Diagnosing the Kink in My Neck with its Causes and Treatment

So there I was just minding my own business when something caught my eye. Unfortunately, the sudden action of turning my head did something to my neck. At first, I thought nothing of it since there have been a number of times that my neck bailed on me. I honestly think I’m the only person on this Earth that regularly gets stiff neck. But this kink in my neck was bound to be something different. When the sharp pain I felt then lasted the whole day, I went to bed thinking a good night’s sleep might do me some good. Come next morning, the pain was still there. Fast forward to the week after and the pain was still there. Within that week, I kept telling myself that the pain will go away. But when it didn’t, that’s when I really got worried about the kink in my neck. I knew I had to do something so I read up on neck pain and how to treat it.

In the words of simpletons like me, neck pain is due to stiffness of the muscles and tendons. This makes it incredibly difficult to move your head. A deeper definition of neck pain is that the neck, which is one of the most delicate parts of the body, is susceptible to minor or major damages. The neck consists of vertebrae that go from the skull to the upper body. Since the neck supports the skull which carries the brain and is subjected to various movements every day, you know how important it is to keep it safe and free from injury. You need to protect your neck even if we often take it for granted, which is exactly what happened in my case.

Most neck pains are mild and can be healed in time. For people who experience neck pain for a long period it is considered chronic neck pain. This requires professional help.

• Unhealthy Lifestyle
• Throat Infection
• Meningitis
• Osteomyelitis
• Discitis
• Tuberculosis of the Neck

Even if I had a hunch that the fateful head-turning, neck-twisting incident had a thing to do with the week-long kink in my neck, I wasn’t taking any chances. I strained my neck (pardon the pun) looking for all the possible reasons for my neck pain.

The most common cause of neck pain is too much stress. But you shouldn’t dismiss any neck pain as just that. It may be caused by any of the following:

• Neck Strain : Straining your neck is the result of overexertion of the ligaments and muscles. The injured fibers in your neck need you to rest in order to heal. It is during this time that the ligaments begin returning to their normal form. This is why it is common to feel pain after waking up the next morning.
• Degenerative Disc Disease : This disease is the result of aging. The cervical disc degenerates as we grow older and may result to a herniated disc. Problems with the disc may cause neck pain.
• Arthritis : This condition is quite common and may affect different parts of the body including the neck.
• Whiplash : This kind of neck injury is the result of a sudden backward motion followed immediately by a forward motion. Imagine your head is a whip and you’ll understand how the action of ‘whipping’ will do to your neck. Your neck muscles and ligaments are stretched beyond normal and the pain may remain for a long time even if this is considered a minor condition. Whiplash may happen while playing physical or contact sports, riding amusement rides (those that provide jerking motions), getting punched or hit on the head, horseback riding, and during a vehicular accident.
• Cervical Spondylosis : If you’ve already earned your wrinkles, you are more prone to joint pains. One such joint pain is caused by cervical spondylosis or neck arthritis, which is the depletion of the bones and cartilage of the spine. Nine out of ten people over the age of 65 will have this condition. Old age is the main reason for cervical spondylosis but it can also be caused by neck injuries, repetitive stress and genetic factors.
• Tension Headaches : Those who experience tension or chronic headaches may also suffer from mild neck pain. This is usually caused by being in one position for a prolonged time. Long drives, spending hours fixed to your TV or computer screen and poor posture may cause neck pain connected to headaches.
• Torticollis : Also known as wry neck, torticollis is a condition wherein the head is twisted to one side while the chin points to the opposite. Obviously, this is painful especially on the neck. Torticollis is more of a congenital disorder though severe injury may also result to this condition. Therapy and surgery are the only options if you want to get rid of the pain.
• Tendinitis : The inflammation of a tendon is a common culprit of neck pain.

As I've mentioned, I usually suffer from stiff neck. Sometimes, I strain my neck too much that pain develops. Here are some simple ways to relieve the pain:

• Warm Compress : Wrap warm damp towel around the neck. Apply a little pressure. This will help blood circulation and provide relief from the pain.
• Take a hot Shower : Let the hot water run down your neck for some time. This will also help improve the blood flow.
• Hot Bottle : Fill up a glass bottle with hot water and lace it directly on the affected area.
• Heating Pad : For the same reasons as the three above, heat from a heating pad will help relieve the pain.
• Apply Ice : To reduce the swelling, apply ice or any cold compress. Do this for up to 20 minutes at a time.
• Apply Healing Balm : Herbal balm is a great and natural ways to relieve neck pain. Rub a little on the kink and let it do its work.
• Soak in Bath Salts : This is probably the most enjoyable thing I did to get rid of the kink in my neck. The sulfate and magnesium in the bath salts, particularly Epsom salts, helped alleviate the stress and tension while improving blood circulation.
• Exercise : The key to doing neck exercises to relieve the pain is to do things slowly. Stretch the neck muscles by rotating your neck and moving it back and forth then side to side. Do so until the point where you feel pain. As you slowly exercise your neck, the muscles and ligament will improve their range of motion until the pain is alleviated.
• O-T-C Medicines : Painkillers like Acetaminophen, Advil and Ibuprofen may work to get rid of the kink in your neck.
• Wear a Neck Brace : If you're having difficulty resting your neck, a neck brace will help by making your neck immobile.

If the kink in your neck is just a strain or a result of a minor problem, don't worry too much because it will eventually go away. Doing some of the pointers above may help you heal your neck in a jiffy. The best action to take when you are experiencing neck pain is to consult a medical expert at once. Don't make the same mistake I did with the kink in my neck. You can never be sure of anything unless you have someone with the know-how to look at your medical issue. When it comes to your neck, a trip to the spa may be tempting but letting someone massage your neck without determining the root problem may do more harm than good. Get a diagnosis first before taking any course of action.