What Causes Chronic Neck Pain?
It is usually not possible to know the exact cause of neck pain in the days or weeks after a car accident. Muscles and ligaments may be strained and inflamed, but they usually heal within six to ten weeks. Pain that lasts longer may be due to deeper problems such as injury to the disc, facet joint, or both.
Facet joint pain
Facet joint pain is a common cause of chronic neck pain after a car accident. It may occur alone or with disc pain, and is usually located to the right or left of the center back of the neck. The area may be tender to the touch and facet pain can be mistaken for muscle pain.
Disc injury
The disc allows motion while keeping the neck from moving too much. The outer wall of the disc can be torn by a whiplash injury. In some people it does not heal and becomes painful during normal activities. Less often, a disc can herniate and push on a nerve, usually causing more arm pain than neck pain.
Muscle strain and nerve compression
Muscle strain can cause acute pain, while muscles may also hurt when working too hard to protect injured discs, joints, or nerves. Spinal nerves and the spinal cord can be compressed by a herniated disc or bone spur.
What are the symptoms?
- Headache, including cervicogenic or neck-related headache
- Arm pain, heaviness, or referred pain
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Low back pain after whiplash
- Difficulty with concentration or memory
- Sleep disturbance, irritability, depression, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, tingling, and fatigue
Thanks to the North American Spine Society for the use of this material. Do not wait if you are in pain. Call Keller Spine at 817-798-4226.