- Risks and Causes
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain
The cervical spine or neck is the top part of the spinal column. It begins at the base of the skull and ends in the thoracic spine, which is located in your upper back.
The back of the neck has many muscles that are essential to our movements. These muscles are attached to the vertebrae by tendons, creating a supportive structure for proper range of motion.
Our bones are surrounded by muscles that attach to them. The main function of these large muscles is movement, but they also help us maintain posture.
These muscles are attached to the vertebrae by tendons, creating a supportive structure for proper range of motion.
When these muscles become tight or pulled, they can place pressure on the spine and cause neck pain. Muscles may also spasm in response to injury or after performing repeated motions. They can also go into spasms during a stressful or emotional time.
Neck pain can also be a result of an injury, such as whiplash from a car accident. Sometimes the vertebrae will shift out of place without being pulled on by muscles. If this happens, it’s called a subluxation.
This means that there is pressure placed on nerves between each of the vertebrae, causing pain to radiate from the neck throughout other parts of your body.
If you have a herniated disc, it can cause certain nerves to become pinched and result in pain that shoots into other areas besides just the neck region.
In response to injury or even stress, the muscles will tighten up in an attempt to brace for impact or protect the body. When they are tight, they can cause pain in your neck and even headaches.
With so much going on in the neck, it’s no wonder that an issue there can cause pain and other issues not only in the neck but even as far as down as the lower back and up to the head.
If you have pain in the neck that doesn’t seem to go away, it’s likely something is wrong. Neck pain may be related to injury, but also lifestyle choices such as work posture and stress levels.
If you’re in an occupation that requires you to do the same thing over and over again, like typing or computer work, chances are that it’s causing neck pain.
Risks And Causes
Your neck is not meant to stay in the same position for long periods. When you are doing something that requires your neck muscles to be tight, you are at risk of causing yourself pain.
This is especially true if your job requires you to sit in front of a computer all day, whether it’s in an office or a home office.
When your neck is strained from being in one position for too long, this can cause pain and even stiffness in the neck.
Using proper ergonomics when working with computers is important to avoid these issues and keep your muscles loose and relaxed so they don’t become strained.
Another common issue that causes neck pain is sleeping in a bad position or on the wrong pillow. If you sleep with several pillows and they are arranged incorrectly, your neck may end up in an awkward position all night long.
Not only can this cause stiffness when you wake up, but it can also be painful if your muscles are constantly tense due to being forced into an awkward position.
Neck pain can be a result of inflammation, muscle spasms, or strain. Muscles in the neck area allow you to move your head from one side to another, stretch your neck up and down, and rotate it from left to right.
Stress is another risk factor for neck pain, especially chronic stress. The increased tension in the muscles can aggravate existing issues or cause the body to develop new issues.
Stress by itself does not usually cause neck pain but it can make an existing condition worse, or if you have a pre-existing condition, stress can make it painful.
Any type of pain signals a problem and should be treated, some people may find it hard to believe that stress is causing their neck pain.
It’s more likely the other way around; neck pain will add to your stress levels which increases the strain on muscles even more.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Mostly, the diagnosis is made through a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms. There may be imaging such as X-rays or other tests that can help rule out certain things like tumors or other issues that could be causing pain in the neck.
Treatment for neck pain will include a combination of:
- medication
- rest
- pain management techniques
- massage therapy
- chiropractic care
- and exercise
The initial treatment for neck pain is typically rest, which means stopping the activity that has caused the pain.
You may need to stop playing sports, or changing your work habits so you don’t aggravate the injury.
If you have an acute injury, you can take some ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling. Don’t use ibuprofen for more than 3 days in a row because it can cause stomach ulcers or increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.
You should also see your doctor if you have neck pain. They will likely recommend rest as the first course of action.
Since muscle spasms can make it harder to move, a doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxer or other medication that can help ease spasms and give you some relief from the pain.
Taking care of your body can also help prevent these types of injuries in the future. That might mean giving yourself time to recover after an injury with rest, taking some ibuprofen if needed, icing any swelling afterward (don’t put ice directly on your skin), and seeing a doctor if there’s a lot of swelling or you have other symptoms.
Medication may be needed to help the pain, but chiropractic care is often a key element in treating neck injuries, especially from car accidents. You can visit us at our Eden Prairie Chiropractic clinic, for consultation.
Chiropractic Care For Neck Pain
For decades, chiropractic care for neck pain has been the subject of debate. Some doctors and researchers say that using manual therapy (such as manipulation) on the cervical spine can help ease symptoms.
Others think this technique is too risky because it could cause serious injury to the patient’s vertebral artery, which is located in the neck.
Best Eden Prairie chiropractor for neck pain is ideal because we are well-educated in musculoskeletal conditions.
Best Eden Prairie chiropractor for neck pain includes a physical exam and x-rays to get a full picture of the condition, then we will develop a treatment plan that may include massage therapy, manipulations (or adjustments), or other therapies.
To treat neck pain, it’s important to determine the cause. Once we know why you’re in pain, the right treatment can be found.
These types of injuries are one of the most common reasons people come to see us at The Well Chiropractic for treatment. Most people will experience some form of neck pain at some point during their lives.
The plan will be specific to your condition and may include exercises for you to do at home, too. If you miss a few visits or stop coming regularly, don’t worry!
Chiropractic care is something you can go back to whenever needed. That means if the pain flares up again or there’s another injury, we are always there to treat you and help prevent future injuries.
Just like how other doctors recommend bed rest for injuries, we might also prescribe that to speed up the healing process.
Treatments are customized to your specific condition, so you can always visit Dr. Renato Bevanda for neck pain. You can also visit us when a new injury occurs in the future.
Be sure to keep up with your care and follow any treatment plans provided. If you find the pain starts to worsen, come back for a massage therapy session as soon as possible!
Best Eden Prairie Chiropractor for neck pain is one of the most common treatments we provide, and it’s also an effective way to manage your symptoms and help you feel better fast!
