Throbbing neck pain is often the result of poor sleeping posture, neck sprain or neck injury. To know more about throbbing pain in neck read on...

The word 'throbbing' related to human body literally means something that is vibrating or pounding violently and is unbearable. Throbbing neck pain does not allow a person to walk properly and can significantly restrict neck movement. In today's hectic lifestyle, people often experience such type of neck pain that may last for quite some time and affect social life.

Causes

If the neck does not have proper support while sleeping or standing, throbbing pain in neck is bound to occur. Poor sleeping posture such as taking a nap without a pillow, is the most common reason behind throbbing neck pain. Other causes are given below:

Neck Injury: A blunt blow to the neck during a fight or an accident, can certainly cause immense pain for quite some time. Swelling of the affected part accompanied by discoloration of the skin area, is an indication of neck injury. In such cases, normal movement of neck is severely hampered and the person may not be able to turn his head properly for months.

Neck Sprain: Neck sprain is a condition in which the muscles of the neck are damaged. Although, neck muscles are flexible, stretching them beyond their normal range can negatively affect these muscles. In some cases, overstretching can completely tear or rupture the muscles and surgery remains the only option to cure the condition.

Stress: Today's lifestyle pattern is such, that we are entailed to stress. We experience some amount of stress in our everyday lives which is not a cause for concern. However, long-term stress when life takes a 360 degree due to unforeseen events can be tough to handle and lead to throbbing neck pain. A crumbling marriage culminating into a bad divorce, shifting to a new city or too much workload at the office can lead to chronic stress, causing serious damage to your physical health. Repetitive and long-term stress can make the muscles tense, which may cause throbbing shoulder and neck pain.

Glandular Fever: Getting any type of fever means our body is battling an infection. In case of glandular fever, it is an indication of a viral attack. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck area is the hallmark of glandular fever. The swelling of lymph nodes due to the viral infection can be quite painful and the affected area is tender to touch. Besides inflammation of the lymph nodes, the patient may suffer from sore throat and persistent feeling of tiredness.

Neck Muscle Spasms: When the muscles in the neck contract involuntarily, it is known as muscle spasms and can be quite painful. Neck spasms often occur due to stress or activities that put excessive strain on the neck.

Lifting Heavy Objects: In case, your job demands lifting heavy objects and you are doing it in an incorrect manner, it can put a lot of strain on the neck muscles, eventually leading to throbbing pain. Sports persons such as weightlifters are susceptible to damage to the neck muscles, if the weights are not lifted properly.

Neck Arthritis: This is an age related disorder that is typically marked by reduced joint function. The joints (point of contact between two different bones) appear swollen, which restricts mobility and flexibility. As we all know, the ends of the bones are covered with tough elastic tissues known as the cartilage. With increasing age, gradual progression of cartilage loss is observed. This causes the bones to rub against each other as well as the joint connecting two bones becomes inflamed. Pain associated with neck arthritis may move down to the shoulders and the upper arm. In such circumstances, sneezing or coughing are likely to aggravate the discomfort.

Cervical Spondylosis: This is a condition in which the discs and vertebrae (bones) of the neck region are damaged. As we all know, the spinal cord located at the back, is nothing but a bunch of nerves, that act as a medium to send brain signals to different parts of the body. The spinal cord is covered by the spine, a structure made up of several bones (vertebrae). In between 2 bones lies a circular 'rubber like' tissue referred to as disc. These discs provide a great cushioning support and prevent friction between bones. Now, the spine extends from the base of the skull bone up to the tailbone. The part of the spine that is located in the neck region is called cervical spine. With age, the vertebrae and the discs in the neck deteriorate and cause considerable amount of pain.

Cervical spondylosis commonly diagnosed among older people causes stiffness in neck that worsens at night. This throbbing neck pain may also travel all down to the shoulder and the hands. Cervical spondylosis can cause headache, especially in the back portion of the head.

To achieve pain relief, painkillers are commonly prescribed. Anti-inflammatory medications are also given to the patient to decrease the swelling. Ibuprofen and paracetamol are some of the anti-inflammatory painkillers, useful to relieve pain. People with cervical spondylosis, may have to wear traction for several days to relieve the pain. Muscle relaxants such as diazepam may also be recommended to reduce the discomfort associated with neck muscles.

As far as stress-related neck pain is concerned, you go to incorporate some effective stress management techniques such as yoga and meditation in your daily schedule. If this is not your cup of tea, you can do any other activity that provides relief from stress. For instance, listening to music or engaging oneself in any outdoor activity is also helpful to relax the mind.