Archive for December, 2007
Top Tips To Treat Neck Pain By Raymond Geok Seng Lee
The neck bones are a continuation of the spine. The top seven vertebrae are called cervical or neck vertebrae. The seventh one makes the prominent bump that you can feel where your back joins your neck. The upper-most vertebrae, the Atlas, holds up the skull. The second vertebrae, the Axis, has a vertical peg around which the head turns. The entire neck is more flexible than the back. It bears less weight but also is less well protected by thick muscles. The disc spaces in the neck can get narrow, bony spurs can form, and nerves can get caught and compressed, just as in the low back. Arthritis such as spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the neck, and rheumatoid arthritis is particularly likely to affect the top two vertebrae, allowing the head to slip forward and backward.
Excess tension in the neck muscles can cause neck pain as well, and is probably the most common cause of neck pain. Here the pull on the ends of the ligaments causes pain in the back of the head where the neck attaches to the skull, and this pain can often shoot forward and be interpreted as a headache.
Usually, as in the low back, a neck problem is minor and will be self-limited; however, injuries do take some time to heal. Healing depends on natural healing processes. Excessive neck movement tends to slow the healing and has the possibility of causing re-injury.
Rest the neck and listen for what the pain message tells you not to do. You can fold a bath towel lengthwise so that it is a four-inch-wide strip, and wrap the neck with it, securing it comfortably with a safety pin or tape. Now you have a soft neck brace to wear at night, and this will clear up nearly half of all neck pain problems. If pain persists, use the soft collar during the day as well or buy a commercial soft collar to wear. You want some support from the collar, but more than that you want a little reminder not to turn your head too far or too fast.
Common sense says to watch out for things that aggravate the pain and to avoid them. Watching a tennis match is obviously not a good idea because of the repeated head turning required. You probably engage in other activities that require head turning and are just as damaging. For example, some people get help by wearing their glasses while reading because this enables them to be farther away from the book. Try to sit back farther from your work. Don’t reach or look over your head to get objects; use a stool.
Keep painkillers and muscle relaxants to a minimum or avoid them altogether. Aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen is all right but probably won’t make you feel better.
Sleep on a good firm mattress. Don’t sleep on your stomach, and if you sleep on your side, place a pillow so that your neck is in a neutral position, not propped up or hanging down. When sleeping on your back, use a small pillow, and place it beneath your neck as well as your head.
The time for exercise begins as the pain subsides, usually after five to seven days. Don’t rush. There are two types of exercises, stretching and strengthening, and you should do some of each. They are designed to help prevent recurrence. Start stretching exercises with gentle stretches and increase the stretches slowly, day by day. There are three maneuvers: chin toward chest, ear toward shoulder, and looking to the side. The last two should, of course, be done in each direction. Do them twice daily, each maneuver three times gently.
Strengthening exercises can begin at the same time and should start with three repetitions, twice daily. Slowly work up to ten repetitions. If you have been having recurrent neck problems, these exercises are a worth-while lifetime habit. Here are three:
1. (Shoulder shrug) Raise both shoulders towards ears, hold for two seconds, relax, repeat.
2. Take a deep, deep breath, hold for five seconds, release, repeat. The neck muscles are “accessory muscles of respiration” and breathing exercises involve the neck muscles.
3. While standing with both hands behind your back, grab one thumb with your other hand. Flex your head way back. Press down with your hands. Take a deep breath, relax, repeat. This exercise can be done lying on your stomach as well, after you get good at it standing up.
Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of “Neck Exercises and Workouts.” Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.
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Chronic Back Pain And Neck Pain Are Often Similar
By Melwin Frederic
Of all the aches and pains the body may get in a lifetime, chronic back pain and neck pain are probably the most persistent nagging pains we can get. These are two pains that can disrupt our entire lives, affecting both our personal and professional life. More time is lost from work from chronic back pain and neck pain, especially back pain, than any other ailments. Approximately 1/3 of the population is affected by chronic back pains.
Chronic back pain and neck pain will drastically change and alter our daily lives and require us to understand the problem and what is causing the problem. Both of these pains can be caused from overwork, twisting and bending our bodies the wrong way, injury and even stress. Before a doctor can help us to get rid of the pain, we need to know what the cause was.
