Common Causes of Neck Pain

• Injury is one of the most common causes of neck pain.  A sudden forced movement of the head and neck can impact the spinal joints and/or musculature causing sudden acute neck pain.
• Posture – Texting and using computer laptops contribute to neck pain.  Sustained postural positioning of the head forward from the body causes abnormal stress on the spinal joints resulting in pain.
• Sleeping wrong – Waking up with neck pain can be due to certain postural positions while asleep.  Sleeping on your stomach with your head turned to either side is a sure way to invoke neck pain. This will usually result in a stiff neck when you wake in the morning.
• Age related neck pain – Arthritis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis are common finding in the elderly and will produce an aching type pain.
• Sports such as martial arts, boxing, swimming, weight lifting and running where muscles are being overused can lead to neck pain.

How long should neck pain last?

• Typically neck pain should resolve within 3-5 days.
• If neck pain persists longer than 3-5 days or it’s getting worse, it is time to get it checked.
• Anytime you’ve sustained trauma or injury to the neck you should get it checked.

What should I do if my neck pain is not going away?

Persistent neck pain can be annoying and can distract you from your daily activities.  Pain is a signal that something is wrong, and is your body’s way of telling you.  When you are suffering from persistent neck pain, the best thing that you can do is to get it checked.  I suggest you see a chiropractor as they are experts in treating spinal related disorders.

On your first visit, your chiropractor will perform an exam to locate the source of your pain. Your chiropractor will also observe your posture and range of motion noting any movements that reproduces your pain. Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and check for muscle spasm.

How is neck pain treated?

• Heat or Ice can be applied to the neck to relax tightened muscles and decrease pain
• Stretching the muscles around the neck can be helpful
• Chiropractic Adjustment is the treatment most chiropractors will use to restore proper function to the neck
• Turmeric, Ginger and vitamin C are also beneficial for decreasing the inflammation around the spinal joints

We use the Impulse-IQ instrument to correct spinal related issues

Chiropractic Research relating to neck pain can be found here