Most people will experience nagging neck pain at some time in their lives, and it’s one of the most common ailments that people see a chiropractor for. Chronic neck pain can seriously inhibit mobility and everyday functioning and lead to loss of productivity and the ability to do things you enjoy. Most people who suffer from neck problems can be helped with chiropractic care. Chiropractic doctors use to treat neck pain are safe, natural, and non-invasive and don’t rely on possibly dangerous and addictive pain medications. Chiropractic medicine doesn’t just treat the specific area experiencing pain or discomfort; it is guided by the principle that alleviating physical disorders is a function of the health and wellness of the whole body. When you require a Greenville chiropractor for neck pain, our doctors and professional staff are ready to help you get back to your everyday pain-free life. Pass Family Chiropractic welcomes new patients of all ages.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Your neck is a unique physical structure of seven small vertebrae and many muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It has to carry a human head, which weighs an average of 12 pounds and is in motion all the time. It is capable of incredible flexibility and durability but is also quite fragile.
It’s not surprising that your neck hurts sometimes, but several factors can cause lasting chronic pain, including the following.
Injuries
- Neck injuries are often incurred from accidental falls and car crashes when playing sports. Whiplash is common in auto accidents when the head and neck are subjected to a sudden violent back and forth or side-to-side motion, damaging the muscles and tissues surrounding the vertebra.
Posture
- The slouching stance characteristic of poor posture puts unnatural stress on the neck and disrupts the structural integrity of the spine and neck vertebrae. The muscles of the neck try to compensate by staying constantly tensed to hold the head up, leading to fatigue, aches, and stiffness.
Lack of exercise
- Muscles weakened by disuse are less able to carry the load, tire more efficiently, and make the neck more vulnerable to injury.
- Work habits – Your job conditions can often lead to neck pain. Having to slump over a computer screen or workstation in a poorly designed office chair all day and occupations where you must engage in repetitive motions with your neck are examples.
Age
- As you grow older, you are more susceptible to degenerative disc disease, slowly losing the elasticity and thickness of the pads between the vertebrae and allowing the bones to rub together. This can eventually lead to a bulging or herniated disk that puts pressure on nerves causing pain, numbness, and tingling that can extend into the arms.
Osteoarthritis
- A pervasive disorder, especially in older people, that affects the joints and neck, causing slow deterioration and inflammation of the cartilage and eventually leading to bone spurs forming.
Spinal stenosis
- This disease causes the small passages in the vertebrae containing nerves to narrow, compressing and pinching the nerves and causing neck pain.
When Should You See A Chiropractor For Neck Pain?
Everyone experiences neck pain at times. But if you’ve been experiencing pain for more than a few days or a week, if your mobility and daily life are being seriously affected, if you begin to have pain, tingling, or numbness that travels down your arms, or are suffering from blurred vision or dizziness, it’s time to see a health professional for a diagnosis and treatment.
What Happens During Chiropractic Treatment?
The majority of our patients experience quick and lasting relief. When you come to your local chiropractor for neck pain treatment, they will begin with a thorough examination and a review of your health history. They’ll ask you about your current symptoms, what you have been doing to relieve your pain, and if you’ve had any recent injuries or other incidents that might have caused damage or strain. They might order an X-ray to get a closer look at your vertebrae. When they’ve diagnosed the problem, they’ll prescribe treatment, possibly including cervical manipulation to decrease pain and muscle tension and improve mobility, massage therapy, special strengthening, and stretching exercises, and suggest changes in your lifestyle and work habits.
When you need a chiropractor for neck pain in Greenville, NC, contact us!