There are some instances where an individual will wake up with a back or neck pain with no prior warning or indication. In other cases, people have turned their head in much the same way as they usually do and they’ll get a sharp pain in the neck or back. If ignored and left untreated, it does not go away and turns into chronic back pain and neck pain.
Pain management is the first step towards lessening or eliminating the pain. Although pain management is different than pain treatment, it’s still very important towards helping yourself to become pain free. Pain management is a method where we learn to deal with the pain and not let it rule our lives. Pain that is left untreated such as chronic back pain and neck pain can lead to other health problems such as damaging the immune system or leading to psychological problems. It also affects our physical capabilities, making us less active and not getting the exercise we need. This is turn, will have an even more negative effect on the body.
Many patients that suffer from chronic back pain and neck pain also suffer from anxiety and depression. The constant pain and inability to lead a normal life because of it, make the sufferer depressed and feeling helpless, which ultimately leads to more pain. Many doctors recommend sufferers seek counseling from a qualified psychologist. Often, when the therapy begins to help our emotional being, we begin to feel more energetic, which helps our physical condition. Our physical and emotional beings are linked so closely together that one may often affect the other. In some cases, chronic back pain and neck pain are brought on from a psychological problem.
Doctors always recommend seeking treatment as soon as you begin to experience back or neck problems as they can affect your entire life if left untreated.
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Neck Pillow The Best Sleeping Partner For Neck Pain Sufferer. The Hyper Comfortable Pillow That Fully Support Your Head And Neck
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The much unique neck support pillow provides extensive help for the people suffering from neck aches and extreme back aches. This in turn helps for people who have such ailments and thus provides them with assistance to sleep better. Most of the back and neck pains that are caused have the main root cause as the incorrect sleep posture or the sitting positions.
The pillow provides support and guidance for one to sleep in a comfortable manner. Thus it also keeps the spinal cord straight in line. Cervical pillow are another name for the neck support pillows.
The night sleep:
Only after one gets a good night’s sleep does one feel fresh and hence the energy to work. Thus, in order to get good nights sleep on is advised to get the pillows in the line of your body and thus it helps the neck and its gives the support.
According to ones body weight and the temperature, the neck gets in line. The pillows are normally made of some kind of foam which makes it durable. Sleeping on the stomach instead of the back but in an advised position too helps in the betterment of the neck and the back. These pillows prove to be a stopper for the people who snore as it considerably reduces the snoring of people. Also, those people who cant sleep and suffer from insomnia or have constant migraine trouble find these pillows helpful to keep their disorders in control. People can easily position themselves according to the pillows and thus have a sleep without and tossing or turning or waking up in the mid night.
Some people have the allergies from the regular pillows. Here, the OCA Water Pillow is much more convenient as they have much more resistant to the dust mites. The neck support pillow proves to be the ideal thing for our homes. The pillow is of great help in the homes as well as while traveling. While traveling, one can carry the foldable pillow and thus assure their neck safety during the journey. The pillow improves the circulation of the body. OCA Water Pillow is also the ideal gift for the people and can be gifted too.
©2007 health-information-articles.com.
Neck Pillow - The Best Choice For Your Neck Pain And Travelling Purpose.
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Neck pain is caused due to a lot of problems which mainly relate to the exertion and the body stress. Excessive stress leads to the pain in the neck and the back. Any kind of strain on the back automatically leads on to the pain in the neck. One must take care in such situations and hence, take some medical help as the pain in the neck can also prove to be fatal at times. To treat the neck pain one can find a lot of medicines available in the market. But this may lead on to certain side effects. Hence, studying the medicine and the cause of the pain in the neck is imperative. Acupuncture and other medications that are available should be taken only with the doctors prescription as one may not know the ill effects of the same. Managing the pain is imperative.
Solutions:
To realize the components of the medicines can be good for one. There isnt one method to manage the pain, but many; hence, opting for the best one would be effective. Combining the medicines and the drugs in order to make one effective solution also works at times. In case of the mild and moderate pain, the counter drugs prove to be the perfect medication. People, who cannot consume medicines or tabs, go for the syrup and vice versa. Also certain creams are available in the market and are opted by many. Vitamin D is necessary for the people who are prone to such muscular and bone disorders. Exercise is extremely necessary for the people wanting to eradicate the neck pain completely.
