The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) found that close to 65 percent of Americans ages 18 to 34 claim to have suffered from chronic pain during the past year. In that survey, neck pain was found to be the third most-common area of the body that suffered pain.
Similarly, a Gallup-Healthways survey found that 31 percent of U.S. adults claimed to have some neck or back condition that results in pain. Some 47 percent of the surveyed had at least one form of chronic pain. The Gallup-Healthways poll collected data from 353,000 people aged 18 and older, making it a significant study.
But no matter how high the count on who is afflicted, pain is personal. And if you have it, you’ll likely be living with reduced enjoyment until you can get rid of it.
Neck pain arrives without warning and can be attributed to any number of causes. Some come from seemingly minor accidents – for example, sleeping in an awkward position or sitting with bad posture. But many injuries can come from tasks both volunteered and accidental – including car crashes, lifting something too heavy and sporting injuries. Most people are reluctant to visit a doctor, feeling the pain will go away shortly. Some are correct, but others suffer for weeks, months and even years with pain.