Pain in the neck? Poor posture a likely culprit
Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Renita often experienced discomfort in her neck, a pain she often ignored as she thought that the stiffness would eventually go away by itself.
She worked for nine hours at the office, most of her time was spent in front of her computer. On her way home, she had to spend some one-and-a-half-hours at the wheel.
Usually, the stiffness stayed but with a good rub and a good night's sleep it would eventually go away.
Neck pain is common for adults, particularly for working people. The discomfort or stiffness in the neck area is a signal that you need to seek some treatment.
"The word used to describe the pain sensation in the neck but can also be felt at the back of the head," said Sendjaja Mulyadi, a neurologist from Siloam Gleneagles hospital in Tangerang.
Neck pain may be triggered by various causes like osteo arthritis, spinal cord compression, trauma, injuries, stress or strains of the neck muscles and ligaments.
According to NeckReference.com, the cervical spine is composed of many different anatomic structures, including muscles, bones, ligaments, and joints. Each of these structures has nerve endings that can detect painful problems when they occur.
The different parts of the cervical spine are normally well balanced and able to handle all of the movements, stresses, and strains of the body gracefully.
However, when the different parts of the cervical spine are injured or start to wear out, your neck can be a significant source of pain and discomfort.
"People aged 50-years-old or older are prone to neck pain because of calcification of the cervical spine," Sendjaja said, adding that more serious causes must be treated professionally.
He also said that strains on the neck muscles and ligaments is also a common result of poor posture.
Improper positions like bending the head for a long period due to a poorly placed computer or sleeping with too high or too low a pillow are among the causes of neck pain.
Apart from that, poor habits like forcefully flexing the neck using the hands may create neck pain as it may lead to irregularities in the cervical spine or a protruding disc also in the neck area.
The best preventions are to avoid working in a poor position, ensure proper neck support while sleeping and put an end to such an unhealthy flexing habit.
Sendjaja advised people who suffer from neck pain due to strains or stress at work to take a pause and try to relax, which can ease the pain without medications.
However if the pain remains even after relaxation, they may need to soothe the area with a warm compress and if necessary, they can rub the area with an analgesic balm. Massage is often helpful to ease muscle tension, spasms, inflammation, aches, stiffness, and pain. Taking analgesic medication can also effectively ease neck pain.
If left untreated, Sendjaja said, neck pain can cause long term suffering which can surely affect the sufferers' performance in carrying out their routine activities.
He also warned that long term pain can be caused by a more serious condition like a protruding cervical disc, for example. It can also create numbness in the upper arm and can even lead to atrophy in the arm.
"If the discomfort stays, it is advisable to immediately seek help from a neurologist. This way the source of the pain can be properly detected and immediate treatment can be given," Sendjaja said.