Anyone who has ever suffered from headaches due to muscle dysfunction in the neck will agree that it is a condition requiring intervention relatively soon from the onset of head pain. The headaches can interrupt daily activities and make sleep difficult to achieve. There are several causes of neck muscle dysfunction but almost all causes produce similar patterns of discomfort in the head. Neck treatment for headaches varies only slightly according to the duration and intensity of pain felt by the patient.

Suboccipital Muscles

Generally, when the cause of a headache is due to muscular problems in the neck, the muscular group causing the pain is located at the very back of the base of the head and is called the suboccipital muscles. Muscular dysfunction in this area can be attributed to poor posture, consistent stress in the area or overusing the muscles, both correctly and incorrectly. Due to individual factors causing the headache, pain can last for as little as hours or up to days. Typically, treatment for this issue includes neck strengthening exercises, massage therapy, chiropractic manipulation as well as hot/cold therapy. As there are other causes of headaches not related to the suboccipitals, it is always important to seek medical care for a headache that lasts for an extended period of time with no improvement.

References Cited in this Article

www.necksolutions.com

www.webmd.com

Neck Specialist

Many people experience neck pain at least once during their lifetime. Seeking help from a back or neck specialist may help to alleviate built up tension in the area.  The problem could be a result of an accident, for example, many people suffer from whiplash after being rear ended by another car.  It is likely that someone who sustained trauma from an accident will have to seek some type of medical care from a specialist.  Others suffer from neck pain because they sit at a desk for long hours or do repetitive work for a lengthy amount of time.  Neck pain is not always serious and may fade within a few days.  However, if pain occurs for more than 3 months, it is considered chronic and the individual should seek a neck specialist. 

Eliminate Neck Pain

Many people who suffer from neck pain want to remain in bed or a comfortable position lying down.  This method doesn’t always cure neck pain and can actually make it worse.  You want to keep the muscles as active as possible to relieve tension and soreness.  Lying down and limiting yourself to certain movement can cause more stress and pressure on the neck muscles, making it more painful.   People with stronger neck muscles tend to have fewer problems, so it is a good idea to strengthen neck muscles when possible.  Avoid activities that require turning your head quickly such as driving.  Neck pain is rarely caused by a serious illness and typically fades away in several days.

Spinal Adjustment

During a chiropractic visit for neck pain, the physician will conduct a health assessment.  He/she will ask about previous injuries and possibly take x-rays if necessary.  After the health assessment, the chiropractor will begin spinal adjustment (if appropriate for the condition).  Theories of chiropractic say that a misalignment of the spine can cause pain or tenderness throughout a person’s back. Chiropractors can relieve pain in the patient’s neck by manipulating bones and realigning the spine, allowing nerves to function properly.  Many people seek this type of chiropractic treatment to avoid complicated surgery.  After one session, the chiropractor will evaluate the patient’s pain level and decide if more treatment is necessary.  It may take several sessions to alleviate neck pain because the number of treatments depends on the patient’s condition and health of their spine.

Causes of Neck Pain

The cervical bones at the top of the spine have a wide range of motion, making the neck susceptible to injury.  Although the wide range of motion is often useful, it places high levels of stress on the neck causing pain and tenderness.  Pain can result from falling asleep on the couch in an awkward position or bad posture while sitting at the computer.  Neck pain can occur from accidents, chronic conditions, or aging.  For most, chiropractic treatment alleviates neck pain in several sessions and rarely causes additional problems.  Soreness may occur a day after treatment, but usually decreases after two days.     

On average, a Neck Pain Doctor is someone who has received an undergraduate education in the sciences and has graduated with an additional 4 years minimum of specialized education in the art of manipulation.  These doctors are called chiropractors.  Chiropractors focus on the body as a whole, not just the parts that make up the body.  The life force and the most crucial system of the human body is the nervous system.  The nervous system controls and coordinates every organ and system of the human body.  It’s sort of like a road map of millions of nerves throughout your body, all with a specific job to carry out.  Nerves control everything, including facial expressions, taste, sense of smell, hearing, vision, chewing, balance, swallowing, tongue movement, and much more.  When these nerves become irritated they don’t allow those organs or body systems to function at full optimal capacity.  A subluxation is when there is a mis-alignment with a vertebra or bone which in turn may put pressure on the surrounding nerves causing pain or local inflammation.

