Living With Neck Pain
If you are experiencing limited motion in your neck, either for side-to-side motion or front-to-back motion, or you can’t turn your neck without experiencing pain than you need neck pain relief. Hurting your neck can happen as simply as sleeping funny on it or turning it to quickly. More serious cases often occur as a result of car accidents or falls. It is very common for us to see limited range of motion in the neck or have patients come in experiencing neck pain, but relief is in site for you and your neck mobility can be improved.
How We Diagnose the Source of Neck Pain
Similar to our diagnoses for low back pain relief, we will begin with a thorough history and musculoskeletal exam of your body, also taking appropriate x-rays to find the root source of the problem.
Initial Treatment for Neck Pain Relief
If the cause of the problem is determined to be from an injury, we will ice the affected area. If the case is a direct cause of a spasm, heat and massage are applied to help calm the area. In many of the cases (over 95% of the time) we are able to make a spinal adjustment to the vertebra that is causing the problem. This is done on the first visit after we have iced or heated the affected area. Afterwards, we will provide you with your home care instructions including appropriate ice or heat applications. We recommend magnesium for the muscle and perhaps turmeric for pain management. Once the swelling has lessened or the spasm has subsided, we will provide you with exercises as soon as possible. If we feel the injury can benefit from it, we will give you the exercises as quickly as the first visit. This will always include stretching and proper support while sitting and lying down.
Long Term Care To Protect Your Neck
Your neck supports you, so you need to support your neck. We offer neck pain relief, but the long-term health of your neck is very important. Follow a few of these recommended best practices for keeping your neck healthy.
- Sleep with an appropriate pillow. Orthopedic pillows contour to support your neck and head, providing proper alignment.
- Sleep lying on your back. Your spine rests most comfortably while lying on your back. If you don’t find this comfortable, and prefer sleeping on your side or stomach, make sure the pillow is roughly four to six inches thick, preventing your neck from turning awkwardly and unnaturally while you sleep.
- Invest in a headset. Everyone seems to have a cell phone these days, but talking on a cell phone and using the old shoulder for support puts incredible strain on your neck and puts it out of allignment. This incorrect phone posture is easily prevented using a headset or other hands- free device.
- Avoid heavy bags and purses. Think you need to take your life with you when you leave the house? Throwing a bag on your shoulder forces your shoulders to be uneven and will throw your neck and spine out of alignment. Lighten the load and only take the essentials. If you need to carry a heavy bag, use a backpack to distribute the weight on both sides.