Can Chiropractic Help Your Neck Pain?
Neck pain can vary from a mild muscular ache to pain so severe that it interferes with your life.
It may start out as aching, stiff and tired shoulder muscles that become worse over time, especially if left untreated. The longer you put up with pain or take painkillers to dull the pain without finding the the cause, the more you could be risking permanent damage to the bones and discs in your neck.
WHAT IS NECK PAIN?
The neck consists of 7 vertebrae between the shoulders and the base of the skull with discs between them. These vertebrae allow the head to move in many different directions. So when people talk about neck pain it can actually be down to the base of neck, under the skull or out toward the shoulders. Any of these anatomical locations can be the cause of neck pain.
Neck Pain is a particularly common problem in our modern age with extended computer and smartphone usage, poor posture, and a lack of exercise often to blame. In fact, it is the second most common condition that brings people to see us at Coolum Family Chiropractic.
Due to its high degree of flexibility, the neck is also particularly vulnerable to injury, such as whiplash, and damage to the discs, muscles, nerves and ligaments.
WHAT CAUSES NECK PAIN?
Some of the more common causes of neck pain include:
Poor Spinal Function: When the vertebral joints in both the neck and back stop working properly they can affect the discs, nerves and muscles in the neck.
Injuries: Single injuries such as a whiplash or repetitive injuries to the neck will often lead to neck pain. The sudden movement of the head (backwards, forwards or sideways) in an accident can create severe neck pain. With whiplash often the pain isn’t immediate and indeed it may not start for weeks, months or even years after the initial accident.
Postural Changes: These changes can be brought on by reduced spinal movement, environmental stresses such as prolonged sitting in an office chair, poor work ergonomics or poor muscle tone and strength.
Spinal Degeneration (Arthritis): Trauma and abnormal function that continues for years can cause wear and tear over time to both the vertebrae and discs.
Medical Conditions: Rare causes of neck pain such as tumours, infections, and fractures must be ruled out before any treatment starts.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF NECK PAIN?
The most common symptoms associated with neck pain are pain on movement, muscles that spasm or ache, even headaches in both the front and back of the skull.
Pressure on the nerves leaving the neck can also produce radiating pain in the shoulders, arms, wrists and hands. This loss of movement in the neck and the resultant effect on the nervous system can also sometimes be related to other symptoms including visual difficulties, dizziness or ringing in the ears.
CAN CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT HELP NECK PAIN?
Scientific studies have shown that Chiropractic may be able to provide relief from neck pain. In over 25 years of practice we have literally treated thousands of patients suffering from neck pain.
It is important to remember that neck pain is often part of a bigger picture involving your middle and lower back and will only be rectified when it all works together correctly.
Our Coolum chiropractors will look at the functionality of your entire spine as they evaluate what is causing your symptoms.
We will not start your treatment until we fully understand what is causing your problems, and we have designed an individual plan that best suits you.
We will discuss which techniques will be the most suitable for you including the safety of your treatment before we start care.
Your treatment will usually involve specific spinal adjustments, appropriate rehabilitation exercises, and home care advice. You can find out more about what happens at your first visit here.