Nearly everyone has suffered or will suffer from neck pain at some point in their lifetime. For many, the pain is temporary and relatively easy to treat, others will suffer chronic neck pain that is extremely difficult to live with. There are a variety of ways to treat neck pain, some involving medication and others that deal more with regulation of body mechanics. Chiropractic care is a proven, noninvasive technique that helps manage neck pain, whether it is temporary or chronic.
Causes
Chiropractors associated with the American Chiropractic Associated have identified a variety of causes for neck pain. Injury or accidents are some of the leading causes of sudden onset of neck pain. Nearly everyone who is involved in a car accident, especially if they are rear ended or broadsided will experience neck pain following their accident. This is due to a condition called whiplash, where the head snaps back and forth multiple times due to the impact of being hit. This affects the muscles, joints and tissues, and can even cause fracturing of the vertebrae.
Aging can also cause neck pain, as degenerative disease becomes more of a risk. This causes degeneration, or thinning of the disc space between the vertebrae. This thinning causes the vertebrae to be less protected, and can cause friction and repetitive soreness.
Daily life can also be a major contributor to neck pain. Poor posture, stress and obesity can cause the neck to compensate, causing undue stress on the cervical region. Heavy lifting, repetitive lifting or excessive stress can cause tension in the muscles of the neck and poor musculature can lead to misalignment.
Chiropractors
Chiropractors are doctors fully capable of handling neck pain caused by the aforementioned reasons. A chiropractor is a doctor who has received postgraduate training in an accredited program geared toward the natural healthcare of chiropractic. They treat a wide variety of symptoms, but their main focus is on spinal manipulation. Different states have different scopes of practice, but all chiropractors are trained to treat neck pain among a variety of other symptoms. A chiropractor's approach to treating can be described as gentle, hands-on, interactive and noninvasive. They do not prescribe medication, but have access to natural supplements or topical creams that can aid with the healing of sore muscles and joints surrounding the vertebrae.
Treatments
Your treatment with your chiropractor will vary depending upon your condition, comfort level and the style in which your chiropractor treats conditions. Your chiropractor will ask you questions about your neck pain, history and lifestyle so that he can come up with a treatment plan that will work best for you. If your neck pain is caused from sustaining and injury or a fall, your chiropractor may wish to send you for X-rays to make sure that there are no fractures before he begins treating you.
When you are ready to begin treatment with your chiropractor, she will loosen up the muscles around your neck with therapeutic massage, electrical stimulation or mechanical massage. This is designed to allow a better range of motion in your neck so that it is easier and more comfortable when she does the adjustment. When she feels you are ready, she will adjust your neck in the way in which she feels will be most helpful to your condition. This is often a quick thrust to realign the spine, and this method is typically painless.
Your doctor will confer with you to determine the best course of action for future treatments. Many patients feel better within the first visit, but it is important to continue with treatment if your chiropractor suggests it. This can prevent you from neck pain in the future, as often it takes several treatments for the neck to properly align itself and to retrain muscles to keep the vertebrae in place, especially if your neck pain is caused from poor posture.
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