Information on Neck Joint Pain

There are many causes of neck joint pain, including arthritis, muscles, nerves and ligament problems. Neck pain can be caused by changes in the structure of your neck, including your spine and spinal cushioning disks. Your upper arms, head, jaw and shoulders can also affect your neck joint and cause joint pain. If you have a lot of neck pain you may have difficulty moving your head, also known as having a stiff neck.

The vast majority of the time, neck joint pain comes from an everyday activity that causes you to strain your neck muscles. If you have bad posture, sleep in an uncomfortable position, bend over for extended periods of time, or twist and turn your neck frequently you have probably suffered from neck joint pain. There are more traumatic causes for neck joint pain, such as blood vessel injury, whiplash, vertebral fractures, meningitis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and a herniated disk.

If you are experiencing only minor neck joint pain or stiffness then the following home treatments have found to be effective. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, heat or ice to the effected area, stretch your neck muscles, massage, or using a special neck pillow or changing to a firm mattress when sleeping. If your symptoms do not go away after a week, you have tingling, weakness or numbness down your arm and hands you should seek professional medical care. If you have swollen glands, have difficulty breathing or swallowing, experience neck joint pain after an injury, blow or fall; you should also seek professional medical guidance.

To prevent neck joint pain you can effectively stretch your neck and back daily, use ice after athletic activities, practice good posture, try to relax your neck as much as possible. If you frequently use the telephone, invest in a headset. Where protective equipment when doing athletic activities. If you read a lot make sure to keep reading material at eye level instead of bending your neck.