Many people are familiar with a crick in the neck and back pain which are second only to headache as the most common cause of pain! Both neck and back pain can be acute, intermittent or chronic and is mostly caused by minor injuries, slipped discs, facet joint problems or arthritis.

Ageing, a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, obesity, genetic factors, certain work environments, pregnancy, smoking and even psychological factors can put one at risk of back or neck pain.

Most neck and back pains are minor and will go away within a few days but in some cases, pain in these areas can be indicative of a more serious problem that will require the attention of a medical professional. Possible causes of neck pain are wide and varied. Some of the more common causes are identified below:

• Strain. Do you sleep on a lumpy pillow? Poor sleep conditions may cause neck strain. In addition, intense activity or even sitting in front of the computer for too long with poor posture can lead to muscle spasm too. Muscle spasm puts pressure on the nerve endings in the area causing pain!
• Injury. The neck is extremely vulnerable to injury. Vehicle accidents and sporting injuries may cause damage to the neck area and result in acute or chronic pain conditions.
• Degenerative diseases. Degenerative diseases such as Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis and joint diseases can all cause neck pain.
• Influenza. Flu can cause neck pain which is usually accompanied by fever, muscle aches and headache.

Back pain can occur anywhere along the spine but the most common site is the lower back as this area of the back supports the weight of the upper body and is involved with bending and twisting movements.

It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of back pain however we’ve listed the most common causes below:

• Sprains, strains and minor injuries. This is often caused by abrupt or sudden movement which may result in a strain or tear to the muscles, tendons or ligaments and can produce painful muscle spasm. This pain usually lasts only a few days!
• Intervertebral disc lesion. This is a case of wear and tear! As a result the spinal disc may bulge out or even tear and this is most commonly known as 'slipped disc'.
• Facet joint problems and osteoarthritis. :: This is usually responsible for chronic back pain! As discs degenerate, stress on the facet joints increases and become inflamed. The pain is typically relieved by sitting or bending forward.

Back and neck pain can be due to a number of other causes such as a degenerative disease, metabolic diseases and infections for example. Chat to your healthcare professional for more information!

Find out more about Adcock Ingram’s pain solutions for neck and back pain now.