The neck is the part of the body that holds and joins the head to the rest of the body.
It's considered to be the most vital part of a human body.
That's why you see a mom always uses her hand to support her baby's head when she carries him/her.
This is because the strength of a new born baby's neck hasn't been fully developed.
There are many people having neck pain these days and it can be due to many different things.
It could be due to bad posture, arthritis, or even the type of works they do.
Persistent neck pain can also be an indicative of other more serious problems.
The design of a human neck with all its interconnected parts are very vulnerable to injuries and pain.
For example, a very common type of neck injury is called whiplash.
Whiplash is an injury to the muscles, ligaments, vertebrae, or nerves of the neck caused when the head is suddenly thrown forward and then sharply back (such as in a car accident).
Hence, over stretching the interconnected parts of the neck and causing pain around the neck and upper back.
Other common types of neck and upper back pain include headaches, jaw pain, shoulder pain, and arm pain.
Apart from the pain, there could also be numbness and tingling occurring down the shoulders and arms.
Neck and upper back pain that is accompanied by headache and fever could be a sign of meningitis.
Seek help from a physician or doctor immediately if you're suffering from a very stiff neck and persistent pain.
Meningitis can be a very serious condition and need to be treated immediately.
It's an infection in the membranes that surround the brain.
For majority of people, treatment for neck and upper back pain will depend on what the doctor's diagnosis reveals.
Most patients are treated successfully with medications, physical therapy, exercises, or popular traditional approach such as acupuncture.
If the neck and upper back pain is due to whiplash or car accident, wearing a neck brace for a period of time is usually recommended.
This is to ensure that the injury doesn't get worse from "incorrect" daily movements.
If you're taking pain relief medications, please talk to your doctor first! There may be side effects that you're unaware of that could interfere with any prescribed medicine you're currently taking.
Use common sense before putting something into your body.
Do not second-guess yourself!