Neck pain is also called cervical pain. It is pain in cervical spine, which is complex in structure. It helps support our head and movement of heads into a different direction. Due to its most critical and important function, cervical become a cause of pain for many people.

Do you ever wonder why when sitting in the same position for longer than 4 to 5 hours cause a sort of pain in your neck?

Types of neck pain
There is more than one type of neck pain that people suffer during their lifetime. Majority of people in the world experience neck pain at some point in time. In most of the cases, there is no surgery required to cure neck pain. But in more severe pain, surgery could be a way out. The factors such as cervical herniated, muscle strain and stenosis are a general cause of neck pain. The neck pain is broadly classified into two categories, which are introduced on the basis of the intensity of pain one experience in the neck. Two categories are acute neck pain and chronic neck pain.

Acute neck pain
In most cases, acute neck pain is caused by muscle strain and soft tissue sprain that is also known as ligaments tendons. This injury is a result of a sudden force that is further a result of a car accident. Strain in neck such as stiffness of neck due to wrong sleeping position and caused due to carrying heavy luggage often takes a form of neck pain.

Minor injuries to ligaments, muscles, and tendons in the neck heal early. This is because these tissues receive a good supply of blood that increases the pace of healing process.

If you are wondering how to cure neck pain with the non-surgical treatments, ice, heat, physical therapy, medications, osteopathic or chiropractic manipulations would help improve painful condition while the neck pain is healing. Neck pain that lasts longer than two weeks to three months in some people is the result of either arm pain or numbness.

Chronic neck pain
Chronic neck pain is the result of not one but many causes. Here are the common causes chronic neck pain listed below.

• Neck pain caused by arm
  Pain that navigates through arm is caused by numbness and tingling. The symptoms of this kind of neck pain began all of the sudden or over a long period of time. It also results from cervical herniated disc or foraminal stenosis. Treatment to cure neck pain is usually based on duration and intensity of neck pain. Treatment to cure neck pain caused by arm is decided on the basis of duration, intensity and effect of a pain. Symptoms of such a neck pain are not that serious. Thus, a surgical treatment is not required to cure neck pain in this case.

• Neck pain caused by position or activity
  A pain related to the position or certain activity is caused in most of the cases by foramina stenosis. It affects never root on the one side of the spine. This can cause a problem in neck joints. This change can be diagnosed through an MRI and CT scan.

Common causes of neck pain
A number of factors can cause neck pain in people, such as.

• Accidents
  Whiplash is a common injury that can take place during an auto accident. This injury is also known as a hyper extension or hyperflexion injury. In this condition, the head is forced backward or forward, normally beyond the range of neck’s motion. An unnatural movement of the neck affects the ligament and the muscle in the neck. Muscles reaction results into tightening and contracting that further results into fatigue, pain, and stiffness in a sufferer.

• Age
  Age is another cause of neck pain. Old people may suffer from degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis. These conditions often affect the spine.

• Lifestyle habits
  Postural deformities, obesity, weak abdominal muscles cause loss of balance in the neck. Moreover, stress and tension also cause muscles to contract and tighten. This, as a result, causes pain and stiffness in the neck.

• Diseases
  There are other many diseases that also cause neck pain in addition to the original pain. The strain is a common cause of neck pain. If someone experiences neurological deficit or a prolonged pain, it means there is a serious problem. Symptoms of such a neck pain should not be ignored. Conditions such as spinal infection, tumor, spinal cord compression, fracture and other disorders also occur as a result. If someone has a head injury, there is a great likelihood that neck has been also affected. Medical attention should be taken immediately in such a condition.