Should You See a Chiropractor For Neck Pain?

April 15, 2021

Most people will suffer from neck pain at some point during the course of their lives. The pain may appear suddenly, disappear fairly quickly and not require any treatment, or the pain can be persistent, debilitating and sometimes very painful. You may also suffer from repeated episodes. There are also other symptoms associated with neck pain including headaches, dizziness or pain travelling into your arm. Neck pain can build up gradually due to an uncomfortable working positions or poor posture.

If you have experienced a traumatic incident such as a vehicle collision or sporting injury, you may experience neck pain. There are many different types of pain that can occur in the neck that arise from the various structures. The type of pain you are experiencing must be identified to ensure you receive the correct treatment. Most people with neck pain have what is referred to as mechanical or simple pain. This means there is no link to a serious underlying condition and you do not have compressed or trapped nerves.

It is not always possible to determine which tissues are impacted by simple neck pain. Your pain can include ligaments, joints and muscles. Sprains or strains in your neck\’s soft tissue can result from tension in your shoulders or neck, poor posture, awkward sitting positions or poor sleeping habits. As your body ages, neck pain can result from simple wear and tear. You have intervertebral discs between your neck bones to absorb shock.

These pads can become narrower as you age causing pain and stiffness which can affect your movement. If you have experienced trauma, a minor fall or a sports injury, the result can be neck pain. Traffic accidents can result in a whiplash disorder due to an injury to your neck\’s soft tissues. Although not as common, the nerves within your neck can become irritated, compressed or trapped. There are a lot of reasons for this including wear and tear or damaged discs resulting in pain in your arm, shoulder and/or hand.

You may also feel weakness, numbness, tingling and pins and needles in a part of or your entire hand or arm. Neck pain is often uncomfortable because the structures and tissues of your neck are susceptible to pain. You can feel pain in both or only one side of your neck, your shoulder and the base of your skull. Your pain can be dull or sharp and spread to your hand, arm or even your fingers. If your pain does not disappear in a few days or becomes worse, you should consult with a chiropractor.

The way you are sitting or standing while at work or the stress of your lifestyle can result in neck pain. When you are stressed or worried, you may feel tension in your shoulders and neck which can delay recovering from existing pain. Regardless of the reason for your pain, a serious underlying cause is rare. Your best option is to consult with a qualified professional like a chiropractor. They have the experience necessary to diagnose spine and neck conditions and treat your pain.

When is a Chiropractor Necessary?

A chiropractor offers you advantages to significantly improve both your physical and emotional well-being, as being in pain can affect our stress levels and mental health. You do not need to wait until something is wrong or your pain symptoms have become unbearable to seek the help of a chiropractor. They may be able to prevent conditions from arising. If you have pain in your neck or back, you will most likely benefit from seeing a chiropractor. There are also other signs you should be aware of that let you know it is time to make an appointment including:

Headaches:

There a range of factors that can cause a headache including dysfunctional joints in your neck or back, malnutrition, dehydration and lack of sleep. By relieving pressure on your joints and relaxing tight muscles, your chiropractor can often help relieve your headaches. The recommendation of your chiropractor may be a change in your diet or lifestyle to help improve your general health.

Chronic Back Pain:

If you have chronic back pain, it is a clear sign you need to see your chiropractor. There are a lot of different contributors to back pain including the type of work you perform, the amount of time you are on your feet every day and your posture. A chiropractor can offer pain relief without the need for pain killers or surgical intervention.

Involvement in a Recent Accident:

If you were recently involved in an accident including a motorcycle or car collision, you may have received serious injuries. A chiropractor with experience can help heal your injuries. There are many chiropractors specialising in injuries resulting from vehicle accidents. They can correctly diagnose and effectively treat different types of injuries. If you have been in an accident and are in pain, you should see a chiropractor and not leave it too long to do so.

Muscle and Joint Pain:

If you have pain in your joints and muscles, frequently reaching for pain killers is not a good idea. Your pain will most likely be the result of a musculoskeletal problem. Your chiropractor has received specialised training to ensure your body functions as well as possible by relieving muscle and joint pain with spinal manipulations and other techniques. Your spinal adjustments improve your nerve conductivity and blood flow to the muscles and joints responsible for your pain.

