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Neck
Injury FAQs
What
causes neck pain?
Is whiplash considered a neck injury?
What
are the symptoms of neck injury?
When should I seek medical assistance for a neck
injury?
What are the signs of a neck fracture?
What is considered a neck injury?
What are some alternative ways to relieve
neck pain?
What are the leading causes of neck
injuries?
What
causes neck pain?
Neck pain can be caused by problems related to
damage to the cervical discs, to the ligaments
supporting the spine, to the bony structures of the
spine, or to the muscular structure of the spine. The
most common source of neck pain is musculoskeletal
strain often brought about by a whiplash injury or
caused by an overuse phenomenon. Uncommonly, neck pain
can be directly related to a torn ligament or to a
herniated disc.
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Is whiplash considered a neck injury?
Yes. Whiplash is a generic term for the
sudden neck injury often associated with a motor vehicle
accident. This is a multi-system injury causing strain /
pain to muscles and ligaments.
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What
are the symptoms of neck injury?
Neck pain may feel like a "kink," stiffness, or
severe pain. Pain may spread to the shoulders, upper
back, or arms, or it may cause a headache. Neck movement
may be limited, usually more to one side than the other.
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When should I seek medical assistance for a neck
injury?
Neck fractures are potentially disabling.
If an injured athlete complains of radiating pain with
numbness in the arms, pain in the back of the neck, or
paralysis below the site of injury, call for emergency
medical assistance immediately and do not attempt to
move the injured athlete.
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What are the signs of a neck fracture?
-
swelling around the neck
-
wryneck (muscle spasms or stiff neck)
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loss of bowel or bladder control
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tenderness around the site of injury
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difficulty breathing
-
change in consciousness
-
deformity around the neck in rare
instances
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What is considered a neck injury?
Neck strains or sprains such as whiplash
- usually caused when the neck snaps back, then forward.
A pinched nerve sometimes called a
"burner" or "stinger," - characterized by a fleeting
burning pain or numbness radiating down the neck and arm.
Acute torticollis, otherwise known as a
wryneck - characterized by muscle spasms.
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What are some alternative ways to relieve
neck pain?
Gravity
boots, inversion tables, and slant boards are gaining
popularity in the arsenal to try to relieve back and
neck pain. Inversion therapy uses the person's own body
weight to gently stretch the vertebrae.
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What are the leading causes of neck
injuries?
Motor
vehicle accidents, work-related accidents, sports
accidents, and industrial accidents.
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