Most Americans will suffer from at least one bout of Neck Pain within their lifetime.  Most incidences of neck pain are related to stress, headaches, or trauma.  The neck is a very delicate structure composed of seven tiny cervical vertebra, muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves.  They all work in harmony to create range of motion of the cervical spine such as: flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion.  The atlas is the first cervical vertebra and allows for the most flexion and extension to occur.  The axis is the second vertebra and contains a unique feature to the cervical vertebra known as the dens.  The dens extends upward into the atlas and allows for rotation, the most in the cervical spine. 

Headache

Headaches are a very common source of neck pain and they typically go hand in hand.  There are many types of headaches such as: tension, migraine, sinus, cluster, metabolic, and hormonal.  Their treatment depends on which type the patient has and can range from Chiropractic care, diet changes, pharmaceutical medications, rest, ice, heat, or lying in a quiet room.

Neck Trauma

Neck trauma is one of the most common reasons for neck pain.  This may be due to muscle strain/sprain, whiplash, or a severe blow to the neck from any direction.  Whiplash or WAD (Whiplash Associated Disorder) occurs when the neck is put into forceful flexion then extension without the person’s control.  This causes compression and lengthening of the associated structures causing tearing of the ligaments, muscles, and tendons.  Although, this may not cause severe pain at the time of the accident, patients usually experience extreme pain following the accident or the hospital stay.  A hard-collar should always be worn prior to the emergency room visit to reduce the risk of paralysis and permanent injury to the cervical spine. 

Chiropractic Treatment

Once the patient is released from the hospital they may seek the treatment of a Chiropractor to reduce inflammation, pain, and restore range of motion.  They will employ the use of the PRICE regimen which stands for protect, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.  They may also incorporate the use of physiotherapy modalities to further start the healing process such as: electrical muscle stimulation, cold laser, and ultrasound.  In addition, other modalities such as massage therapy and acupuncture may be helpful to facilitate healing.  Chiropractors will use static and kinetic palpation to check for areas of subluxation within the cervical spine.  Once located, the Chiropractor will perform specific adjustments to the area using a HVLA (high velocity low amplitude) thrust. 

Effectiveness of Massage Therapy 

In 2008, a study was done inColorado at Boulder College of Massage Therapy.  Researchers selected individuals who suffered from tension headaches 2-3 times per week for a minimum of six months.  They were given treatment for 4 weeks and saw significant improvement compared to the group of individuals who received no treatment during that time frame.  During treatment, clients experienced the following things: massage strokes over the base of skull and neck; myofascial release strokes on shoulder and neck muscles; trigger point therapy; and stretching techniques.  During the first week, clients said they experienced headaches half as much as they were before treatment.  At the end of four weeks, headaches had declined significantly.  Also, clients said that when they did get headaches, the severity of pain had decreased after treatment.  When clients came to treatment with a headache, they said the pain would go away about 30 minutes after the session was over.  The conclusion of the study states that pain can be alleviated through massage therapy when treatment is geared toward cranial and cervical muscles. 

Other Massage Treatment 

Massage oils have also been known to relieve headache pain.  Oil is blended together specifically to sooth migraine and headache pain.  The pain relief oil is massaged into the temples, back of the neck, and base of the skull.  If you don’t want to apply this on your skin the other option is too add oil to the bath.  Oils can be purchased in massage therapy stores and are quick and easy to apply to the body.  Another massage therapy method is called trigger point therapy.  The head, neck and shoulder areas are the muscles that send pain to the head.  During a trigger point therapy session, pressure is applied to the muscles in the neck, upper back and shoulders.  When pressure is applied to these major muscles, it helps release tension which reduces the severity of the headache. 

General information

Some individuals rely on medication to relieve pain, but it’s not always helpful.  It can be addictive and lead to other negative behaviors if taken too much.  It’s important to get the right amount of nutrients, sleep and exercise every week to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Your overall health status plays an important role in reducing headaches.  People who are more stressed are likely to get headaches more frequently.  It’s important to review your lifestyle habits and decide if something needs to be changed around in order to improve your current condition.

Cervical radiculopathy is a condition in which a nerve in the neck becomes irritated as it is exiting the spinal canal. Nerves in the neck travel along a course to innervate the arms as well as provide electrical signals to the specific muscles of the shoulders, arms and hands. During a car accident, if a disc becomes herniated due to the force of the accident, cervical radiculopathy can develop from that injury. Symptoms include pain, numbness, weakness and tingling into the shoulders, arms and hands. Neck pain and headaches around the back of the head are common. Reflexes may also be impaired due to cervical radiculopathy. A car accident injury such as a disc herniation that can lead to cervical radiculopathy requires medical intervention.

