Neck Pain

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What is neck pain?

Neck pain can be so mild that it is merely annoying and distracting. Or it can be so severe that it is unbearable and incapacitating.

Neck X-Ray

Most instances of neck pain (and stiffness) are minor and commonly caused by something you did. That is, if you keep your head in an awkward position for too long the joints in your neck can "lock" and the neck muscles become painfully fatigued. The price you pay for carelessness in how you position your head and neck (say, while working, watching TV, using a computer, reading a book, or talking on the phone with the receiver held against your shoulder and under your chin), is a pain in the neck. You may be one of the many unfortunates who, after a long and tiring day, has "harmlessly" fallen asleep in a chair or in bed with your head propped up, only to awake with a stiff and painful neck. Fortunately, most minor, posture-induced neck pain episodes clear up on their own after rest and efforts not to repeat the offending stresses on the neck.

But… neck pain that just won't go away after a day or so is a more serious matter. Neck pain that lasts for many days or keeps coming back is a signal that something isn't right.

Almost everyone experiences some sort of neck pain or stiffness at one time or another. Because you are human and walk upright, your head is "balanced" atop your spinal column. If the muscles that support your head are not kept strong and in good condition, the upper part of your spinal column is vulnerable to strains and injuries.

Neck pain can be associated with postural stress, which results in muscular tension and inflammation in the neck and upper back. Postural stress can be caused by sitting at a computer for long periods, or performing repetitive tasks such as working on an assembly line. Poor spinal mechanics, weak or overdeveloped muscles, poorly designed workspaces and chairs, even depression, can all be factors in postural stress.

Neck pain can also be related to degenerative disorders such as osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease or DJD). When this form of arthritis hits your back and neck, you feel it as neck pain that gets worse over time. The pain may radiate into your shoulders and arms, and you may feel numbness or tingling in hands and fingers.

These are just a few of the many causes of neck pain.

What can a Chiropractor do for neck pain?

Consulting a chiropractor for neck pain might seem obvious to a patient who has experienced chiropractic and who associates an adjustment with the release of tension, increased motion, and pain relief. But for those who have never been to a chiropractor it might seem a little intimidating.

As a doctor of chiropractic I have the training and skills necessary to relieve your neck pain, overcome stiffness, and restore the mobility and range of motion of any frozen neck vertebrae. I am devoted to helping you get back to your normal pursuits and start feeling like yourself again.

Perhaps the most important contribution I can offer as a chiropractor is the ability to bring specialized diagnostic skills, techniques, and equipment to bear in assessing what is causing your neck problems. I can determine if you have a relatively minor and treatable condition or a more serious underlying condition (from disease, degeneration, or trauma) that may require more intensive, extended treatment or referral to a specialist.

I will ask you for detailed information on your behavior, posture, physical condition, and work and home environment. I may obtain x-rays and other diagnostic images to pinpoint which of many possible causes is a responsible for your discomfort. Only then will the appropriate treatment be recommended.

Once your normal feeling and function is restored, I will be available to keep the muscles and joints of your neck and back in optimum condition to prevent recurrence of neck pain and related life-restricting symptoms.