When you or someone you know experiences neck pain, there are a number of causes that you might likely think of. They include neck strain, a bad pillow or mattress or sleeping in the wrong position. However, there are other causes that often go undiscovered and, unfortunately, continue to cause a lot of pain. Some are physical, but others aren’t.

For instance, have you ever considered that your neck pain could be caused by emotional issues? The following post explains this:

How Stress Contributes to Chronic Neck and Shoulder Pain

Stress can be a real pain in the neck…and shoulders. Currently 1 in 10 people suffer from neck or shoulder pain. To add insult to injury, the American Psychological Association reports that 25% of all Americans suffer from high levels of stress while another 50% say they experience moderate chronic stress levels. When you combine emotional and physical stress with an aching neck or shoulder, you can wind up with chronic irritability, fatigue and even depression. But before things get that bad, let’s see how stress contributes to pain and some ways to get it under control. Read full post at Health Grades…

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Emotions are probably the last thing you would think about when trying to diagnose your neck pain. However, according to the post above, emotional issues can turn into physical discomfort.

Another more physiological cause of neck pain could be a condition known as the facet syndrome. This is generally the wear and tear that occurs in your spinal cord. The following post describes this in detail:

How & Why Does Facet Syndrome Develop?

Facet syndrome can occur anywhere in the spine. It develops in the small joints located between each vertebra called facet joints. These joints are in constant motion, providing the spine with both the stability and flexibility needed to walk, run, bend, sit, and twist. The joint surfaces are lined with cartilage allowing them to glide easily over each other. As we age, the cartilage gradually wears away, and in many cases, growths called “bone spurs” can develop. Friction between the bones leads to the tenderness, swelling, stiffness, and pain of arthritis. Though generally the result of the natural aging process, the initial cause of arthritis, or facet syndrome, may be an injury or overuse in youth. Read more at Treating Pain…

Deterioration in the facet joints found between vertebra could also be the cause of your neck pains. Unfortunately, failing to detect this may make you suffer unnecessarily.

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Another cause of neck pain could be connected to modern lifestyle activities. One of them is the constant use of technology. The following post describes this in detail:

The Latest Cause of Neck Pain: Pokémon Go

Pokémon Go is everywhere—this smartphone game is so popular that people are pouring out onto the streets and into their neighborhoods for hours on end while trying to “catch ’em all.”

The game is being lauded for its health benefits as players spend hours and walk miles in search of Pokémon to capture.

But if you’re looking down at your phone the whole time you’re playing, you’re putting your health at risk in other ways. Specifically, you may be at risk for text neck. Read more at Spine-Health…

Long periods spent playing games on hand-held devices can cause neck pain, especially when you are always bending forward. A little caution and better posture can help to prevent it from getting any worse.

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Another often overlooked cause of neck pain involves the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), the “hinges” that connect the jaw to the skull. Disorders in these joints can cause you to experience a host of painful conditions, including neck pain.

To determine if TMJ is the cause of your neck pain, contact Fort Collins Headache Center. They use a breakthrough, FDA approved system called TruDenta to diagnose and correct problems with the TMJ.

Book a consultation exam with Dr. Jared Ward today to see if you are a candidate for this cutting-edge therapy. If you are, an individualized treatment plan will be created that will have you symptom free with just 12 or fewer weekly visits. Call Fort Collins Headache Center at 970-672-8517 or use the contact form on this page. We look forward to hearing from you.

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