Tailored Treatments

First, a Neck Pain Doctor will evaluate the patient through static and kinetic palpation and take x-rays if needed to see whether or not they are a candidate for chiropractic care.  If he/she is, the next step is manipulating the spine and/or extremities.  This will increase global and static range of motion (restoring motion to the joint), decrease pain and inflammation, and improve organic, systemic complaints such as the GI, urinary, circulatory system, etc.  After a set number of treatments, the chiropractor will evaluate the patient and incorporate a new treatment plan or release the patient from active care if the condition has resolved.  The Chiropractor will hopefully discuss the importance of maintenance or wellness care to each individual patient to keep them functioning at 100%.

Massage Therapy for Neck Pain

Neck pain can be caused by various reasons including sitting at a desk for long hours, poor posture, or blunt force trauma.  Massage therapy can relieve neck pain temporarily.  Some types of massage that have shown to help neck pain include Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy.  Swedish massage focuses on releasing tension by applying pressure to the surface muscles.  This helps reduce emotional stress that may be adding to your neck pain.  Deep Tissue Massage is performed to release tension deeper in the muscles in the upper back and neck area.  This massage is more intense and focuses on removing knots or scar tissue that causes pain.  Trigger Point Therapy uses pressure to promote blood flow in the sore area.  Knots are a common reason for neck pain, and Trigger Point Therapy works to remove them. 

What You Can Do To Eliminate Neck Pain

It is important to get out of bed and stay active as bed rest will not cure a stiff neck.  Lying in bed will not cure a sore neck because the muscles need movement to relieve tension and soreness.  People with stronger neck muscles tend to have fewer problems, so it is a good idea to strengthen neck muscles when possible. If your physician gives you a neck brace, try not to wear it for more than two days because the muscles need to be active.  Avoid activities that require turning your head quickly such as driving.  Neck pain is rarely caused by a serious illness and typically fades away in several days.   If pain persists for a long period of time, consult a chiropractor to determine the cause.      

Back Pain Treatment

Chiropractic treatment is a method that aims to improve the flow of nerve transmission.  Doctors will use their hands and apply pressure to the patient’s back to relieve pain.  Back pain is caused by misaligned bones and joints.  Instead of performing surgery or prescribing medicine, chiropractors use non-invasive methods to get to the root of the problem.  The most commonly used method is called a spinal adjustment in which the doctor uses gentle force to realign the spine.  The goal of manipulation is to restore mobility and movement in the spine, resulting in decreased back pain.  Doctors may also use other treatments for a spinal adjustment including massage, exercise instructions, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and traction.  Research shows that chiropractic care is as safe and effective as medication or exercise.  Lower back pain takes time to heal as there is no magic cure, but chiropractic treatment is a way to temporarily relieve pain. 

Neck Pain Treatment

Neck pain can be the result of an accident, poor posture, stress, and prolonged use of a computer keyboard.  Many people will experience neck pain during their lifetime, and for many, it is hard to pinpoint the cause.  Chiropractors will evaluate their patient’s spine and look at their posture before diagnosing neck pain.  The physician can use a variety of techniques including spinal manipulation, flexion-distraction technique, or instrument assisted manipulation.  He or she may also use therapy techniques such as trigger point therapy or soft tissue massage to relieve tension and strain within the muscles. 

Have you been involved in a car accident injury that left you with residual pain and limited use of your body?  You’re not alone.  Many people get into what they like to call “fender-benders,” where the cars are traveling at low-speeds.  However, once they leave the scene the passengers begin experiencing pain, headaches, inflammation, loss of motor control and range of motion. 

Whiplash

Whiplash is a very common complaint in Chiropractic offices, as well as emergency rooms.  Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is due to extreme hyperflexion and hyperextension injury causing forceful tearing of the muscles and ligaments in the anterior and posterior cervical spine.  Common symptoms of whiplash include: severe headaches, restricted range of motion, extreme pain and inflammation, and even sometimes fractures called “tear-drop” fractures in the radiology community.  These fractures are extremely unstable and the patient must remain in a cervical collar with possible surgical intervention. 

