Living with Chronic Neck Pain

living with chronic neck pain

Find out your options for getting help when living with chronic neck pain.

Living with Chronic Neck Pain

Sadly, for many, neck pain is not just an acute incident lasting a day or two, but a chronic struggle which can have a serious impact on all aspects of daily life. For those living with chronic neck pain the battle to achieve an accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plan can seem endless. For some, unfortunately, there are limited options to help with chronic neck pain, which can lead to depression, anxiety, other physical conditions, and adversely affect their career, relationships, and enjoyment of life.

Chronic Neck Pain and Family Life

Ensuring that family and friends fully understand the condition causing chronic neck pain is paramount in order to help the sufferer manage their levels of distress. Initiatives like Spinal Health Month are such an attempt to help those living with chronic neck pain and other spinal issues. By altering the household division of labor a spouse, or other family member, may significantly reduce the strain, and subsequent pain. This is especially true in conditions such as fibromyalgia which can be made substantially worse by fatigue and emotional stress.

Getting Help When Living with Chronic Pain

If family members are struggling to accept the reality of a newly diagnosed disease try taking them to medical appointments as this can help them to be more understanding. Similarly, as many patients tend to underestimate their pain and daily struggles with a chronic condition, having a family member sit in on a medical appointment may allow the physician to gain a clearer view of a patient’s limitations, thereby increasing the offers of assistance and support. Specific help with daily tasks may be available to some patients, such as with shopping, cleaning, and personal hygiene; patients should not be afraid to ask about their eligibility for these types of assistance.


Depression and Chronic Pain

If chronic pain is causing depression then it is important to address this problem as early as possible as depression itself can increase the experience of pain. Constructing a framework of accepted limitations and goals providing motivation for those with chronic pain can help the sufferer regain some independence and joie de vivre. Studies have found that those with chronic neck pain often limit their activities unnecessarily due to anxiety over perceived risks, with a series of psychological consultations allowing the patient to feel freer to enjoy life once more, whilst managing their chronic neck pain. A recent study has also found that mindfulness training can help improve quality of life in Rheumatoid Arthritis, a potential cause of neck pain.

Sometimes a patient will be taking pain medications, such as muscle relaxants, that are also antidepressants; however, the doses taken for analgesia are usually insufficient to help with depression itself. Patients should, therefore, not assume that these drugs are ineffective for their depression and, instead, discuss their options with their physician. It is also worth remembering that a common side-effect of pain medications is actually depression itself, so if symptoms develop after beginning a new form of treatment it is important to talk to the doctor; do not simply cease medication however, as withdrawal can make depression, and other side-effects, much worse. Working with the doctor to come off medications slowly will help to reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Chronic Neck Pain and Work

Chronic pain and the associated issues such as anxiety, disability, and depression can seriously affect a patient’s ability to continue working as before. Specific help with employment, accessed through a doctor, local employment agency, or the employer themselves, can be incredibly helpful in allowing both minor and major changes to be enacted, thereby maintaining a chronic neck pain sufferer’s independence and employability. These changes could be something as simple as an ergonomic assessment of their work set-up and a new office chair, desk, or keyboard to improve posture. Major changes may allow for a patient to undergo retraining in a less physically demanding job so as to remain a part of the workforce where a previous career, such as manual labor, becomes untenable. Patients who feel compelled to give up work as a result of their pain often develop depression and social anxiety due to the change in circumstances and lack of daily interaction, as well as the loss of their financial independence. If these issues are present then it is important to address them quickly and develop an action plan to reduce the likely impact of living with chronic neck pain.

Available Treatments and Help

If the pain is mild then a regime involving yoga, massage, acupressure or acupuncture may be enough to manage the condition, and some may find that an acupressure mat can help alleviate the pain considerably if used daily. Neck stretching exercises formulated with the help of a physical therapist may also be beneficial in reducing the severity and incidence of pain, and help patients stave off further degeneration.

Spinal surgery is not always recommended for chronic neck pain, and long-term medication use may be contraindicated due to possible side-effects making alternative remedies for neck pain an attractive option if the condition is persistent. Discussing available help and treatments with an experienced physician or pain-management specialist can highlight appropriate therapies to aid the patient and improve coping skills. Above all, it is important to remember that there are many others living with chronic neck pain and that support groups, online forums, and medical professionals are available to help.

