Back pain is a common problem that occurs due to muscle or ligament damage or even a bone fracture. The back is one of the most prominent and vulnerable areas of the body to injury, so it is easy to understand how the back can be injured. In fact, more than 60 million people in the US are estimated to have some kind of back pain.
A lot of people get injured through simple everyday activities, such as falling, lifting heavy objects, straining muscles, overexertion, and even some minor accidents. It is not uncommon for these types of injuries to cause mild or moderate back pain, with minor injuries resulting in severe pain. Although it is not that serious, the pain from minor injuries should be reported to a doctor immediately.
One type of injury that can cause a lot of pain to the back is neck pain. Many people suffer from back, neck, and shoulder pain on a regular basis. People who suffer from this type of pain should see a doctor determine the cause and the appropriate treatment.
Many people believe that neck and back pain are caused by the same causes, which may not be true. As neck and back pain is not always consistent and not as serious as some other types of back pain, many people ignore it. This often leads too much serious back and neck related problems.
The most common cause of severe pain in the back, neck, and shoulders is muscle strain. This is usually caused by a sustained strain in the muscles of the back or in the muscles around the shoulder or the neck. When this happens over a long period of time, it can cause serious problems.
Muscle strains are classified into three categories: superficial muscle strains, called a sprain, muscle pulls and bursitis, and deep muscle strains, called rotator cuff tears. Muscle strains are generally characterized by redness, swelling, tenderness, and sometimes pain. Muscle strains can occur when people are engaged in lifting, sitting, or even when they are simply stretching their arms or legs.
Although it is not uncommon for people to get muscle strain, it is also not an indicator of the presence of pain. Muscle strains are not associated with pain and can develop quickly. Pain and muscle strain does not always go hand in hand. They can also be experienced in the absence of muscle strain.
Aside from pain, a person may also experience neck pain. The pain caused by neck pain is classified into two categories. Muscle pain can cause pain and subluxation of the vertebrae; and/or compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots. This is a condition where there is considerable compression of the spine or nerve roots.
In very rare cases, spasms, called spasms, can cause neck pain. Spasms can occur due to nerve roots compression or even due to a muscle pull, spasm, and tension. In such cases, the person may feel pain at the point of pain but is not aware of this fact.
Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether someone is suffering from severe back or neck pain or in extreme cases intense pain that is often described as chronic. Proper diagnosis is the only way to know whether this pain is from the spine or is due to the muscles or bones.
The neck, back, and shoulder pain experienced by people is not all the same and often not caused by the same conditions. However, knowing the different causes of pain can help a doctor diagnose the patient’s condition. If you are experiencing chronic neck or back pain and think that you may be suffering from muscle or bone strain, contact your doctor immediately.