Seek Proper evaluation

While not all auto accidents leave the driver(s) or passenger(s) debilitated, it is important to realize and seek out proper evaluation and treatment immediately following an accident to prevent further debilitation down the road. 

Seatbelts

Wearing seatbelts is still the best predictor of survival and decreases the severity of the patient’s injuries following an automobile accident.  Seatbelts restrain the individual from hitting the dashboard or even going through the windshield.  Commonly bruising will occur from the seatbelt, or even fractures called “chance fractures” will appear in the spine where the seatbelt restrained the individual.  This is still much better than the alternative of being paralyzed or killed.  If you or someone you know has been involved in an automobile accident, seek medical evaluation by a Chiropractor and follow an established treatment protocol. 

Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) is a serious condition that can affect an individual’s activities of daily living and their overall quality of life.  Most people associate whiplash with an automobile accident and that of course is the number one way to receive whiplash.  However, whiplash (WAD) can also be from other accidents including: falls from ladders, roofs, horses, bicycles, etc. 

The Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of WAD can be very vague immediately following the accident.  Some sufferers don’t even seek medical care because they are completely pain-free.  However, in the hours following the accident and the next day, victims complain of increased pain in the neck, head, shoulders, headaches, pins and needles in their neck that sometimes travel down their arm into their hands, and even light sensitivity. 

WAD

The muscles and ligaments of the neck get stretched with the acceleration and deceleration of an accident.  The tiny cervical spine bones can fracture, dislodging segments into free space.  This type of injury, called a tear-drop fracture is extremely unstable and must be treated with a hard cervical collar and possible surgery to correct.  In contrast, most whiplash cases are not severely unstable and can be treated through the use of Chiropractic care.  The Chiropractor will assess the extent of damage through palpation, range of motion evaluation, orthopedic testing, and x-rays if needed.  He/she will then establish a treatment protocol based on the severity of injury and whether it’s acute or chronic.  They will most likely apply some form of hydrotherapy and manipulate the cervical spine. 

The most common reason for neck pain is sprain and strain which are injuries to the muscles or ligaments of the spine.  It is believed that neck pain occurs as a result of everyday activities.  Things like posture, sleep habits, and even leisure activities can all affect the condition of the neck.  People who sit at the computer for long periods of time or slouch when sitting increase their chances of irritating neck muscles.  Injuries from an accident or overuse can also sustain neck pain that can lead to more issues such as pinched nerves, whiplash, or herniated discs. 

Massage Therapy for Neck Pain

Various massage techniques performed by a massage therapist will help decrease neck pain and assist in recovery.  Some types of massage that have shown to help neck pain include Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, and Trigger Point Therapy.  Swedish massage focuses on releasing tension by applying pressure to the surface muscles.  This helps reduce emotional stress that may be adding to your neck pain.  Deep Tissue Massage is performed to release tension deeper in the muscles in the upper back and neck area.  This massage is more intense and focuses on removing knots or scar tissue that causes pain.  Trigger Point Therapy uses pressure to promote blood flow in the sore area.  Knots are a common reason for neck pain, and Trigger Point Therapy works to remove them. 

Acupuncture

For a spinal cord injury, acupuncture treatment is said to improve the nervous system because it begins to rejuvenate itself and improve lost movement or feeling.  Acupuncture will improve bladder and bowel movements, reduce spasms, and maintain overall heath.  Along with those benefits, acupuncture is believed to reduce blockages that prevent recovery from happening and promote circulation along the spinal cord.  Acupuncture treatment rarely causes pain for anyone and some even describe themselves as more energized after a session.  To get the best results, the patient should be doing another form of therapy while receiving acupuncture treatment.  Also, a physical therapist can help with spinal cord injuries by showing the patient flexibility exercises, stabilization methods, coordination exercises, and fitness conditioning.    

Results of Treatment

Research shows that patients receiving acupuncture felt they could isolate muscles better and perform steadier movements while working out.  Even though many people benefit from acupuncture treatment, the effects of acupuncture vary from person to person.  Some patients may feel a big difference in their muscles and mental health, while others may not see a change in any of their conditions.  Any patient considering acupuncture should consult their doctor before investing time and money.