From Stiffness to Shooting Pain: Understanding the Real Cause of Neck Pain

When neck pain becomes impossible to ignore, your first thoughts might focus on what might have caused your discomfort. Let’s take a look at some of the common causes of neck pain and how you can prevent discomfort.

If you’re like many people, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the numerous functions your neck performs or the many stresses that affect this part of your body on a daily basis. But when neck pain develops, it can be difficult to think of anything else.

Dr. Mohammad S. Shukairy takes great pride in helping the individuals in his care find lasting relief from neck pain. That process begins with a comprehensive diagnostic assessment at one of our offices in Highland or Merrillville, Indiana, to determine the source of your pain.

From there, we’ll explore all available treatment options to help you choose a path that’s right for you. Let’s explore some of the issues that might be causing your pain and how you may be able to prevent future neck discomfort.

What does neck pain feel like?

Neck pain can take different forms. In some cases, the pain might be limited to a nagging soreness that resolves within a few hours. Other people experience more stiffness than actual pain in their neck.

Neck pain can also present as a sharp or stabbing discomfort. It can last for just a short time or linger for days or weeks.

Many people also experience headaches or shoulder pain at the same time as neck pain. This can happen when tension in your neck changes your posture or spinal alignment.

Everyone experiences occasional neck pain. Something as simple as sleeping on a new pillow, falling asleep sitting up with your neck in a strange position, or spending too much time in front of your computer can leave you with a sore neck the following day.

But when neck pain is intense, or doesn’t improve after a day or two of self-care, it’s time to see a specialist to determine the best response.

What might have caused my neck pain?

Your neck houses the uppermost portion of your spine, which consists of a network of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves, and more. A problem with any of these components can lead to neck pain.

Here are some of the more common issues that bring people in to see Dr. Shukairy for neck pain:

Muscle strain, often from holding your head in one position for long periods
Injuries like falls or auto accidents
Rheumatoid arthritis
Bone spurs
Herniated discs
Sports injuries
Joint degeneration
Poor posture
Certain sleep positions
Improper form while exercising

These are just a few possible causes of neck pain. To reach an accurate diagnosis, Dr. Shukairy performs a quick examination and discusses your lifestyle and any events that led up to your neck pain. Imaging might also be part of the diagnostic process.

Is it possible to prevent or reduce my risk of neck pain?

In some cases, there’s little you can do to prevent neck pain. That’s especially true in cases where the actions of someone else caused the circumstances that led to an injury.

Auto accidents are a great example, where even the best driving habits can’t always prevent an accident.

Age-related joint degeneration is another area where prevention is not always possible. You can reduce your risk by remaining in good physical shape and at a healthy weight. Stretching and avoiding high-contact sports can also help prevent sports injuries that affect the neck.

That said, there are many ways to lessen your risk of neck pain. Begin by assessing your lifestyle habits.

How good is your posture? Do you routinely spend a lot of time viewing screens? Does your job require you to hold your head and neck in certain positions for long periods of time?

Improving your posture is a great way to lessen neck pain. Many people can also find relief by purchasing a pillow that provides the right level of support depending on their sleep position.

You can also reduce neck pain by taking breaks throughout the day to stretch your neck and release tension in your shoulders.

Don’t let neck pain become unbearable

If you’re experiencing neck pain, don’t wait to seek relief. Dr. Shukairy works with people of all ages to get to the root cause of their neck pain and create customized treatment plans.

There is no need to let pain linger when help is readily available. Reach out to our office online or over the phone to schedule a time to come in and meet with Dr. Shukairy and his team in our Highland or Merrillville, Indiana, office.