Why Is My Neck Pain Not Going Away?
6 Reasons Your Back and Neck Pain Won’t Go Away
Back and neck pain affects many individuals and is on the rise due to the increased use of technology and lifestyle variables. Centered on the work of the lovely Rachael Sheat from Victoria Pain Specialists, this is a two-part post. The initial article is directed at health care professionals, so we have made some improvements to make it applicable to you (with Rachael ‘s permission).
In today’s culture, there is a large incidence of back-related issues. The National Health Survey of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011-12) found that three million Australians suffered from back-related problems.
Chances are, you or anyone close to you, either intermittently or on a regular basis, will experience back and neck pain. There are a lot of explanations why this could happen. Some of the main contributors of back and neck pain below are:
Technology
One of the reasons why back pain is not getting better … technology may be the sole explanation this article has indicated. It’s all around us, and for us, it’s not always healthy.
To achieve postural stamina, a strong ergonomic work setup is paramount. In the workplace, sit-stand workstations are becoming more and more embraced, and postural variance is encouraged to have time away from screens and daily movement of bodies. Kneeling chairs are rising in recognition as well.
Smart phones
The way people interact has been changed by smart phones in both personal and professional settings. The portability of technology sometimes does not support good ergonomic use, especially with regard to spinal pain associated with the neck.
Although the evidence is minimal as to how smartphones can influence us harmfully, every day we learn more. Smartphone use-related musculoskeletal disorders include muscle weakness and loading of the muscles of the neck and shoulder, both caused by repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements. As a consequence, pain in the neck, shoulders , and arms, stiffness, and quivers can occur.
With longer use of smartphones, pain and exhaustion have increased. When using smartphones, proper posture and breaks of at least 20 minutes are recommended.
Sedentary lifestyle and poor diet
Many of us do not move our bodies sufficiently, and Australia’s overweight / obesity figures are a significant concern.
Findings suggest that the risk of low back pain is increased by bearing extra weight. A significant factor in the management of back pain is a nutritious diet to sustain busy lives, especially when long-term activity is restricted by chronic pain and the daily function of a person.
An ageing population
This must be regarded as one of the key reasons why complications related to chronic back and neck are not going away. Our bodies are aging and our bodies are becoming older before their period when it is combined with low levels of physical activity and other poor lifestyle choices.
Some suggestions for general health management include:
- Healthy eating
- Physical activity
- Saving energy
- Strength training
- Tai Chi
- Water exercise
Lifestyle & pacing
For many people and families, access to immediate knowledge online has led to a faster-paced world. We forgot about how to slow down or stop!
For well-being, taking time out to be in the present moment is important.
Practice mindfulness and self-prioritization can contribute to greater knowledge of concerns and also instruct you on how to participate in pacing operations.
Take a few minutes to be mindful, right now! Yes, right now!
Just sit for 2 minutes and become aware of a few of the following things and focus on each of them for 30 seconds. You’re focusing on your senses:
- What are you thinking?
- What are you feeing?
- What can you hear?
You are now being present and mindful.
Sleep
It is important to rest the body. You should relax and refresh your mind and body for 6-8 hours a night. For people with back-related spinal pain, a supportive pillow and a mattress should be considered.
Consider a silicone or memory foam contoured pillow. A low profile pillow should be used for back sleepers. A medium to high profile pillow should be used by lateral sleepers.
Are You Looking for Relief From Neck Pain?
Pace Physical Therapy in San Jose, California specializes in non-surgical neck pain relief and recovery therapies. We pride ourselves on offering the best possible physical therapy available and going above and beyond for our patients. Our highly experienced physical therapist will work with you to improve your function and relieve your pain. We start by assessing the body as a whole. Oftentimes the cause of pain or an injury extends far beyond just the body part or muscle hurting. Without taking a comprehensive look at your entire self, we would be doing you a disservice in fully helping you heal and preventing future limitations. We then move on to fixing your areas of limitation. Not all diagnoses are created equal. One person with neck pain may have completely different limitations than the next person. Your recovery program needs to be specific to what YOUR body needs and not just the typical exercise program that you can find online. Just because your pain decreases or you can walk longer doesn’t mean that it is enough to get you functioning at the level you want to be. While this often signifies the end of care at your typical PT clinic we don’t stop providing guidance until we help you successfully meet every goal you set for yourself with us on day one. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
