Pain in the neck? Poor posture a likely culprit

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.