Everyone experiences neck pain occasionally, and most often it’s a minor inconvenience that goes away in a day or two. But sometimes it can become debilitating, causing severe discomfort and a loss of mobility, making it hard to perform everyday tasks, affecting your job, and keeping you from enjoying life and doing the things you want to do.
Luckily, in most cases, people can find lasting relief by consulting a chiropractor for neck pain. Chiropractic treatments are a natural alternative to addictive pain medications and painful, risky surgery. They’re safe, non-invasive, and effective. Chiropractic medicine is a holistic discipline, promoting the health and wellbeing of the whole person as an essential part of treating pain and discomfort.
The Mill Creek Wellness Center is a family-oriented practice seeing patients of all ages, including infants and children. When you need the services of a chiropractor in Mill Creek, WA, call us first. We can help you get back to your normal, pain-free life.
Causes of Neck Pain
Your neck is an incredible piece of engineering. It consists of numerous muscles, nerves and ligaments supporting seven small vertebrae. It is remarkably strong and flexible yet also fragile. It’s capable of carrying the human head, which averages 12 pounds, and has an impressive range of motion. It’s in constant use most of the day. So it’s not a surprise that this part of your body hurts sometimes, but certain things can cause chronic and debilitating pain that calls for professional care.
- Injury: The most common reason people see a chiropractor for neck pain is that they’ve been injured in a vehicle accident, fall, sporting incident or some other mishap. Whiplash is often the result of a car crash because the head has been violently thrown side to side or back and forth, causing damage to the muscles and ligaments.
- Work habits: Some types of jobs invite neck pain. Those that involve hunching over a computer all day or require frequent repetitive movement of the head and neck are common examples.
- Bad posture: Poor posture and its characteristic bent-over stance puts additional stress on the neck, interfering with the structural support of the neck and spine. Tense neck muscles try to compensate for the added load, leading to fatigue, stiffness, and aches.
- Aging: The risk of degenerative disc disease increases with age, causing the loss of thickness and elasticity in the tissues between the vertebrae. This may allow the bones to rub together, and can eventually cause a herniated, or bulging, disc. The resulting pressure on nerves causes pain, numbness and tingling that can spread into the extremities.
- Lack of exercise: Sedentary muscles get fatigued and sore faster, making the neck more susceptible to harm.
- Osteoarthritis: This is a common condition, especially among older individuals, that affects the joints as well as the neck and spine. It causes inflammation and deterioration of cartilage and can result in the eventual formation of bone spurs.
- Spinal stenosis: Tiny passages in the vertebrae contain nerves, and this condition makes them get narrower. It pinches nerves and brings about sharp neck pains.
When To See A Chiropractor
Everyone experiences neck pain from time to time. However, pain that lasts for more than a few days or seriously affects your mobility and everyday life isn’t normal.
If you have neck pain that won’t go away, pain, numbness, or tingling that spreads to your extremities, or pain accompanied by dizzy spells and/or blurred vision, it’s time for you to seek professional care.
What Happens During Chiropractic Treatment?
When you see your chiropractor for neck pain treatment, the appointment begins with an examination and an in-depth review of your health history. The doctor will ask you to detail your symptoms and what you’ve been doing to try to reduce the discomfort.
He or she will also ask about your lifestyle, work habits, and injuries that might have strained or otherwise harmed your neck. X-rays may be taken to help with the diagnosis. Then the doctor will prescribe the most suitable treatment, potentially including cervical manipulation to enhance mobility while reducing pain and muscle tension, massage therapy, and/or stretching and strengthening exercises. The chiropractor might also recommend changes to your lifestyle or work methods. Most of our patients experience quick yet lasting relief from their pain.
When you need a chiropractor for neck pain, contact the Mill Creek Wellness Center to schedule an appointment.
