You’re going about your day as you normally would. Then suddenly it hits you: a sharp pain in the side of your neck. Typically, this type of pain doesn’t just appear out of thin air, but you might not be sure what’s causing your pain.
It’s estimated that neck pain affects up to 21.3% of people every year. Physical therapists can help you if you fall into this category, and they can help you learn what’s causing your pain as well. There are three causes in particular that might be the source of your pain.
Three common causes of sharp pain in the side of the neck
Pain is typically a sign that there’s something wrong with your body. Many structures could be the epicenter of the sharp pain in the side of your neck. Nerves, muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones. All these structures are potential suspects when you’re dealing with neck pain.
An experienced physical therapist can help you narrow down the options that could be causing your pain. In many cases, therapy specialists find that pain in the neck is caused by one of three issues. These three issues are:
- Pinched nerves — Nerves run into and out of the spinal cord that runs through your neck. When these nerves are pinched or irritated, pain can be the result. Pinched nerves are referred to as cervical radiculopathy by medical professionals. They can be caused by herniated neck discs or tense or injured neck muscles. Medical studies report that 85 out of every 100,000 people develop a pinched nerve in any given year.
- Poor head and neck posture — Most people have looked down at their computer screen, tablet or cellphone for a long time. You might notice that your neck hurts when you look up from this position. This is because the weight of your head doubles for every inch it’s tilted forward. In turn, dealing with this extra weight can cause pain in neck structures. Poor head and neck posture is a common issue, and one medical study reports that more than 85% of its participants had it.
- Neck injuries — Injuries to neck vertebrae and soft tissue are also a common source of neck pain. For instance, it’s been reported that about 36,000 neck vertebrae fractures occur every year. Such a fracture could easily be the source of your pain. Another injury that could be the instigator of neck pain is whiplash, which is common in car accident victims. In fact, one study reports that up to 83% of people who’ve been in a car accident have developed whiplash.
Find out how Border Therapy Services can treat the sharp pain in the side of your neck
Are you wondering where to turn to treat the sharp pain in the side of your neck? Our team at Border Therapy Services has the experience to help you. Our clinics offer free screenings that are designed to reveal the source of your neck pain. With this information, we can then create a personalized therapy plan that’s intended to reduce your pain fast.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule your free screening.
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