Most people with neck pain usually describe it as a dull, stiff and achy type sensation deep within the muscles along the sides of their neck and into their shoulders and/or higher up across the base of their skull.
Others, with more serious forms of neck pain, might add that it changes their behavior making them moody, irritable and short-tempered. And, on rare occasions, some patients may report their neck pain causes nausea, vomiting and loss of balance and might even experience shooting pain down in to their arms and hands.
If you have ever experienced any of these symptoms then you know the challenges placed in front of you once they settle in and take hold. Fortunately, chiropractic care has been proven to help those suffering with neck pain and get people back to enjoying what they like to do best.
But how does neck pain develop in the first place in the absence of any traumatic injury such as what might happen while playing sports, or, getting hurt at work or even in a car crash?
It Doesn’t Take Much
The muscles in your neck are very intricate and delicate and as a result can be easily strained even after the slightest of movements, or, positions if one is not careful.
For example, sleeping with your head turned to one side all night or on an uneven surface can cause your neck to hurt in the morning. So can simply sitting in a chair too long, looking down and reading a book. These types of non-traumatic activities are often the source of one’s neck pain.
Poor Muscle Memory
When your neck muscles get used improperly, or, forced out of position too long such as in the examples above, they will tighten to prevent any further movement and subsequent injury to the neck.
This is a natural defense mechanism your body goes through to protect itself, but unfortunately, non-traumatic activities like these can lead to something call poor muscle memory if performed frequently enough.
Poor muscle memory is when your muscles retain an improper level of tension and can’t let go. This is likely the original source of your pain but it doesn’t always end there.
If not corrected, this abnormal muscle tension soon affects the ligaments in your neck causing them to weaken and stretch. Once the ligaments are placed under tension, more pain develops.
A Vicious Cycle
If your problem still isn’t taken care of, then it’s only a matter of time before the vertebrae these ligaments are attached to become misaligned. This leads to an even greater loss of neck motion, a greater strain on the neck muscles and you guessed it, and even greater amount of neck pain. It’s a vicious cycle.
That acute, sudden onset of pain you had a few weeks ago that you thought would go away after a few pain pills has now become a chronic problem requiring professional help to resolve.
Spinal Adjustments
As mentioned earlier, chiropractors have had great success in helping people recover from neck pain and its associated symptoms.
They are experts in restoring proper joint motion through something called spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation is a painless procedure that is often done with the hands.
To do this, your chiropractor first locates the misaligned vertebrae in your neck with their hands and finger tips. Once they have done this, they will wait for the patient to relax. Once they sense the muscles calm down even just a little, they will then deliver a quick, short thrust, into the bone.
The vertebrae can then go back into its proper position and within seconds, the strain placed on the muscles and ligaments begins to subside and patients typically feel better very quickly. However, due to the poor muscle memory that has set in, it is very common for the repositioned bone to be pulled back out of place again.
Treatment Plan
This is the reason your chiropractor will likely set up a treatment plan for you to help eliminate your neck pain. Chiropractic treatments vary from person to person but having your neck adjusted three times a week for a few weeks is very common. This helps restore the muscles and vertebrae back into their proper position thereby reducing pain which is what everyone wants.
Chiropractic treatment for neck pain can also include some light massage, trigger point therapy and heat treatments to the muscles. This may even be done before your neck adjustments to make them easier on the patient.
Your doctor of chiropractic may also recommend some home exercises and postural advice. All combined, your chiropractor will have a great treatment plan mapped out for you so you can recover from you neck pain as soon as possible.
Plenty of Experience
Our chiropractors have been treating neck pain for many years and our patients thoroughly enjoy having their necks adjusted by them…they also enjoy the other forms of treatment as well.
If you are suffering from neck pain and are in need of chiropractic treatment, call our office today to schedule an appointment.