Many people feel neck pain after a long day of sitting at a computer or from having slept on it the wrong way. Roughly 30% of adults report having experienced neck pain at one point or another. Most of these aches and pains will go away after a while.
However, if you are experiencing neck pain that happens when you breathe, it may be a sign of something more serious. In this article, we’ll explain a few possible reasons why you’re feeling this way and what you can do about it.
What causes neck pain when breathing?
Due to the complex nature of the nerves, muscles and vertebrae that make up the neck, there are several possible causes for feeling neck pain when you breathe. Here are some of the most common:
- Pinched nerves — There are many nerve endings in the head and neck area. Often, these nerves can become compressed or pinched due to poor posture, repetitive movements, or an injury. When you breathe, your muscles may be pressing against a pinched nerve. This could be the cause of your pain.
- Soft tissue strain — The soft tissue in the neck can become strained from repetitive movements, such as looking down at a phone or computer screen. Soft tissue strain can also be caused by sleeping on your neck improperly, or turning your head too quickly and forcefully.
- Traumatic injury — A car accident, sports injury or other traumatic injury may be the cause of your neck pain. Even if your injury has been treated, you may experience symptoms of pain, discomfort and stiffness long after the injury occurred. Scar tissue can often build up in your neck muscles after an injury, which causes pain and stiffness in the neck.
- COVID-19 — Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 experience symptoms long after they have recovered from the disease. Muscle and joint pain is a common complaint among patients who have recovered from COVID-19. If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the past, your neck pain might be a lingering symptom of the disease.
- Herniated disc — If you are experiencing neck pain as well as numbness or tingling when breathing, you may have experienced a herniated disc. This occurs when the cushioning discs between the vertebrae in the neck and back ruptures, resulting in pain, weakness, and numbness in the neck as well as the shoulder and arm.
- Poor breathing habits — Believe it or not, poor breathing habits can actually cause neck pain, as opposed to the other way around. Shallow breathing can cause your torso muscles to naturally pull your neck muscles toward them, which can strain them over time. It’s essentially a type of repetitive strain injury caused by breathing.
- Poor posture — Some cases of neck pain are the result of poor posture, which can lead to herniated discs, pinched nerves, soft tissue strain and many other conditions. If you find that you have trouble breathing accompanied by neck pain, you may need to fix the way you hold your body throughout the day. You might even consider getting some ergonomically friendly furniture for your workstation if you spend long hours sitting.
Can physical therapy treat pain in my neck when I breathe?
Physical therapists are experts at treating pain in the neck, head and back due to injuries, joint and muscle issues, and other conditions. A licensed physical therapy specialist can diagnose the cause of your neck pain and determine the best course of action to treat it. A number of trusted physical therapy methods can be used to treat neck pain, including:
- Manual therapy.
- Dry needling therapy.
- Electrical stimulation.
- Spine stabilization.
Our team at Border Therapy Services has years of experience in helping people just like you. Our goal is to treat your pain at the source and get you back to doing the things you enjoy.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.