Discs and Nerves

Treatment for neck pain will not begin until a thorough medical history and physical examination is taken. The physical exam will most likely include a test of the spinal nerves as well. For disc problems, an MRI is the diagnostic imaging tool that is most helpful in showing a physician where the specific problem is located along the spinal column. This imaging can show soft tissue areas as well as discs and nerves. Once the problem area has been located, treatment usually begins with passive care such as electrical stimulation, ultrasound, ice therapy (if in the acute stage) and heat therapy (if 48-72 hours after injury), light massage therapy and in some cases mild chiropractic mobilization of the cervical joints. Long-term medical advice may include strengthening exercises of the neck muscles to help protect the cervical spine in the future.

References Cited in this Article

www.umm.edu

www.nih.gov

It’s been a long day, you fall into bed, pull the covers up to your chin and drift off to sleep. You sleep soundly and uninterrupted for 8 long hours and wake up to the birds chirping, the coffee brewing and a neck ache that can bring tears to your eyes. A stiff neck is a bummer of a way to start your day and unfortunately, it can happen to anyone, at any age for almost always the same reason: poor neck support while sleeping. There are other causes of neck pain that are more serious and complex in nature and would require immediate medical intervention, but this article deals with the nature of a neck ache related to improper neck and back support while lying in bed. 

Size Does Matter 

Poor support while in bed can lead to postural neck pain. The pain you would feel in your neck and back is due to prolonged posture in an improper position. This improper posture can create muscle spasm and pain that you would feel upon waking. Conservative care could include chiropractic manipulation, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and heat/ice therapy. Home treatment would be recommended and would include purchasing a cervical support pillow, performing neck exercises upon waking, and possibly updating your mattress if it offers very little back support. In regard to an appropriate pillow, size does matter and it is important to find a pillow that is the correct size and shape for your body. Getting plenty of rest on a regular basis is also helpful in preventing muscle spasm in the back and neck.

References Cited in this Article

www.backandbodycare.com

www.painclinic.org

Nearly 80 percent of people in the United States will encounter neck pain at least once during their lifetime.  Some cases are severe because of a sustained injury and may take months to heal, while other cases are small and the pain will decrease on its own.  It’s common to see some people sustain neck pain for a long period of time if they have been rear-ended in a car accident.  Whiplash occurs when a sudden force is applied to the body, jolting the neck in the opposite direction.  Irritated neck muscles can also be caused by sitting at a desk for long periods of time.  People who have poor posture tend to encounter neck and back pain more than others. 

Treatment

If neck pain is severe, the individual should consult a chiropractic doctor.  If it is minor pain, he or she could try a therapeutic massage.  Chiropractic doctors use a technique called spinal manipulation for treatment.  Spinal manipulation, also known as chiropractic adjustment, involves the chiropractor moving the joint into the opposite direction.  This technique helps restore mobility within the spine and reduces pain or tenderness in the muscles.  A massage therapist can use natural techniques to eliminate pain and relieve tension in strained muscles.  Massages increase circulation and help relieve stress resulting is the decrease of pain.   

Bone Degeneration

The cervical spine is prone to degeneration problems because of its large range of motion and complex anatomy.  Symptoms of a bone degeneration include pain in the shoulder blades, neck, and arms.  The process of degenerative bone loss usually begins in the joints located in the cervical spine and may causes changes in surrounding joints.     

Diagnosing the Problem

The chiropractor will ask many questions prior to treatment to gain a better understanding of the patient’s medical history.  The physician may use x-rays to identify bony spurs, arthritis, or narrowing of space in the intervertebral disc.  Once the condition has been diagnosed, there are two different types of treatment, non-surgical and surgical treatment.  Surgical treatments are used if non-surgical treatments haven’t worked in the past.  If the patient chooses surgery, the chiropractic will remove bone spurs and possibly fuse two vertebras together.  Non-surgical treatment provides positive results in approximately 75% of clients.  Several approaches include immobilization, physical therapy or chiropractic care, and medications.  Immobilization provides patients with collar or braces that reduce range of motion.  Chiropractic care is used to decrease muscle spasms by applying heat, electrical stimulation and exercises.  Medications such as painkillers or anti-inflammatory pills provide good long-term results in reducing pain. 

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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.     

Causes

Neck discomfort 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.  In some cases it is easier to make a diagnosis.  The problem could be a slipped disc, osteoporosis, whip lash, or curvature of the spine.  Pain in the neck can range from mild to serve burning sensations.  If pain lasts more than 3 months, it is considered chronic and the individual should seek chiropractic treatment.  The chiropractor will make the diagnoses after he/she tests the movements of the neck as well as examining the spine and movements of the joints.  

Decrease Neck Discomfort

It is important to get out of bed and stay active as bed rest will not cure a stiff neck.  People with stronger neck muscles tend to have fewer problems, so it is a good idea to strengthen neck muscles when possible.  You want to keep the muscles as active as possible to relieve tension and soreness.  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.  A chiropractor can alleviate neck and back pain by performing spinal adjustments.  Chiropractic theories say that a misalignment of the spine can cause pain or tenderness throughout a person’s back. Chiropractors relieve pain in the patient’s neck by manipulating bones and realigning the spine which allows 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.

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%.