4286 replies
  1. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy
    on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and
    visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme?

    Superb work!

    Reply
  2. best mortgage lenders in california
    best mortgage lenders in california says:

    I’ve been surfing on-line more than three hours as of late, yet I never found any
    interesting article like yours. It’s lovely value sufficient for me.

    Personally, if all website owners and bloggers made
    excellent content as you did, the internet can be much more useful than ever before.

    Reply
  3. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    I have learn several excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting.
    I wonder how much effort you set to make this kind of fantastic informative website.

    Reply
  4. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of house .
    Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site.
    Studying this info So i’m satisfied to show that I have a very good
    uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed.
    I so much indubitably will make sure to don?t forget this web site and
    provides it a look on a constant basis.

    Reply
  5. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    Wow, amazing blog format! How lengthy have you ever been blogging for?
    you made running a blog look easy. The total glance of your website
    is wonderful, let alone the content!

    Reply
  6. bit.ly
    bit.ly says:

    I was curious if you ever thought of changing the structure of your website?
    Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more
    in the way of content so people could connect with it better.
    Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 images.
    Maybe you could space it out better?

    Reply
  7. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog
    and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
    After all I will be subscribing for your feed and I am hoping
    you write once more very soon!

    Reply
  8. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months of
    hard work due to no back up. Do you have any methods to stop hackers?

    Reply
  9. Europa-Road Kft.
    Europa-Road Kft. says:

    You could definitely see your expertise in the paintings you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe. At all times go after your heart. “He never is alone that is accompanied with noble thoughts.” by Fletcher.

    Reply
  10. coupon
    coupon says:

    I used to be recommended this web site through my cousin. I am not positive whether or not this put up is written by way of him as no one else know
    such unique about my problem. You are wonderful!
    Thank you!

    Have a look at my web blog :: coupon

    Reply
  11. viveBiofe
    viveBiofe says:

    buy cialis canadian Each article is evaluated and assigned according to three quality classification criteria I meting all quality criteria low risk of bias; II partially met or ambiguous moderate risk of bias; or III rarely met or not involved high risk of bias

    Reply
  12. tinyurl.com
    tinyurl.com says:

    Hey there this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know
    if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with
    HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from
    someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

    Reply
  13. best cryptocurrency to buy
    best cryptocurrency to buy says:

    Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice morning!

    Reply
  14. ครีมทาผิว
    ครีมทาผิว says:

    Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such excellent info being shared freely out there.

    Reply
  15. บาคาร่าออนไลน์
    บาคาร่าออนไลน์ says:

    I was curious if you ever considered changing the structure of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?

    Reply
  16. al salam hospital kuwait doctors list
    al salam hospital kuwait doctors list says:

    I really wanted to jot down a brief message to be able to say thanks to you for the unique pointers you are giving out at this website. My prolonged internet look up has now been honored with good knowledge to share with my friends. I would state that that we site visitors are quite lucky to live in a decent community with so many wonderful professionals with good methods. I feel quite lucky to have encountered the website and look forward to so many more pleasurable moments reading here. Thanks once again for everything.

    Reply
  17. kbc lucky draw 2023
    kbc lucky draw 2023 says:

    Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will certainly comeback.

    Reply
  18. hire an iphone hacker
    hire an iphone hacker says:

    Howdy are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding expertise to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!

    Reply
  19. 7xl
    7xl says:

    We stumbled over here by a different web page and thought I might as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to exploring your web page again.

    Reply
  20. has bitcoin ever been hacked
    has bitcoin ever been hacked says:

    I’m impressed, I need to say. Really hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you could have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the difficulty is something that not sufficient individuals are talking intelligently about. I’m very comfortable that I stumbled across this in my seek for something relating to this.

    Reply
  21. lift detox caps
    lift detox caps says:

    Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thanks

    Reply
  22. web design em porto seguro
    web design em porto seguro says:

    I beloved up to you’ll receive carried out right here. The comic strip is attractive, your authored material stylish. nevertheless, you command get bought an edginess over that you wish be delivering the following. sick without a doubt come further until now again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you defend this hike.

    Reply
  23. web design em porto seguro
    web design em porto seguro says:

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100 positive. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Kudos

    Reply
  24. jio kbc head office number
    jio kbc head office number says:

    I have been surfing online greater than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It?¦s lovely worth sufficient for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content material as you probably did, the web can be much more helpful than ever before.

