What causes Neck Pain?

Most of us have suffered from neck pain at some point in our lives. Neck pain and stiffness can be caused by:

1. Muscle and ligament stress
The most common type of neck pain is non-specific pain, also referred to as ‘simple’ or ‘mechanical’ neck pain. This is often attributed to stress triggered by excessive pressure exerted on the neck. Over time, the muscles and ligaments in the neck become tired, which leads to neck pain.

2. Poor posture
Aside from muscle stress, neck pain is also widely attributed to bad posture. Spending long hours bent over a keyboard or sitting or sleeping without proper neck support can build up pressure in on the neck muscles, causing pain in the neck.

3. Degenerative conditions

• Chronic degeneration

The degeneration of the cervical (neck) bones can cause persistent pain in the neck and is a common occurrence. When degeneration affects the cervical spine, it is termed cervical spondylosis.

• Cervical radiculopathy

This arises when a nerve is damaged in the cervical areas surrounding the spinal cord in the neck, and may cause numbness, prickling sensations as well as pain or weakness in the affected arm.

4. Trauma
Being involved in a car accident can result in whiplash injuries – this type of injury occurs when the sheer force of impact jerks the head forward and then backward, causing undue and sudden stress on the neck muscles.

In addition to all the above, there are many other conditions that, though rare, can cause neck pain. Some of these include bone disorders, infections, cancers, serious injuries to the spine, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients experiencing neck pain for any significant amount of time should always consult a medical doctor to diagnose the cause, rule out any dangerous and urgent conditions, and to be treated effectively.

If you are unsure of the cause of your neck pain, or if your neck pain condition has not improved despite standard treatments and have been told to consider surgery,
simply call us at +65 6732 2397 or leave a message below for Dr Tan to discuss a customized non-invasive solution for you.