Introduction
The neck is the body part that connects the head and the thoracic cavity. Anatomically this portion connects the base of the skull and the clavicles. This is one of the most important portions of the human body as all the major blood vessels pass through the neck. Apart from this, nerves from the brain and cervical portion of the spinal cord pass through the neck. Even food and air which are essential living pass through the neck and reach the thorax and abdomen. Apart from this numerous glands are present in the neck region. The cervical vertebrae maintain the posture and the position of the neck. Also, other bones like the cranium base, hyoid, clavicles, and mandible are responsible for maintaining neck posture. Along with this various muscles like stylohyoid, digastric, mylohyoid, geniohyoid, omohyoid, and sternohyoid.
What Is Neck Pain?
Pain in the neck region is known as neck pain. Such pain is usually felt in the posterior and lateral portions of the neck. According to the definition put forward by the International Association for the Study of Pain, pain is felt anywhere in the posterior portion of the cervical spine extending the superior nuchal line (a site for muscle attachments in temporal bone) to the first thoracic spinous process. This is one of the main musculoskeletal disabilities of the present time. According to some researchers, this is the fourth leading cause of disability in the world. Almost 30 percent of the global population is suffering from this condition.
1. Types:
Sudden and rapid onset of neck pain with no previous history is known as acute neck pain. Persistent neck pain in a particular area for a longer period is known as chronic neck pain. The neck pain which is felt at the cervical spine portion of the neck and spread to the shoulders is known as axial pain. In some cases, the pain radiates to different portions of the hand and head. This type of neck pain is known as radicular pain. This pain can be upper cervical spinal pain originating from above the fourth cervical vertebrae level. This pain usually radiates to the back of the head portion. In the lower cervical portion, the pain usually originates between the fourth to seventh vertebrae. This pain usually radiates to the lower back portion, in the hand, and in the upper portion of the chest.
2. Causes:
Neck pain can be caused by several factors. One of the main causative factors associated with it is the weakness of overuse of the muscles. This is caused by sitting in the same position for a longer portion. In some cases, bad posture during work, sleeping, driving, and walking may be related to this. Overstretching of the muscles and injury to the muscle fibers are responsible for this condition. Changes seen in cervical vertebrae due to wear and tear are another important factor for muscle pain. Excessive wear and tear in the cervical vertebrae causes the formation of small bone growths (spurs) along the edges of the vertebral bodies. This causes pressure on the nerve and spinal disc. As a result, patients complain of severe pain due to compression of the nerve fibers. Cervical spondylosis is caused by osteoarthritis. In some cases, an injury may be caused by trauma or sudden changes in posture. Car accidents are one of the major causes of this type of injury. Other than this, the narrowing of the vertebral canal and abnormal positioning of the discs are responsible for this. In modest cases, such changes are caused by degenerative changes in the vertebral body. Hormonal changes, age-related changes, trauma, and postural effects. Compression on the cervical nerve and the spinal cord is associated with such problems.
3. Symptoms:
The symptoms associated with neck pain are;
- Excessive pain in the back and lateral portion of the neck. Patients often complain of difficulty in neck movement.
- Pain causes symptoms like headache or migraine. Such pain often radiates to the side and back of the neck.
- Pain in the hand and fingers. Difficulty in moving hands and fingers. Pain in the shoulder joint.
- Electric shock-like pain in the back or lower back portion.
What Are the Effects of Sleeping Position in Neck Pain?
Sleeping position is important for maintaining posture. At night the average sleeping time is eight hours and it is important for positioning of the cervical vertebrae and several joints. Improper positioning of the shoulder joint and muscles of the shoulder and neck for prolonged periods may cause neck injury. Further, this may be dangerous to persons suffering from osteoarthritic changes.
What Are the Right Sleeping Positions?
As most people spend a lot of time sleeping, a correct sleeping position is helpful to reduce neck pain. Also, a bad sleeping position may cause severe neck pain. These factors associated with the right sleeping position are;
- Choice of Pillow: Do not use pillows that are too soft or too hard. Usually, a soft pillow collapses too easily and a hard pillow may cause neck injury. Pillows made up of feathers are very good, however, they need to be replaced every year. Modern-day pillows with memory foam can be useful.
- Position of Pillow: Pillow position is important. The pillow should not be too high or too low. There should be a mild gap between the pillow and the neck. A cervical pillow with memory foam is useful for supporting purposes.
- Sleeping Position: Sleeping position is important. Sleeping on the stomach is very injurious to the neck. A flatbed with memory foam is good for neck health. Sleeping on the back or sleeping while maintaining one side is also beneficial in reducing neck pain. Ideally during sleep, the body weight should be distributed equally, and the shoulder and spinal cord should be at an equal level.
Conclusion
Neck pain is one of the major causes of disability in modern days. Improper positioning of the shoulder joint, cervical vertebrae, and neck muscles are major causes of neck pain. This causes injury and trauma to the underlying nerve fibers and causes severe pain. However, a correct sleep position is helpful in such cases. Also, the use of a proper pillow and bed can be beneficial.
