Pain is the body’s alarm system indicating that something is wrong. Neck pain is a common condition that often demands attention, due to the sensitivity of the area and difficulties presented when functional movement is limited by pain. In many cases, neck pain is minimal and heals itself with time. When neck pain persists for more than a day or two, it may be time to seek professional care.
The neck (cervical region) is very vulnerable to injury. Located at the top of the spinal column, the cervical bones in the neck support the head and are capable of a wide range of motion. While this large range of motion is highly useful, it often leads to stress being placed on the neck while placed in awkward positions, resulting in pain and stiffness.
Sources of this stress can be as simple as falling asleep with your neck at a bad angle. Other causes include bad posture (forward head position) while using a computer, watching TV or even reading a book. You may also experience neck pain as a result of accidents, chronic conditions, and even aging, when the effects of osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, can manifest as neck pain. The most common causes of neck pain are simple muscle or joint dysfunction, which typically respond very well to chiropractic therapies. Neck pain is sometimes accompanied by pains which shoot into the upper extremities which could indicate a potentially more serious problem such as a pinched nerve or disc disorder. Some common causes of neck pain are:
- Poor posture (sitting, work, sleeping, etc.)
- Neck injury
- Whiplash
- Neck muscle spasm
- Neck ligament strain/sprain
- Arthritis
- Disc disorders (bulges, herniations, etc.)
- Torticollis
- Spinal disorder
Chiropractors utilize spinal manipulations to make adjustments to the alignment of the spine and neck to alleviate pain. According to the basic theories of chiropractic, a misalignment of the spine or other soft tissue structures can irritate the nervous system in such a way as to cause pain or organ dysfunction (allergies, asthma, sinus problems, etc.). The same nerves originating in the spine not only travel up the head and down the arms, also supply the glands and tissues of the eyes, ears, nose, throat and lungs. By manipulating the cervical spine, a chiropractor can fix the alignment of the spine allowing for proper functioning of the nervous system, alleviating pain and other symptoms. Rehabilitative therapies such as decompression, traction, electrical stimulation and ultrasound may be utilized to relax aggravated soft tissue in order to speed up the healing process. In many cases, complicated surgery can be avoided through chiropractic care.
Neck pain may not resolve after one treatment session with a chiropractor. The chiropractor will evaluate a patient at the onset of therapy to determine the proper treatment course. The number of adjustments necessary varies based upon the nature of your condition and the health of your spine.
With concerns regarding neck pain and other related painful conditions, please contact the office at 732-920-8188 or email dryanchus@brickfamilychiropractic.com.
