Neck Pain - Scottsdale Chiropractic Wellness

Damage to one anatomical part in your neck often means damage to others. For example, whiplash may result in one or several diagnoses including muscle strain, ligament sprain and/or disc injury. This is because the parts of your neck are connected. Bones, joints, soft tissue and nerves work together to hold up and move your head. Most of the time, damage from a neck injury is limited to soft tissue. But nearly every type of neck injury, severe or mild, affects muscles. Below are the most common neck injuries affecting muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments. Remember, some of these, will occur in conjunction with more serious injury. Sprains are injuries to ligaments. (Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that hold bones together.) Neck sprains are often caused by falls or sudden twists that overload or overstretch the joint. Another cause is repeated stress to the joint. Symptoms include swelling, reduced flexibility and pain. Sprains can be mild, moderate or severeconnective tissue that hold bones together.) Neck sprains are often caused by falls or sudden twists that overload or overstretch the joint. Another cause is repeated stress to the joint. Common symptoms of a neck sprain include: Pain in the back of the neck that increases with movement,•Pain on the sides of the neck,•Delayed onset neck pain that shows up 24 to 48 hours after a neck injury,•Muscle spasms or pain in the upper regions of the shouldersback and shoulders,•Headache at teh back of the head,•Sore throat,•Irritability, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and difficulty concentrating,•Stiffness / decreased range of motion in the neck,•Tingling, numbness or weakness in the hands or arms. Sprains can be mild, moderate or severe.Certain neck injuries may also do damage to the nervous system by irritating nerve roots or affecting the spinal cord. Others may pinch or stretch a nerve. Generally, neck injuries that affect the nervous system are more complicated to diagnose, treat and cope with than soft tissue trauma or mild to moderate joint injury. And injury to the spinal cord often results in life long disability, paralysis or even death. It is important to have a physician evaluate your injury to rule out anything serious.