Stiff and Painful Neck? Here Are Some Possible Culprits

You want to jump out of bed and get the day started, but your neck is painful and stiff, which takes the winds out of your energetic sails. Or maybe you start out great, but over the course of the day, your neck becomes increasingly sore, and it’s hard to swivel your head around.

Whatever brought you to this blog, know that you’re not alone — about 80% of people experience neck pain at least once in their lives, and up to 50% of people deal with the problem on an annual basis.

If relief from your neck pain is a top priority, the first step is to figure out what’s behind the problem. To get you started, our team here at Revive Spine and Pain Center pulled together a few of the more common culprits behind nagging neck pain.

When life is a pain in the neck

The reason neck pain is so prevalent is because there are many everyday things that can lead to it. 

For example, we devoted an entire blog to tech neck, which is neck pain that stems from poor working spaces that strain the connective tissues in your neck (looking down at a laptop or slouching in your chair).

While screens and desk work can do a number on your neck, other everyday issues can also contribute. To wit, one of the most common ways in which stress can manifest itself physically is tension in your neck and shoulders.

Lastly, maybe your sleep position is causing that neck pain you’re experiencing in the mornings, in which case, you should shop for a better pillow and mattress and/or change your sleep position.

So we suggest that you first look around at those everyday activities or circumstances that lend themselves to nagging neck pain.

Wear-and-tear in your neck

Another common road to neck pain and stiffness are degenerative conditions, which result from wear-and-tear. Your neck is composed of seven small vertebrae separated by six cervical discs that provide cushioning and support.

One of the biggest issues that we see at our practice is cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD), which is more prevalent than you might think — about 90% of people over the age of 50 have some degree of DDD. 

With DDD, the discs lose moisture and become flatter and more brittle, leaving them vulnerable to issues like herniation.

Another wear-and-tear issue is osteoarthritis in your cervical spine, which can lead to pain and inflammation in your neck. This type of arthritis is often accompanied by popping and cracking sounds in your neck when you turn your head.

These degenerative conditions can not only lead to neck pain and stiffness — they can also create symptoms (pain, numbness, and tingling) that radiate down into your shoulders, arms, and hands.

We hope we’ve given you some food for thought when it comes to getting to the bottom of your neck pain, but your best move is to come see us for a definitive diagnosis. To get started, make an appointment at one of our New Jersey locations in Marlton, Hamilton Township, Northfield, or East Brunswick.