Research has shown the effects of the vitamins on any problems related to the bone. The posture should be kept in mind. Incorrect posture can mean harm to the bones. The neck pain doubles if one does not have good sitting and sleeping habits. The diet should comprise of the healthy food. People dealing with neck pain must take proper care and also indulge in regular exercise as this may turn to be fatal at times.
©2007 health-information-articles.com.
Neck Pillow - The Best Pillow To Relieve Neck Pain
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Overview
Neck pain results when the spine is stressed by injury, poor posture, disease, wear and tear, or poor body mechanics. Acute neck pain is abrupt, intense pain that subsides after a period of days or weeks. It can also radiate to the head, shoulders, arms, or hands. It typically resolves with rest, exercise, and other self-care measures. Some people suffer from chronic pain that continues despite treatment.
You play an important role in the prevention and healing process of neck pain. Strong, flexible muscles help to promote a healthy neck that maintains good alignment, allows movement, and provides structural support.
The neck region of the spinal column is called the cervical spine. Protected within the cervical spine are the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels. The seven cervical bones, called vertebrae (C1 to C7), are cushioned by shock-absorbing discs (Fig. 1). Each disc contains a rigid outer layer that surrounds a gel-like inner layer. The vertebra is held in place by muscles and ligaments that function to support and move your head. Exiting from the spinal column through the holes (foramina) on either side of the vertebra are the spinal nerves. The cervical region has the most range of motion because of two specialized vertebrae that connect to the skull. These special vertebrae allow your head to bend, turn, and move side to side. The neck can also be a prime location for injury and pain (see Anatomy of the Spine).
Types of neck pain
Neck pain ranges from mild to severe, and is classified as either acute or chronic.
Acute neck pain often relates to soft tissue injury (e.g., sprains of muscles, tendons, or ligaments) or disc herniation. Acute pain usually heals within several days to weeks. Its severity relates directly to the extent of tissue injury and resolves with over time.
Chronic neck pain persists (lasts more than 3 months) and its source may be hard to find. Chronic pain may be present all the time, or worsen with certain activities, poor posture, and improper body mechanics. Other contributing factors may be related to nerve cell changes, tissue scarring, arthritic changes, or psychological effects of chronic pain. In some cases, the complexity of chronic symptoms requires consultation with a pain management specialist (see Pain Management).
What are the symptoms?
Signs and symptoms of neck pain may be stiffness, tightness, aching, burning or stabbing or shooting pains, pressure, or tingling. Muscles can feel sore or tense in the neck, face, or shoulders. Muscles spasm when they go into a state of extreme contraction (e.g., after whiplash). Movement may be restricted—perhaps you cannot turn your head past a certain point. If nerves are involved, tingling, numbness, or weakness may develop in your arms or hands. Where and how the symptoms manifest in the body can also indicate the level (from C1 to C7) and type of injury or disease.
Several situations signal the need for prompt medical attention. If nerve compression is severe, symptoms can include numbness and/or loss of coordination in the arms or legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Neck pain accompanied by a headache, fever, or nausea could be a symptom of meningitis (an infection of the membranes around your brain) or of a hemorrhage in the brain. If your neck is so stiff that you can’t touch your chin to your chest, you should seek immediate medical attention.
What are the causes?
Neck pain can result from injury, poor posture, stress, natural wear, disease, and other sources. Poor spinal alignment (e.g., slouching, sleeping on the stomach) and improper movement (e.g., poor lifting technique) stress the cervical spine and make injuries more likely. Neck pain can result from:
- Injury or trauma: A significant force can stress the structures of the neck, for example, a whiplash injury, sports injury, or fall. Fractures, such as vertebral compression fractures, can result. A tear in the muscles and ligaments of the neck may predispose the discs to bulge or herniate.
- Bulging and herniated cervical disc: The gel-like material within the disc can bulge or rupture through a weak area in the surrounding wall (annulus). Irritation and swelling occurs when this material squeezes out and painfully presses on a nerve. In severe injuries, the gel bulges out and causes the outer rim of annulus to rupture or tear.
