Causes of Neck Pain & Its Treatment

Neck pain is a very common condition nowadays and affects up to 1 in 3 people worldwide. It is increasingly seen in younger people as well. The neck (or cervical spine) comprises the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The intervertebral discs are jelly-like material between each vertebra that helps cushion and maintain adequate space for the nerves to pass through. It also helps ensure that the head & spine is aligned correctly. All these allow free mobility and flexibility of the head & neck.

Disease states of the cervical spine structures lead to pain & stiffness, which may limit neck movements in severe conditions. Pain may also radiate to the arms and even lead to weakness or numbness of the arms and hands. Affected persons might face difficulty lifting and holding objects or experience a tingling sensation or numbness extending to the fingers.

What causes neck pain?

• Lifestyle: Bad posture, especially with prolonged sitting. Extensive use of computers. Repetitive movements, such as in sports.
• Injury from accidents: Falls may lead to neck muscle sprains or minor damage to the disc or vertebra. Whiplash, typically from a rear-end car collision.
• Age: Degeneration of the vertebra and disc with loss of flexibility of the tissues may lead to narrowing of the vertebral disc spaces, especially in late middle age and elderly.
• Disease: Cervical osteoarthritis and stenosis lead to narrowing of the spinal spaces

What are the signs and symptoms of neck pain?

Some of the common symptoms are:

• Dull or sharp pain in the neck, back and/or arms, especially after prolonged sitting or standing
• Numbness or a tingling sensation above or below the arm
• Stiffness anywhere from the neck to hands
• Headaches, especially chronic or recurrent
• Sharp shooting pains in the shoulder and arms

Red flags that you should seek immediate medical attention for:

• Associated symptoms of weight loss or loss of appetite
• Weakness of hands and legs
• Urinary incontinence
• Pain that wakes you up from sleep

Neck pain treatment with Ayurveda

If you are not experiencing any of the above red flags that require urgent medical attention, you may choose to go for Ayurveda therapies. Ayurveda is an alternative medicine system from India with a long-standing history. Ayurvedic therapies with herbal medicines effectively treat neck pain and relieve cervical spine degenerative conditions.

Commonly used Ayurveda therapies to treat neck pain are:

• Podikizhi (Herbal powder massage with local heat therapy)
• Elakizhi (medicated powder & herbal leaves massage)
• Abhyangam (medicated oil massage with local heat therapy)
• Nasyam (medicated nasal drops after local massage therapy)