A delicious cup of hot coffee in the morning might get you going after an uncomfortable night’s sleep. But when irregular sleep is causing you to become tired and worn out, it can be a pain in the neck.
A sore neck can affect us in more ways than you may think. Headaches stem from the neck because joints, bones and discs can become irritated from things like motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, poor posture, muscle strain, aging, or from even sitting for an extended period.
Waking up with a stiff neck may seem like something that only happens to people every once in a while, but neck pain actually affects 34 percent to 43 percent of the population, according to the Institute for Chronic Pain.
Symptoms of neck pain may include headaches, dizziness, fever, muscle spasms and arm pain that usually subside within one or two weeks. If you experience pain lasting longer than this, or if you experience symptoms of a heart attack, pain that wakes you at night, or numbness, weakness, and shooting pains in your arms or legs, you should call your doctor immediately.
Fortunately, there are a variety of relief and treatment options for neck pain. Your doctor may consider your medical history, conduct a physical exam, or advise tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, MRI or electromyography to successfully diagnose what is causing pain in your neck.
Neck pain can be treated with nonsurgical treatments such as over-the-counter pain relievers or massage and physical therapy.
But when surgery is needed to treat severe cases of neck pain, Dr. Paul Baek of BayCare Clinic Neurological Surgeons in Green Bay, can help.