Neck pain is a common issue. In a rare occasion, neck pain can be serious and you should seek medical care if your neck pain is accompanied by any numbness or loss of strength in the arms and legs.

Neck pain can be a result of poor posture in your home or workplace. Hunching and leaning for long periods of time can result in neck pain.

 

Symptoms include:

  • General soreness

  • Shooting pain

  • Stiff neck

  • Difficulty moving head

  • Headaches and soreness

  • Numbness when nerves are involved

 

Whiplash

The term "whiplash-associated disorder" is used to describe the clinical manifestations of a whiplash injury – which occurs when an "acceleration-deceleration" force is applied on the neck. The neck is injured by a sudden jerking or "whipping" of the head – straining the muscles and ligaments of the neck beyond their normal range of motion. While many associate the occurrence of WAD with car accidents, it can occur in any mishap when an acceleration-deceleration force is applied on the neck – for example, in a diving accident, on roller coasters, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken.

 

Symptoms:

  • Pain in the neck, head, shoulder, and arms
  • Pain and stiffness in the neck – muscles may feel knotted and stiff
  • Pain when moving head from side-to-side, front-to-back, and rotation
  • Tenderness
  • Headache

 

Cervicogenic Headaches

Otherwise known as a ‘neck headache,’ cervicogenic headache refers to a headache which originates from the neck. While the pain begins from damage to the bony structures, soft tissues, or nerves of the upper neck, pain often spreads to or is referred to the frontal-temporal areas of the head – i.e. behind the eyes, ears, forehead, or jaw. One of most common types of headaches, especially among people aged 20-60, cervicogenic headaches are similar to the more commonly known migraine or tension-type headaches; as a result, cervicogenic headaches are often misdiagnosed or go unrecognized.

 

Bell's Palsy

Bell's palsy is a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of your face. Damage to the facial nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face causes that side of your face to droop . The nerve damage may also affect your sense of taste and how you make tears and saliva. This condition comes on suddenly, often overnight, and usually gets better on its own within a few weeks. Bell's palsy is not the result of a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). While stroke and TIA can cause facial paralysis, there is no link between Bell's palsy and either of these conditions. But sudden weakness that occurs on one side of your face should be checked by a doctor right away to rule out these more serious causes.

The cause of Bell's palsy is not clear. Most cases are thought to be caused by the herpes virus that causes cold sores.  

In most cases of Bell's palsy, the nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face is damaged by inflammation.

Many health problems can cause weakness or paralysis of the face. If a specific reason cannot be found for the weakness, the condition is called Bell's palsy.

 

Symptoms:

  • Sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of your face that causes it to droop. This is the main symptom. It may make it hard for you to close your eye on that side of your face.
  • Drooling.
  • Eye problems, such as excessive tearing or a dry eye.
  • Loss of ability to taste.
  • Pain in or behind your ear.
  • Numbness in the affected side of your face.
  • Increased sensitivity to sound.