Neck Pain
Your neck is the most vulnerable part of your spine. Not only does
it support your 10-to-12 pound head, maintain a gentle forward curve,
and permit head rotation, but it must also allow the free flow of
nerve impulses to the head, face, hands and the rest of your body.
Besides discomfort and annoyance, chronic neck pain is a sign that
something is wrong.
Many everyday things can cause neck pain, such as watching TV,
using your computer, reading a book or falling asleep in a chair
or on an airplane. The temporary pain that results can resolve on
its own, especially when the offending activity is discontinued.
When it doesn't, a more serious underlying problem may be indicated.
A thorough examination can determine if you're a good candidate
for chiropractic care. These tests may involve your ability to turn
and bend. Muscle tone of the supporting muscles in the neck may
be tested. Diagnostic imaging to reveal the underlying structure
of the spine may be requested. These and other tests are designed
to identify the cause and location of your neck pain.
The most common cause of neck pain is functional distortions in
the spine resulting from vertebral subluxations. These subluxations
are seen in cases of reverse cervical curve, whiplash and joint
instability. The body responds by tightening muscles in the neck,
"splinting" the joint to protect it from further insult.
Chiropractic care can help.
Most of the pain-sensing nerves in the neck are located in the
pairs of facet joints on the backside of each vertebra. These smooth,
interlocking surfaces allow you to rotate your head and bend your
head up and down. If these joints become locked or fixated, neck
pain can result. Chiropractic care can help restore proper joint
motion.
A more difficult problem to correct is the degenerative changes
that result from neglect. Years of uncorrected spinal problems can
cause bone spurs, disc thinning and other forms of spinal decay.
These types of problems respond more slowly, and some type of ongoing
supportive chiropractic care may be necessary.
Our response to stress is another common cause of neck pain. Deadlines.
Rush-hour traffic. Overcommitments. Work pressures. Family obligations...
Ever meet someone who was a "pain in the neck"? Each
of us is susceptible to our body's unconscious response to people
and circumstances. These perceptions can show up as episodes of
neck pain.
If the weakest link in our bodies is our neck, stress shows up
there. While chiropractic care cannot reduce the stress of your
busy life, it can help improve your ability to handle and tolerate
it. Without drugs or surgery!
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