    Reply
  25. Kkslot777
    Kkslot777 says:

    It is really a nice and helpful piece of information. I?¦m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  26. pbn
    pbn says:

    Hey there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
    Is it difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out
    pretty quick. I’m thinking about setting up my own but
    I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any
    points or suggestions? Appreciate it

    Reply
  27. slot hoki
    slot hoki says:

    Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

    Reply
  28. poker online
    poker online says:

    I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

    Reply
  29. bandar togel online terpercaya
    bandar togel online terpercaya says:

    Good – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task.

    Reply
  30. joint pain
    joint pain says:

    Very good written post. It will be valuable to everyone who usess it, including yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – for sure i will check out more posts.

    Reply
  31. CS teste 48
    CS teste 48 says:

    I just couldn’t go away your website before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual information a person supply for your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently in order to investigate cross-check new posts.

    Reply
  32. megatela
    megatela says:

    I want to point out my admiration for your kind-heartedness giving support to persons who need guidance on your theme. Your real dedication to getting the message all-around appears to be wonderfully useful and has always enabled girls much like me to realize their endeavors. Your entire insightful useful information implies a great deal to me and somewhat more to my office colleagues. Regards; from each one of us.

    Reply
  33. Paket Tour Belitung 3D2N
    Paket Tour Belitung 3D2N says:

    Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Cheers

    Reply
  34. apk indir android
    apk indir android says:

    Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve keep in mind your stuff prior to and you’re just too fantastic. I really like what you have got right here, really like what you are saying and the way in which by which you say it. You are making it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it wise. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific website.

    Reply
  35. slot hoki
    slot hoki says:

    I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!

    Reply
  36. Scrap
    Scrap says:

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100 sure. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Appreciate it

    Reply
  37. coffee emporium
    coffee emporium says:

    I found your weblog website on google and check a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the very good operate. I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Searching for ahead to studying more from you later on!…

    Reply
  38. perwirabet
    perwirabet says:

    We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your website provided us with valuable information to work on. You have done a formidable job and our whole community will be grateful to you.

    Reply
  39. hire cell phone hackers
    hire cell phone hackers says:

    Hey would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m having a hard time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

    Reply
  40. Sell Royalties
    Sell Royalties says:

    I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

    Reply
  41. stock market day trading
    stock market day trading says:

    There are some interesting cut-off dates in this article but I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There is some validity however I’ll take hold opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish extra! Added to FeedBurner as properly

    Reply
  42. ways to make money investing
    ways to make money investing says:

    Nice post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I am inspired! Extremely useful information particularly the final section 🙂 I handle such info much. I used to be looking for this certain information for a very lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.

    Reply
  43. porque fazer o pegging
    porque fazer o pegging says:

    Do you have a spam problem on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to exchange strategies with other folks, why not shoot me an email if interested.

    Reply
  44. fun spreadsheet activities
    fun spreadsheet activities says:

    Can I just say what a relief to seek out somebody who actually knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You positively know the best way to convey a difficulty to light and make it important. More people must learn this and perceive this aspect of the story. I cant consider youre no more common since you definitely have the gift.

    Reply
  45. ผิวแข็งแรง
    ผิวแข็งแรง says:

    Nice post. I learn something more challenging on completely different blogs everyday. It’s going to always be stimulating to learn content from different writers and practice a bit of one thing from their store. I’d want to use some with the content material on my weblog whether or not you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a hyperlink in your internet blog. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  46. jio lottery winner
    jio lottery winner says:

    The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.

    Reply
  47. situs slot gacor hari ini
    situs slot gacor hari ini says:

    Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and everything. But just imagine if you added some great graphics or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this blog could undeniably be one of the best in its field. Fantastic blog!

    Reply
  48. slot hoki terbaru
    slot hoki terbaru says:

    Thank you, I’ve recently been searching for information about this topic for a while and yours is the greatest I have came upon till now. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the supply?

    Reply
  49. idn poker 88
    idn poker 88 says:

    Hello very cool website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am satisfied to search out numerous useful information here in the submit, we’d like work out more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

    Reply
  50. Holidays on Malta
    Holidays on Malta says:

    I am really inspired with your writing skills and also with the structure to your weblog. Is that this a paid subject or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice high quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a great weblog like this one nowadays. !

    Reply