Neck Pain

Neck pain…who needs it?! Not you!
Most of us experience neck pain at some point in our lives. Many people work jobs that require them to crane their necks all day to look up or down at computer screens, and the result can be a severely sore neck. Neck pain can be especially debilitating and uncomfortable when it starts to affect your daily life and activities.

It’s common for neck pain to extend down into your shoulders as well, which causes more discomfort. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), approximately 50% of the population will experience neck pain in any given year. It can get worse if left untreated, and in severe cases, surgery may even be needed. Chiropractic care is a great tool to reduce and/or eliminate neck pain.

Sharp pains in your neck can prevent you from functioning properly in your day-to-day life, because your neck plays such a huge role in your integral movement. Whether your neck pain causes problems for you when you’re trying to sit up straight in your chair at work or tilting your head down to tie your shoes, physical Therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture or massage therapy can help get you back to a normal, pain-free function. Many people are able to find relief every day from their neck pain through the help of chiropractic.

Symptoms of Neck Pain - Neck pain typically runs from the base of the skull to the top of the shoulder blade, and finally settles in the back of the neck. Pain levels can vary in severity, from a persistent, dull ache to sharp and stabbing pains. Vitality Health Center treats all types of neck pain symptoms.

Neck pain can sometimes include additional symptoms, including but not limited to:

Headaches
Arm weakness
Inability to fully stand up or sit up straight
Numbness or tingling into the upper extremities
Stiffness and muscle tightness in the upper body
Discomfort after remaining in the same position for too long
Loss of sleep due to pain and discomfort

Causes of Neck Pain - Typically, an injury to bone structures or tissues in the neck is what causes neck pain; however, there are specific degenerative conditions that lead to neck pain as well. A few common problems that can result in neck pain include:
Degeneration of joints - Neck joints can erode with age, similar to any other joint in your body. This results in moderate to severe pain. Other pain conditions such as osteoarthritis can also reduce the amount of healthy cartilage between the vertebrae in the neck.
Illnesses - There are many illnesses and diseases that can result in feeling pain in your neck. Two common ones are meningitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Muscle strains - The muscles in your neck can become strained by overuse. Even something as mundane as sitting at your desk all day with your neck craned toward the computer screen can lead to a strain in your neck muscles.
Injuries from auto accidents. One of the most common injuries that result in neck pain is whiplash.
Whiplash is typically sustained by an automobile or high-impact sports collision. This is known as a “strain” injury, causing the head to whip rapidly back-and-forth, thus affecting the soft tissues in the back of the neck.
Compression of nerves - If you have a herniated disc in your neck, or narrowing of the foramen (space where the nerves exit the spine), the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord can become compressed. In some cases, nerve pain can cause a condition known as “radiculopathy”, where the pain will radiate from the neck all the way down to the hands and fingers.

Neck pain treatment may include manual, or “hands-on” therapy, which consists of special techniques designed to reduce the stiffness of your neck and improve its range of motion. There are also recommend targeted exercises that will strengthen, build, and improve the muscles and tissues in your neck. Therapy will focus on improving your posture to speed up recovery of your neck muscles, as well as avoiding re-injury in the future. Some treatment plans may include ice and heat therapy, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation, depending on your condition. A 2019 study Trusted Source found that cervical spine manipulation may help decrease neck pain in the short-term by modifying levels of neuropeptides in your blood. Neuropeptides are proteins made in your nervous system that function as neurotransmitters or hormones.

In a study funded by NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to test the effectiveness of different approaches for treating mechanical neck pain, 272 participants were divided into three groups that received either spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) from a doctor of chiropractic (DC), pain medication (over-the-counter pain relievers, narcotics and muscle relaxants) or exercise recommendations. After 12 weeks, about 57 percent of those who met with DCs and 48 percent who exercised reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain, compared to 33 percent of the people in the medication group. After one year, approximately 53 percent of the drug-free groups continued to report at least a 75 percent reduction in pain; compared to just 38 percent pain reduction among those who took medication. Bronfort et al. (2012), Annals of Internal Medicine

If you are dealing with neck pain, and you are looking to find long-lasting relief, talk with, Dr. John T. Toth, our dedicated chiropractor at Vitality Health Center by calling 651-773-9414.

Vitality Health Center serves patients in White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Gem Lake, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Shoreview, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Arden Hills, North Oaks, Pine Springs, Grant and surrounding areas.