Neck Pain
Laura, a 60’s something young lady, came into our office with severe neck and low back pain. She described her pain in her neck as constant, and rated it at a 7 on a scale of 1-10 for severity. Laura said she was suffering with the pain for over a year and was finding no relief from the over the counter medications she was taking or from her doctors. She stated that she sat a lot at work, was an avid bowler, and confessed she looked at her cell phone a lot throughout the day, which was causing what we term as “text neck.” Text neck is a rather new but becoming very common problem where one puts their neck in an unnatural position repeatedly, causing the spine to realign in an unnatural position. This causes pinched nerves and misalignments, which causes pain, irritation, and inflammation of the neck.
Laura’s neck pain was affecting her day to day activities which included driving and sleeping, walking, working, and recreational activities. She also mentioned she recently developed knee pain which she thinks may be from walking funny due to the neck and back pain she had.
We took x-rays of Laura on her first visit and after analysis from Dr. Chris, multiple misalignments in the spine in the neck and back area were found. Laura began a specific care plan tailored to her needs, which included chiropractic adjustments, postural rehabilitation, electrical stimulation, massage bed, and ice therapy. After six weeks of therapy, another set of x-rays were taken and improvement was shown. Laura also documented her neck was “mildly better” and that she didn’t wake up with pain anymore! She was also pleased her bowling had improved.
Laura has been a patient with us for about 7 months now and her last re-exam showed even greater improvement. Today she is rating her neck pain at a 2, which is a great improvement from the 7 when she started. She has boasted she has no more back pain and is feeling well. She stated in her testimonial her daughter had noticed that she was developing a hump in the bottom of her neck due to poor posture of her head, and it’s now straightened out and her posture looks so much better!
Neck pain is one of the most common problems a person can experience. It can be caused by misalignments in the spine, traumas, poor posture, strains, disc degeneration, or arthritis. Pinching of the nerves in the neck causes pain, irritation, and inflammation in the neck and all surrounding muscles and tissues. Overuse of a cell phone today is also a common reason for neck pain. Putting the neck in an unnatural position for many hours a day can cause permanent misalignment of the neck.
What are the Symptoms of Neck Pain?
Pain can range from dull or excruciating, which can be in one spot or radiate to other parts of the body such as the shoulders or arms. Muscle tightness and spasms, decreased ability to turn the head, headaches, shoulder pain, numbness and tingling, and loss of strength in the arms or hands are also symptoms.
What Kind of Problems Arise from Neck Pain?
Headaches, spasms, difficulty sleeping, trouble performing daily activities, turning your head, sitting, standing, bending, driving, working, and even relaxing. Constant neck pain can cause emotional problems as well.
How Does Chiropractic Help?
Chiropractic adjustments help relieve neck pain and stiffness by correcting misalignments in the spine, increasing joint mobility and mechanics, and reducing pressure on the nerves. This increases range of motion, releases pinched nerves, reduces inflammation, and decreases pain, stiffness, and soreness.
What Does Macomb Township Chiropractic Offer?
Dr. Chris McNeil performs many different options and treatments for neck pain. Each patient is given a unique treatment plan based on their x-rays, pain level, and individual expectations. Treatments include manual manipulation of the neck, as well as adjustments without cracking. These include electrical stimulation, postural rehabilitation therapy, disc/spinal decompression therapy for the neck (with the use of the computerized decompression table), massage tables, and heat and cold therapy.
