traction, or sometimes steroid injections. Surgery is rarely necessary.| Symptom | Potentially serious condition |
| If the pain spreads to the arms or legs . | It could be a pinched nerve coming from the spinal cord. |
| If you have numbness, weakness , or loss of sensation in your arms or legs. | There may be damage or pressure on the nerves. |
| If you have a severe headache, fever, or vomiting along with neck pain. | It could be a sign of an infection such as meningitis. |
| If it is severe pain after an accident. | There could be a fractured vertebra or other serious injury. |
Other relief methods
- Massage : A trained massage therapist can provide temporary relief by massaging the neck muscles. Although there is little scientific evidence for long-term benefits, it can provide some relief in the short term.
- Chiropractic Adjustment: A trained professional (a chiropractor) applies pressure to the neck joints to try to bring them into the correct position. This also provides short-term relief for some people. However, it is safest to talk to your doctor before doing anything like this.
💡 Take-Home Message
- Neck pain can be caused by simple causes such as poor posture and muscle strain, as well as by bone degeneration over time.
- At home, you can get relief with warm compresses, light exercise, and common painkillers .
- If the pain is severe, lasts for several days, or is accompanied by numbness in the arms and legs , seek medical advice immediately .
- If you are taking medication for other conditions, be sure to ask your doctor before using any painkillers.
- Maintaining proper posture while using the computer, looking at the phone, and sleeping is the best and simplest way to prevent neck pain.
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