Neck pain is one of the most common pain complaints with at least 70% of the global population suffering from neck pain at some point in life.1 However, when you yourself are living with neck pain, it becomes an infuriating symptom that negatively affects every aspect of your life.
You wake up and your neck is already stiff and sore. You turn to look over your shoulder and stabbing pain stops you in your tracks. You bend down to pick something up and suddenly your head suddenly feels like it weighs 100 pounds, and you can’t lift yourself back up.
These are all common issues associated with neck pain and if left untreated, up to 30% of sufferers will develop chronic neck pain over time.2 Thankfully, there are natural treatments for neck pain provided by the experienced doctors here at Spine Stop Chiropractic.
What is Neck Pain?
Your neck is the gateway that connects your central nervous system to the rest of your body and is home to a multitude of components that provide support for the weight of your head and stability during movement.
Vertebra, muscles, arteries, and glands make up the structure of the neck along with numerous major nerve bundles, such as those corresponding to your eyes, ears, thyroid, and general mental faculties.
When neck pain strikes, it can negatively affect everything from your mobility to your cognitive function which can lead to a lower quality of life. In fact, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study3, it is the fourth leading cause of disability around the globe making it essential to get to the root cause of the problem so you can get back to living.
The neck is made up of 4 compartments:
- Vertebral compartment - cervical vertebrae and postural muscles
- Visceral compartment - thyroid, parathyroid, and thymus glands, the larynx (voice box), pharynx and trachea (windpipe)
- Two vascular compartments - carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and the vagus nerve, located on each side of the neck.
With so many systems working together within the neck, neck pain can also be felt in other areas of the body such as the head, shoulders, arms, and/or back. It can appear suddenly such as from an injury or fall, or it can develop slowly over time such as with arthritis.
No matter the cause, our doctors here at Spine Stop Chiropractic can help you regain mobility and function while eliminating pain and reducing the chance for reoccurrence.
What Causes Neck Pain?
Neck pain is a common problem experienced by people of all age groups with the most common cause for neck pain being muscle strain along with numerous injuries and medical issues including:
- Poor posture - Positions such as hunching over your computer desk or smart phone can lead to stress being placed on the neck as it strains to support the weight of your head leaning forward
- Sleeping in an awkward position - Sleeping with a pillow that does not provide proper support such as sleeping on your side with your head lower than your spine, often leads to a stiff and sore neck
- Worn joints - The discs and joints in the cervical spine (neck) can degenerate over time causing vertebrae to rub against one another, pinched nerves, or blocked pathways leading to a stiff neck, neck pain and other symptoms. It can also lead to Cervical Spondylosis or Arthritis of the neck
- Injuries - Jarring, jolting, and sudden movements such as being involved in rear-end auto collisions, can result in the straining of soft tissues, vertebra fractures, and blood vessel injury
- Herniated disc - When a spinal disc (the cushion between vertebrae) becomes torn and the soft jelly like substance bulges out, it results in a herniated disc that can lead to pinched nerves and severe pain
Other causes involved in neck pain could include medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), infection of the spine (osteomyelitis, discitis, abscess), and cancer that involves the spine. With so many causes, it is essential to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your neck pain as soon as possible to avoid long term injury and/or damage.
What are the symptoms of Neck Pain?
When suffering from neck pain, you may have difficulty moving it, such as turning to one side or looking up and down. Many people describe this as having a stiff neck and it is often accompanied by a headache, shoulder pain and/or arm pain, and upper back pain.
In addition to neck pain, you may also experience:
- Numbness or weakness in the arm or forearm
- Tingling in the fingers or hand
- Difficulty with balance and walking
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fever
- Difficulty Sleeping and/or Tiredness
- Blurred Vision
Although neck pain often resolves itself within a few days, leaving the underlying issue unresolved can lead to constant reoccurrences and/or chronic neck pain. If you are experiencing neck pain, it is essential to see a doctor to help avoid reoccurrence and find the root source of the problem.
How can chiropractic care help me?
At Spine Stop Chiropractic, our doctors are highly trained and have a wealth of experience in naturally treating a wide range of skeletal and non-skeletal neck issues associated with neck pain. Using a whole-body approach to diagnosis and care, our chiropractors get to the root cause of the problem which reduces the recurrence of neck pain, increases joint mobility, and improves your nervous system function and spinal health.
Studies show that chiropractic care improves outcomes for the treatment of acute and chronic neck pain4 through safe, non-invasive, non-addictive natural therapies.
Chiropractic Benefits for Neck Pain Include:
- Reduced pain and discomfort
- Decreased inflammation
- Improved range of motion
- Improved nervous system function
- Improved flexibility
- Increased activity and lifestyle
If you or a loved one are suffering with neck pain, book an appointment today to see how our doctors can help restore your quality of life.
We understand that not everyone is familiar with chiropractic care, so all new patients receive a consultation, examination and if necessary, an x-ray. Then our doctors will review your condition and walk you through an easy-to-follow treatment plan that’s unique to you.
There’s no pressure when you visit our office. Our friendly staff want to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
- Fejer R, Kyvik KO, Hartvigsen J. The prevalence of neck pain in the world population: a systematic critical review of the literature. Eur Spine J. 2006 Jun;15(6):834-48. doi: 10.1007/s00586-004-0864-4. Epub 2005 Jul 6. PMID: 15999284; PMCID: PMC3489448.
- Childs, J.D., Cleland, J.A., Elliott, J.M., Teyhen, D.S., Wainner, R.S., Whitman, J.M., Sopky, B.J., Godges, J.J., Flynn, T.W., Delitto, A. and Dyriw, G.M., 2008. Neck pain: clinical practice guidelines linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health from the Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 38(9), pp.A1-A34.
- Hurwitz EL, Randhawa K, Yu H, Côté P, Haldeman S. The Global Spine Care Initiative: a summary of the global burden of low back and neck pain studies. Eur Spine J. 2018 Sep;27(Suppl 6):796-801. doi: 10.1007/s00586-017-5432-9. Epub 2018 Feb 26. PMID: 29480409.
- Bryans R, Decina P, Descarreaux M, Duranleau M, Marcoux H, Potter B, Ruegg RP, Shaw L, Watkin R, White E. Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2014 Jan;37(1):42-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2013.08.010. Epub 2013 Nov 19. PMID: 24262386.
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