If you suffer from occasional bouts of neck and spinal pain, you've probably chalked the matter up to stress, overuse, carrying a heavy backpack or purse, or poor posture when working on your computer. While these are some of the most common causes, other less common causes may be to blame for your discomfort. Here are three unusual causes for your neck and spinal pain and what you can do about them.

Potatoes and Tomatoes

Tomatoes and potatoes, as well as eggplant and peppers, belong to a group of foods known as nightshades. These foods can trigger an inflammatory response, which may lead to pain and inflammation in your neck, spine, muscles, and joints.

While most people who are sensitive to nightshade foods only react to them when they are eaten raw, others may notice pain, stiffness, and swelling even when these foods are cooked or in juice form.

Cooking eliminates some of the inflammatory chemicals present in nightshades, so if you aren't willing to completely give up tomatoes, potatoes, and other nightshades, try cooking them, or in the case of tomatoes, try drinking commercially prepared tomato juice instead of eating raw tomatoes. 

Hay Fever

If you suffer from hay fever or seasonal allergies, or if you're allergic to pet dander, you may find yourself reaching for the ibuprofen bottle more frequently. Hay fever and allergies can trigger the release of chemicals known as pro-inflammatory cytokines.

These substances not only amplify your allergic symptoms of sneezing, stuffy nose, watery eyes, and itchy throat but also can elicit a systemic inflammatory response that can cause body-wide pain, including pain in your neck, spinal column, and back. If you have allergies, taking an over-the-counter antihistamine will help relieve your symptoms and may also help slow the release of cytokines in your bloodstream. 

Dental Problems

If you have a low-grade dental infection in one or more of your teeth, it could develop into an abscess. Symptoms of an abscessed tooth include pain, inflammation of the gum tissue around the affected tooth, drainage, bleeding, and fever.

If not quickly recognized and treated, a dental abscess can lead to inflammation and damage of your cranial nerves. If these nerves become damaged, the damage can cause facial pain and pain in your neck, shoulders, and spine. At the first sign of an abscessed tooth, see your dentist.

You may need to take a course of antibiotics or have your tooth extracted to eliminate the infection. If your neck and spine pain still persists after appropriate dental treatment, see your physician, who may refer you to a neurologist for further evaluation and treatment. 

Make an appointment with your primary physician or a specialist at an organization such as Southwest Florida Neurosurgical & Rehab Associates to learn about treatment options that might help relieve back pain. These treatment options may include consultation with pain-management doctors, therapeutic massage, and physical therapy. However, your options will be based upon your diagnosis.