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Neck Strain services offered in Mount Laurel, Sewell, Galloway, Wall, Vineland and West Orange, NJ
Necks are vulnerable to injury because they lack the protection enjoyed by the rest of your spine. If you have a painful neck that hurts when you move, visit a Coastal Spine office in Mount Laurel, Sewell, Galloway, Wall Township, Vineland, or West Orange, New Jersey. The practice’s experienced orthopedists use on-site diagnostic facilities to determine the cause of your neck strain and ensure you get the most effective treatment. Call Coastal Spine when you have neck pain, or schedule a consultation online today.
Neck Strain Q & A
What is neck strain?
Neck strain is an injury to the soft tissues — the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding your cervical vertebrae (neck bones). Damage to these soft tissues often affects your neck’s alignment, causing:
- Spinal pain
- Neck ache
- Muscle pain
- Muscle spasms
- Reduced range of motion
Neck strain is a common problem that affects people of all ages. It can reduce your ability to turn your neck and look up and down. You might also have trouble using your arms. These problems affect everyday activities like driving or using a computer and even make it hard for you to dress.
What causes neck strain?
The causes of neck strain include:
Overexertion
Asking too much of your neck muscles when lifting, pushing, or pulling, can cause tiny tears in the muscle fibers. Overexertion commonly causes neck strain from carrying heavy loads on one side of the body.
Injury
Tendons, ligaments, and muscles in your neck can stretch, tear, or rupture during sudden, violent movement. Sports injuries often cause neck strains, while whiplash is the most common neck strain injury. It usually happens in car accidents where you suffer a rear impact. The sudden force snaps your head forward and then back again.
Poor posture
Slumping and hunching over can cause knots in the neck muscles, limiting their ability to hold your neck bones in place.
How is neck strain treated?
Coastal Spine offers various neck strain treatments, including:
Physical therapy
Neck strain often responds well to muscle-strengthening exercises. Your therapist targets your back and core (abdominal) muscles and the neck to ensure you regain function without further damaging the tissues.
Medication
Your Coastal Spine doctor might prescribe muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory medication to reduce neck strain symptoms.
Cervical collar
Immobilizing a strained neck with a cervical support collar for 2-3 weeks allows the soft tissues to heal.
Steroid injections
Your doctor uses image guidance like fluoroscopy (moving X-ray) or ultrasound to guide the needle’s path when administering epidural steroid injections. Cortisone trigger point injections can also relieve neck strain symptoms.
Neck strain usually heals well with a combination of these treatments. It’s pretty rare for patients to need surgery for a neck strain.
Call Coastal Spine today or book an appointment online for a prompt diagnosis and timely treatment if you strain your neck.