Have you been injured in an accident in or around Jacksonville, FL? Are you experiencing pain, soreness or stiffness in your neck? It can be tempting to write it off as a minor strain that will resolve itself in time, but you should not take that risk. Neck injuries can feel minor, but can, in reality, be very serious. What should you know?
Soft Tissue Injuries
In most cases, neck pain will be related to a soft tissue injury. That is, your injury will involve the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck. This is particularly common in minor automobile accidents but is also seen frequently in sports accidents, and in injuries sustained in other activities, including working out. Even sleeping in the wrong position can cause this type of neck pain.
Nerve and Spinal Cord Injuries
In some instances, neck pain is not an indication that you have suffered a soft tissue injury. Rather, it’s a symptom of an injury that could affect the nerves in your neck, or even your spine and spinal cord. These are usually much more serious than soft tissue injuries, although they can be sustained in many of the same ways – auto accidents and sports injuries are two leading causes.
What to Do If You Experience Neck Pain
What should you do if you are experiencing neck pain? A lot of it will depend on the type of pain, the severity of the pain, and how the injury was sustained. For instance, if you wake up with the crick in the neck, chances are good that you do not need immediate medical assistance. Instead, you could take an over the counter pain reliever and attempt to limit your activity until the pain recedes.
However, if you wake up with neck pain a couple of days after being involved in an automobile accident and you have not seen a doctor yet, it is important to visit a medical clinic as soon as possible. You may have nothing more than a mild sprain, but you may have a more serious injury, as well.
In most cases, having your neck pain diagnosed by a medical professional is a wise choice. It allows you to have the problem identified by a trained expert, and you also gain peace of mind from receiving not just medical care, but guidance on how to alleviate the pain and treat your injury.
