It’s a beautiful day in Bourbonnais, Illinois and you can’t help but play another good game of golf. But as you swing, you notice an ache in your neck. And you wake up the next morning to a stiff and painful neck. What do you do about it?

Well, most people would just shake it off and wait for time to heal their neck pain. Maybe throw in a few anti-inflammatories or two, a little bit of massage, and all is well. But then, there are times when neck pain can get pretty serious and you would have to take immediate action to treat it. So when exactly can neck pain be deemed normal and when can it be considered a critical situation?

Neck pain is actually a very common condition that attacks everyone at a certain point in their life. It happens more frequently to women than to men. Neck pain can be considered normal when it is only but a mild discomfort. It may be a pain that has resulted from a bad sleeping position and will subside after a day.

But there are certain conditions that would require early assessment. These conditions cannot and should not be ignored. Suffering from herniated disc is one. Of all the conditions, this is the least severe. In fact, greater than 90% of herniated disc cases would not even require any interference. It is still important, however, to take extra care in day to day activities so as to not worsen the situation. There are a number of indistinguishable symptoms that are common to both a musculoskeletal injury and a herniated disc. Only time could tell for sure.

These symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, head ache and reduced range of motion. Aside from herniated discs, there are other conditions that are more serious. These conditions are severe enough to cause lasting damage to a nerve or to your spinal cord. As for symptoms, it wouldn’t take a neurologist to recognize them and once confirmed, you should go seek early attention from your physician. You should start worrying when you are experiencing neck pain that is associated with numbness of your hands or arms, any electrical shocks going down your spine or arms, any weaknesses in pushing, pulling, grasping or walking.

If you are having any difficulty in picking things up or manipulating them with your fingers, you may be victim to subtle and sometimes confusing nerve damage. If you are experiencing any of the abovementioned symptoms and neck pain in Bourbonnais, you should not fret. There are lots of chiropractic services in Bourbonnais available and always ready to give the best treatment for your neck pain. They will decide whether or not you need an MRI of the cervical spine. This test would tell you if you are at risk for any further and more severe spinal cord or nerve injury.

You have to make it a point to avoid assuming anything and have your condition treated. Immediate action is the key to avoid severe conditions. Though your stiff and aching neck usually gets better in a few days, it would be helpful to know when to really worry about it and take it seriously.