In addition to providing you with the ability to tilt, turn and bend freely, your neck houses many vital anatomical structures. These include:
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• Spinal & cranial nerves
• Spinal cord & brain stem
• Glands (including your thyroid & parathyroid)
• Voice box, esophagus & trachea
• Muscles, ligaments & blood vessels
Your neck's role is to protect your spinal cord and nerves. Even a slight injury to your neck may have major effects on other anatomical structures and your overall health.
Why do I have Neck Pain?
Because of the complexity of the neck, it is no wonder that neck pain is common. In a recent study two thirds of the patients reported experiencing neck pain in their lifetime and 22% complained of neck pain at the time of the study.
Many instances of neck pain start from something minor. For example, you may have slept in an awkward position. This may have irritated the neck joints causing pain. Neck pain that doesn't go away quickly or returns regularly is more serious. This can be due to disease, an injury, a congenital malformation, prolonged emotional stress but most frequently from subluxation.
In most cases, prolonged or re-occurring neck pain is due to joint or nerve irritation. When spinal vertebrae are misaligned or their mobility is altered, sensory or motor nerves can be irritated or even damaged. This can also lead to other symptoms such as headaches, eye problems and arm and hand pain.
