What Does It Mean When Your Neck Hurts? 5 Neck Pain Causes

Neck pain is incredibly common and easy to treat with the right chiropractic care. It doesn’t always mean that something serious is wrong, either. Chronic neck pain can originate from something as simple as bad posture. An uncomfortable work chair or pillow in your bed can be just as responsible, too. 

Your neck works hard to support your head’s wide range of motion all day, every day. Understandably, your neck muscles will get sore from time to time! In this post, we’ll answer the question, “What Does It Mean When Your Neck Hurts?” and go over some rare causes that can require medical treatment.

1. Repetitive Motions

Just as repetitive movements can strain other muscles in your body, the same thing can happen to your neck. In fact, repetitive motion is an extremely common cause of neck pain. This type of neck pain can originate from any repetitive activity, such as exercise, stretching, or even looking at the TV across the room. 

2. Arthritis

Arthritis in your hands, feet, knees, and even elbows is very common. However, did you know that arthritis can manifest in your neck joints as well? While arthritis of the neck is less common than regular muscle pain, it’s still important to see a doctor for treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis are important to prevent the progression of the disease. 

3. Stress

Stress is an incredibly common source of soreness, fatigue, and even injury. If you’ve been under more stress than usual, you may be tensing your neck muscles without even realizing it, leading to pain and soreness in your neck and back. 

4. Past or Present Injury

A neck injury can easily cause pain flare-ups, even after the injury has long since healed. Depending on the nature of the past injury, it may be severe enough to require treatment from a chiropractor or physical therapist. 

If you’re in an accident of some kind that results in neck pain, always have a doctor diagnose the issue as soon as possible. Neck pain is a usually harmless and extremely common symptom, but it can also be an early warning sign of stroke, cancer, meningitis, pinched nerves, and other severe conditions. 

5. Spinal Problems

If you experience problems with your spine, the chances are that pain will manifest in your neck too. Pinched nerves, herniated disks, and bone spurs are all issues that can manifest in both your neck and your spine. 

Talk to an emergency doctor right away if your neck pain doesn’t go away, doesn’t respond to medication, or co-occurs with nausea, dizziness, or numbness. However, if you experience infrequent or mild neck pain, you may also want to consider researching neck pain treatment in Woodstock, GA. Call Ribley Family Chiropractic at 770-592-2505 today to make an appointment.