Neck sprain or neck strain is usually referred to as Whiplash injury, appears when the ligaments of the neck stretch and tear. It is often caused by a sudden blow in the head or an improper posture while sleeping.
Causes:
- Accident
- Fall from a height
- Pain in the back of the head
- Overexertion
- Sports such as golf
- Poor sitting posture
- Improper sleeping posture
- Working for long hours without changing your body position
- Sitting for a long time in the same position
- Osteoporosis, as it is responsible for the weakening of bones
- Bending your head to play games on mobile phones or tablets
- Spraining the neck during exercise
- Arthritis, as it causes pain and swelling in the joints
Symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Inability to rotate your neck or move it from left to right and vice-versa
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Numbness in the arms
- Difficulty in bending the neck forward or backward
- Pain or swelling in the jaw
- Headache
- Backache
- Pain in the spine
- Inability to sit straight or stand with your body erect
- Feeling tired and overexerted
- Problem in concentration
Diagnosis:
- The doctor or the physician may diagnose the severity of the neck sprain with the help of –X-ray
- Measuring the range of motion of the neck
- Examination of your neck and arms to see if there are any signs of damage in the spine
- Checking point tenderness
- An arthritis check
- Ultrasound Electromyography (EMG)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT) scan
Prevention:
- Doing mild neck exercises
- Slowly rotating your neck
- Moving your neck after a couple of minutes
- Sitting and standing straight, in a good posture
Treatment:
- A massage around the affected neck area, head, and back help reduce the pain
- Sleeping on a firm pillow ensures that your neck does not hurt while you are asleep
- Anti-inflammatory medicines can work on neck sprains, however, you will have to consult your doctor to see if such medicines will not cause any harm to you
- Physical therapy or taking the help of a physiotherapist
- Applying ice for the initial 24 hours
- Generating heat to the neck with the help of a moist towel
- Using muscle relaxants
- Upon proper consultation and examination, Surgery is the final step that you proceed to in order to treat your neck sprain
For diagnosis and treatment of neck sprain, visit the orthopedic doctors at OrthoTexas, Plano. To schedule an appointment, call at (972) 985-1072 or visit 4031 West Plano Parkway Suite 100, Plano, TX 75093,