Limited Range of Motion:

If your arms and legs do not have the flexibility you enjoyed in the past or if you are unable to turn your neck in one direction as far as the other, this is a sign you should make an appointment with your chiropractor. Your range of motion can be increased and your pain relieved by restoring lost movement your joints with a chiropractic adjustment. Your body cannot function optimally unless your joints and muscles can move freely.

Sitting or Standing for Long Time Periods:

If you are required to sit or stand for a long time due to your job, you may be suffering from neck pain. This includes poor posture and spending a lot of time leaning over a keyboard. When your posture is poor, unwanted pressure is placed on your shoulders, neck and upper back. This can cause increased pressure on your bones and discs and result in issues such as a herniated or slipped disc. A chiropractor will help restore normal function of your spine to help prevent any future issues.

Living an Active Lifestyle:

If your lifestyle is active and you spend time playing sports or working out, there is additional pressure and strain placed on your joints and muscles. This can sometimes result in joint restriction or tight muscles. You can help ensure your body is functioning at an optimal level with regular chiropractic visits. This will allow you to continue living the lifestyle you enjoy and perform at your best during sporting activity.

Sharp, Shooting Pains:

If there are sharp, shooting pains in your legs or weakness and tingling, there is a chance you are suffering from either a slipped disc or a pinched nerve in your low back. A chiropractor has the training necessary to determine what is causing pain in your leg. A course of chiropractic treatment and spinal adjustments can then be performed to alleviate the pressure on your nerve responsible for your pain.

Living a Health-Conscious Life:

You may be interested in focusing more on your health or learning the best way to care for your body. There is no better source of information than your chiropractor. Your chiropractor can offer you specific techniques for stress relief, guidance on proper nutrition and exercise routines. When all of this is combined with spinal adjustments, you have an opportunity to improve both your physical and emotional well-being.

Seeing a Chiropractor to Treat Your Neck Pain

When you have severe neck pain and visit your chiropractor, the first step is a thorough examination. This is when the source of your pain is identified. Your chiropractor will ask a few questions regarding your symptoms to help them provide you with the appropriate treatment. The most common questions include when you first felt the pain in your neck and if you used any home remedies for your pain. To determine the intensity of your pain, your chiropractor may recommend a neurological or physical examination.

When you have a physical chiropractic exam, the physical condition of your neck, your neck\’s range of movement and your body posture will be observed. Your chiropractor will then feel your spine, alignment, curvature and muscle spasms. A neurological examination may be conducted to help your chiropractor understand the strength in your neck muscle, your nerve reflexes and the area affected. These types of examinations are important to ensure the development of a customised treatment program.

Your treatment will most likely be a combination of different types of therapy to ensure all of your needs are met. Your neck treatment can include spine manipulation, massages, neck adjustments and rehabilitative exercises.

What is a Chiropractic Neck Adjustment?

The most effective and accurate treatment you can receive is a chiropractic neck adjustment. Your treatment is applied to your neck joints. Your chiropractor places pressure at your trigger points using specialised equipment or their hands. The main purpose of this therapy is an improvement in your spine mobility and re-establishing necessary motion in your stiff muscles. Nearly 80 percent of all individuals receiving chiropractic treatment have a decrease in stiffness, soreness and pain.

Your chiropractor may also use therapeutic exercises. This will help with your general range of motion throughout your neck and prevent your pain from progressing any further. Another technique is called cervical manual traction. During your treatment, you will either be asked to sit up straight or lay down face up to enable your chiropractor to stretch your neck gently.

Your cervical spine is then stretched using different angles including backward and forward motion. This decreases the tightness present in your neck muscles. In most cases, neck mobilisation is also used to provide you with faster results.

The Bottom Line

Visiting a chiropractor offers you a non-invasive and non-surgical option to decrease your neck pain. This can also help avoid taking any medication that can cause side effects. Your neck pain is treated with a variety of natural therapies instead. Once you have received treatment, the recommendation is to maintain good posture, take short breaks while at work, exercise on a regular basis and sleep properly. This will help ensure your neck pain does not return.