Before reading
RX Patient Tools
Use these quick guides before reading the article, or return to them when you need help preparing questions for a doctor.
Start here
Choose the right pathway for symptoms, reports, medicines, or urgent warning signs.
Disease article roadmap
Read this topic step by step: meaning, symptoms, warning signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and follow-up.
Treatment planner
Prepare questions about treatment choices, benefits, risks, side effects, and follow-up.
Family & caregiver guide
Organize symptoms, reports, medicines, questions, and follow-up safely.
Nutrition & diet guide
Prepare food, hydration, supplement, and medicine-timing questions safely.
Prevention guide
Organize risk factors, protective habits, screening, and warning signs.
Recovery guide
Prepare a safe plan for activity, rehabilitation, warning signs, and follow-up.
The neck is a flexible joint that supports the weight of the head. It undergoes a lot of movement and is therefore prone to stress and injuries. Cervical or neck pain is a common problem affecting the people irrespective of gender or age. It is generally not a symptom or indication of a serious underlying disorder.
Causes
- Maintaining a poor posture, hunching or slouching while sitting are common contributing factors
- Sitting and working on the computer for too long or using the mobile phone continuously
- pain and stiffness. সহজ বাংলা: বয়স/ক্ষয়ের কারণে জয়েন্টের ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="osteoarthritis" data-rx-definition="Osteoarthritis is wear-and-tear joint disease causing pain and stiffness. সহজ বাংলা: বয়স/ক্ষয়ের কারণে জয়েন্টের ব্যথা।">Osteoarthritis- loss of cushioning between the neck joints due to ageing
- Vehicular accident may cause a shock to the cervical region of the spine (Whiplash injuries)
- A fall from a height
- Sea divers are at a risk of developing cervical pain
- Habit of gritting the teeth can tendon. সহজ বাংলা: মাংসপেশি/টেনডনে টান।" data-rx-term="strain" data-rx-definition="A strain is injury to a muscle or tendon. সহজ বাংলা: মাংসপেশি/টেনডনে টান।">strain the neck muscles
- Reading while lying down in bed
- Compression of nerves due to Herniated Discs or Bone Spurs
- pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="rheumatoid arthritis" data-rx-definition="Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. সহজ বাংলা: রোগপ্রতিরোধ ব্যবস্থার ভুল আক্রমণে জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">Rheumatoid Arthritis, Meningitis
Symptoms
- Numbness
- Pain which can be mild or severe that shoots down the arms and shoulders
- pain when an area is touched or pressed. সহজ বাংলা: চাপ দিলে ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="tenderness" data-rx-definition="Tenderness means pain when an area is touched or pressed. সহজ বাংলা: চাপ দিলে ব্যথা।">Tenderness in the affected area
- Weakness or loss of strength in the upper extremities
- Tightness in the neck and shoulder muscles
- Muscle spasms
- Recurrent headaches
- Reduced flexibility of the neck
- Pricks or tingling sensation in the neck and upper parts of the body
- Coughing or sneezing may cause pain
Diagnosis
- Details of the medical history of the patient may be taken down
- The doctor may palpate to check for pain when an area is touched or pressed. সহজ বাংলা: চাপ দিলে ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="tenderness" data-rx-definition="Tenderness means pain when an area is touched or pressed. সহজ বাংলা: চাপ দিলে ব্যথা।">tenderness, muscle weakness and loss of movement
- X-ray imaging may be required to check for structural changes in the spine
- MRI scan may be helpful in taking images of the soft tissues and bone structure
- CT scan may present a detailed three dimensional picture of the spine
- Blood tests to check for spinal infections or infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation
- Electromyography – nerve test that is conducted by inserting needles through the skin of the neck
Treatment
- The physician may prescribe painkillers and muscle relaxants
- Physical therapy sessions may help to align the cervical vertebrae and strengthen the neck muscles as well as soft tissues
- Application of heat pads or ice packs may reduce inflammation and pain
- Electrical stimulation may help to ease the pain and promote nerve functioning
- Manual traction using weights and pulleys to increase intervertebral spaces in the cervical
- Use of a soft neck collar for a short duration for support
- The doctor may inject steroids into the affected part
- Nerve compression may be released through surgery
- Gentle exercises may be performed to keep the joints in good health
