4 Signs That Your Pain Could Be Arthritis
Do you have unexplained joint pain? It could be arthritis, even if you’re still young. May is Arthritis Awareness Month, and it’s time to get unexplained joint pain checked out.
‘Tech Neck’: Treatments That Help Stop the Pain
Do the back of your neck, the base of your skull, and the top ridges of your shoulders hurt after a long day of staring at a screen for work, school, or leisure? You could have what many health care professionals now call “tech neck.”
At CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center, with multiple locations in Maryland and Delaware, our providers can diagnose and treat all types of neck pain, including tech neck.
What’s tech neck?
Tech neck, also known as text neck, is chronic head, neck, and/or shoulder pain thought to result from the use of technology, especially desktop screens and hand-held devices. One 2022 report referred to text neck as a “new epidemic.”
This condition can develop when you spend hours every day tilting your head forward and down to look at a computer or device screen. Tech neck is most likely to affect people who use laptops and phones.
Depending on the angle of forward head tilt, the human head can exert as much as 27-60 pounds of pressure on your neck. The constant pull on your neck muscles can result in pain, stiffness, headaches, and similar symptoms.
Treating tech neck
Treating chronic neck pain means seeing a doctor who specializes in chronic pain and taking steps to resolve lifestyle issues that might cause the pain. We treat neck pain using the following methods:
- Hot and cold application
- Neck stretches and exercises
- Physical rehabilitation and therapy
- Noninvasive electrical nerve stimulation
- Oral anti-inflammatory and pain medications
- Minimally invasive steroid/joint injections
You can assist in treating your neck pain by changing your habits when it comes to screen time. The goal is to correct your overall posture so your ears stay straight above your shoulders, which should remain straight above your hips. Direct your gaze ahead of you, not down.
Also:
- Limit time spent on your phone or tablet
- Use a stand to put up your phone in front of you
- Position laptops and desktop screens at eye level
- Keep correct posture; don’t slump forward
- Use ergonomic chairs and desks to help you maintain an upright position
Combining medical treatment for chronic pain with lifestyle changes is the best way to treat tech neck and help alleviate neck, shoulder, and head pain.
To learn more or find out if tech neck could be behind your pain, schedule an appointment at CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center today. Call us at 240-786-1001 or request an appointment online.
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