5 Things To Keep In Mind About Neck Pain

Dizziness can undoubtedly be due to many, many causes. However, weakness, loss of balance, or disorientation in patients between the ages of 60 and 70 is almost always due to a common cause: the neck.

• Dizziness is often due to neurological disorders derived from mechanical neck problems associated with age. They are “cervicogenic vertigos”.
• Sometimes many people associate that dizziness with weakness, a bad day or tiredness. However, what really exists is a spinal problem, where a sharp turn or a bad movement causes dizziness or fainting.
• Also, we can perceive vision problems, nausea and vomiting.

It certainly causes a lot of anguish and anxiety. It is necessary that before any discomfort, we go to the family doctor.

2. The dreaded contractures and stress

Surely you have experienced it more than once at the end of a workday: neck stiffness, difficulty moving the neck and headache. These symptoms define the classic contracture due, almost always, to a fatal combination: stress and poor posture.

• This problem usually lasts, at most, between a couple of days or a week. However, during that time we will hardly be able to do anything.
• Also, we cannot forget something important. Stress itself is a trigger for neck pain. It increases the rigidity of the muscles, hinders flexibility and tightens the nerves in this area until it extends even to the head. If, in addition, we maintain a bad posture for hours, the problem intensifies.

3. Osteoarthritis of the neck: a too common problem

The data invites us to think. Neck osteoarthritis affects a small part of the younger population, however, after the age of 65, almost 90% of people suffer from this problem.

• Cervical spondylosis is a very common degenerative disease. The joints wear out, and stiffness, dizziness, and neck pain are common.

• Also, this problem is accompanied by a tingling sensation and loss of strength in an arm or hand.
• The only positive information about this incurable ailment is that its progress is slow. In addition, there are treatments that can offer us a good quality of life.

4. Herniated cervical disc, limiting and painful

Although cervical disc herniation is less common than lumbar disc herniation, its progression can be just as problematic.

• The spine loses its flexibility and elasticity. The ligaments that surround the discs become brittle and tear, causing neck pain, back pain, and difficulty in movement.
• In addition to pain and stiffness in the neck, we can feel the loss of sensation in the upper extremities and dizziness.
• According to experts, cervical disc herniation usually responds well to drugs, rest, and rehabilitation. However, in more serious cases the only option is surgery.

5. Proper sleep hygiene to avoid neck pain

A deep and restorative sleep of between 8 and 10 hours would allow us to relieve, above all, the classic contractures associated with stress.

Also keep in mind that chronic insomnia increases the risk that we may suffer from various musculoskeletal disorders.  So, try to take care of your sleep hygiene also making use of appropriate pillows and a firm mattress according to your constitution.

Now, it is also necessary that you take care of the posture with which you are going to rest in case of neck pain. Here are some simple guidelines.

• Do not sleep on your stomach, that is, “face down.”
• Avoid using a pillow that tends to twist your neck in any way.

• Specialists recommend using a rolled towel and placing it just below our shoulders. You will see what relief you notice when you wake up the next morning.

In conclusion, even though we will suffer from neck pain at some point in our lives, it can always be treated. Simple aspects such as taking care of our postural axis, our sleep hygiene and always having adequate health specialists can help us to have a better quality of life.