- Pinched nerve: When a spinal nerve is compressed (radiculopathy), pain may run down your arm into your hands or fingers. Pinched nerve pain differs from carpal tunnel symptoms, which usually involve numbness.
- Osteoarthritis (degenerative disc disease): As discs naturally wear out, bone spurs form and the facet joints inflame. The discs dry out and shrink, losing their flexibility and cushioning properties. The disc spaces get smaller. These changes lead to stenosis or disc herniation.
- Stenosis: Narrowing of the spinal and nerve root canals occurs as facet joints enlarge and ligaments stiffen over time. As the spinal canal narrows, it presses the cord and nerves, causing them to swell and inflame.
- Spondylolysis: A weakness or stress fracture develops in one of the bony bridges that connect the upper and lower facet joints.
- Spondylolisthesis: A weakness predisposes the vertebra to slip out of normal position.
What treatments are available?
Self care: Most neck problems resolve with self-care measures such as rest, ice or heat, massage, over-the-counter pain relievers, or gentle stretches (see Self Care for Neck and Back Pain). If home treatments aren’t working within the first couple of days, see your doctor.
In developing a treatment plan, your physician or healthcare provider will assess the type of disease or condition, and its impact. A team approach for treatment of neck problems is often the most effective. Medical treatments include surgical or nonsurgical care and self-care strategies that aim toward restoring a healthy neck and preventing future re-injury.
Physical therapy and exercise: Neck pain typically resolves with nonsurgical care with options such as massage, traction, or gentle exercises for the neck. Other options are physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, trigger point injection, or other treatment. Maintaining good posture and proper body mechanics during activities and sleep complement treatment.
Medications: Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or naproxen) to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. If you have spasms, a muscle relaxant may be prescribed for a short time (3 to 4 days). If the pain is severe, an analgesic that can be taken with the NSAID or muscle relaxant may be prescribed.
Steroids can be used to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerves. They are taken orally (as a Medrol dose pack) in a tapering dosage over a five-day period or as an injection directly into the source of pain (see epidural steroid injections and facet injections). Steroids have the advantage of providing almost immediate pain relief within 24-hours.
Surgery: Surgery is rarely recommended unless you have muscle weakness, a proven disc herniation, cauda equina syndrome, or if the pain is severe and not resolved after a reasonable course of nonsurgical treatment.
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More than half of the human beings face neck pain at some time in their life. If neck pain lasts for long time or it creates problem repeatedly, it is said to be chronic. Generally chronic neck pain is caused by abnormalities in soft tissues either because of injury or prolonged wear and tear. Different types of chronic neck pain are caused by different reasons.
Muscle strain:
Overuse of neck creates strain in the soft tissues. It creates acute pain in the neck and back. Poor posture and work habits sustain the pain for long. Repeated overuse of muscles creates pain particularly in the back side of the neck.
Cervical Foraminal Stenosis:
Pain developing very slowly over the years and occurring after particular positions of the neck is might be due to Cervical Foraminal Stenosis. Wear and aging of the vertebral joints in the neck or at the disc margins creates this kind of pain. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish this type of pain from muscle pain if on is depending on x ray and CT scan. In such cases, an injection called as medial branch block (MBB) is done. Injection conforms that cause of the pain is facet joint.
Cervical herniated disc:
Cervical herniated disc is the main cause of the neck pain radiating down the arm in some cases to the hands and fingers. Herniated disc or bone spur compresses the spinal cord to cause the pain. Symptoms of this type of pain create suddenly and slowly. If the pain is not responding to the conservative treatment (medication, physical therapy or manipulations), surgery is also needed.
Disk injury:
Disc controls motion of the neck. When it is stressed beyond the limits it creates the pain extending to the annulus (outer wall of the disc). General case of this is the whiplash injury. Muscles and ligaments are inflamed or stressed by an accident. Neck pain sometimes flares or gets worse. Pain is increased by certain postures. In most of the cases it gets healed but for some people it creates pain in normal activities. About one forth of the patients develops neck pain due to disc injury.
©2007 health-information-articles.com.
Neck pillow is essential to get a good night’s sleep without having to worry about neck pain.
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