Neck pain
Neck pain is most often caused by strained muscles. A less common cause is whiplash, the abrupt jerking of the head that disrupts neck muscles and bones. Whiplash most often occurs during auto accidents and sports.
Neck pain is sometimes related to shoulder pain or back pain, when the nerves in one area are irritated and cause pain in another area.
The more typical causes of neck pain are:
- Poor posture. Hobbies, your job, or working at a computer, or reading are common reasons why people sit for extended periods with bent necks, which irritates bones and muscles to cause neck pain. Driving a car for a long period without a break can cause neck pain.
- Repetitive motion at work or while playing a sport can strain neck bones and muscles.
- Injury from whiplash, sports, and auto accidents is a cause of neck pain.
- Age results in worn neck joints and arthritis that causes neck pain.
- Spine disorders can irritate nerves where they exit the spine at the brain and cause neck pain.
Neck Pain Relief
If neck pain persists after a few days of self care, and you cannot touch your chin to your chest without feeling pain, then you should visit Atlanta chiropractic doctor Timothy Dembowski. Also see the chiropractor immediately following an injury or auto accident that causes neck pain, or if you experience shooting neck pain that spreads into your shoulder or back, which indicates nerve irritation.
Chiropractic Treatment For Neck Pain
Chiropractic treatment for neck pain can include the following:
- Spinal manipulation by your chiropractic doctor can realign the spinal bones to provide neck pain relief.
- Cold laser therapy uses a low power laser to treat areas experiencing lower back pain, stimulating cell growth and cell regeneration.
- Chiropractic adjusting with instruments where the chiropractor uses the Adjustor or Percussor to manipulate your spine and joints.
- Acupuncture with meridan therapy can relieve neck pain. Meridian therapy is acupuncture without the use of penetrating needles. Electronic stimulation, laser beam, or pressure massage triggers the release of naturally occurring painkilling molecules called peptides and keeps the body’s normal flow of energy unblocked.
- Spinal decompression with the DRX9000™ is a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure treating neck pain caused by disc herniations and degenerative disc disease.
Self Treatment For Neck Pain
- Hot and cold. An ice pack on your neck for a half hour, followed by a heat pad or hot shower, may provide neck pain relief.
- Lie down. Your neck will appreciate a break from having to hold up your head.
- Neck exercise. Ask your chiropractor to recommend neck exercises to strengthen and restore neck muscles. Avoid neck pain by doing neck exercises whenever you sit with your neck bent for extended periods while driving, reading, or working on a computer or your job or hobby.