Understand Your Pain in the Neck
Venus Enock
A strong and healthy spine is something that every person needs; yet many take for granted. Virtually every movement we make, every moment of the day, involves the use of the neck and back. So, when neck and back pain strikes, it can literally affect everything we do.
As we age, neck and back pain becomes extremely common. The condition affects not only your physical health, but your social and even economic well being as well. An episode of neck and back pain can disrupt simple daily tasks, routines, leisure activities, and employment. Neck and back pain can literally bring life to a standstill, which is why there are so many reports from doctors, and so many missed days at work.
It's no secret that neck and back pain makes life downright miserable, but there's no reason to panic and rush into surgery. Alternative treatments are available, and you can take pain management steps to overcome your obstacles. Non-surgical measures can help alleviate your pain and reduce the likelihood of recurring episodes.
Causes of Neck and Back Pain
Neck and back pain is usually caused by strains or other injuries to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spinal column. These may be caused by sports injuries, or a sudden increase in physical activity to which the individual is not accustomed, such as a jarring motion or heavy lifting.
Sometimes, viral infections can bring about flu-like symptoms accompanied by muscular pain in the neck and back. This condition is known in medical circles as myalgia.
The natural degeneration of the spine can also bring about intense neck and back pain. The individual bones that make up the spine, called vertebrae, are joined together by the intervertebral discs, ligaments and joints. Combined, these components form the spine's strong and flexible structure.
As you age through middle life and beyond, neck and back pain may occur as a result of the wear and tear of your intervertebral discs and other associated components of your spine. These degenerative changes are most often caused by movement. Over time, motion will cause the cervical (neck) and the lumbar (lower back) areas of the spine to break down.
Your ligaments and joints are biological structures that will try to heal and repair themselves. As a result, your spine may become deformed with bulging discs, buckling ligaments, and bone spurs. These changes may also create a pinching of the canals through which nerves pass, with painful results.
Treatments
There is no one magical cure for every type of neck and back pain, but many conditions are can be treated easily and effectively. Most doctors choose to prescribe pharmaceutical medications for their pain-killing and anti-inflammatory properties.
Passive physical therapy, used in conjunction with active physical exercise, is another popular option. Hot and cold compresses are applied to the painful area in order to alleviate the discomfort. Other modalities may be used, including the application of electric impulses that can override the muscular spasms that often characterize neck and back pain.
When neck and back pain strikes, it can seem impossible to lead a normal, productive life. Still, surgery is not always the answer. Don't be a slave to your neck and back pain. Speak with your doctor about the many alternative treatment options for neck and back pain, and get your life back.
Writer Venus Enock contributes articles to several popular web magazines, on http://bosiv.com/ exercise fitness and http://nedod.com/ muscle fitness topics. Get your own completely http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=25800&b=79 unique content version of this article.
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