Is neck pain or stiffness impacting your quality of life? The team at Core Rehab of Chicago, IL, is here to help you find relief.

Understanding the Many Causes of Neck Pain

As many as one in three people live with pain and stiffness in their neck, making them very common issues. Below, the team at Core Rehab of Chicago, IL, shares some of the many potential causes of neck pain.

Disc Issues

You have discs between the bones of your spinal column, including the cervical spine. Various issues can cause these discs to wear down, shift out of place, and rupture. Some of these issues include the normal wear and tear that comes with aging, auto accidents, spinal misalignment, degenerative disc disease, and repetitive lifting.

Strains and Sprains

The muscles, ligaments, and tendons are all designed to stretch and move a certain amount. Often, they become overworked or overstretched, which leads to sprains and strains. These occur in the neck during auto accidents – as is the case with whiplash – falls, sports, repetitive lifting, and poor posture.

Stress

Stress can cause pain in the neck in two ways. The first is through repetitive stress, as mentioned above. The other is mental stress, as it leads to tension in the neck and shoulders.

Cervical Stenosis

Stenosis is a condition in which the spinal column narrows. As this occurs, it puts pressure on the nerves, which can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling.

Cervical or Spinal Misalignment

The bones in the neck and back are designed to stack neatly on top of one another. When they shift out of place, it puts undue pressure on the discs, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

Bone Spurs

Due to aging, joint instability, or other issues, bony growths can form on the cervical spine. At times, these spurs put pressure on the nerves and cause pain.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the joints. It, as well as osteoarthritis or the wear and tear type, are often causes of pain and stiffness in the neck.

Determining the cause of your neck pain is the first step in achieving relief. Once a cause is determined, our team at Core Rehab in Chicago, IL, can develop a customized plan of care, which may include traction therapy, massage therapy, stretches, therapeutic exercises, and electrical stimulation therapy. Call (773) 229-9600 to schedule an appointment today.