Neck Pain

woman with neck and back pain Without a doubt, neck pain is one of the most common reasons why people see a chiropractor. Considering how much time people spend working at the computer or on their digital devices at home, it’s no surprise that many suffer from this type of discomfort.
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What Are the Symptoms?

Signs and symptoms of neck pain include muscle tightness and spasms, headache, and a decreased ability to move your head.

Neck pain can be accompanied by numbness or loss of strength in your arms or hands, as well as shooting pain in your shoulder or down your arm.

Some Common Causes

Because your neck is flexible and supports the weight of your head, it can be prone to injuries and conditions that result in pain and restricted motion. Some of the most common causes of this discomfort are

Muscle strains. Sitting hunched over your laptop for hours often triggers muscle strains. Reading in bed—particularly if you lack proper neck support—can also strain neck muscles, causing discomfort.

Worn joints. As you get older, your neck joints tend to wear down. Osteoarthritis causes the cushions (cartilage) between your bones (vertebrae) to deteriorate. Your body then produces bone spurs that affect joint motion and result in pain.

Nerve compression. Herniated disks or bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck can put pressure on the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord.

Injuries. A rear-end auto collision often results in a whiplash injury, which is when the head is jerked backwards and then forward, resulting in the neck’s soft tissues being strained.

Frequently Asked Questions

What techniques do you find successful in addressing neck pain?

The neck and upper back are analyzed for the underlying cause of neck pain. Diagnostic techniques include nerve and range of motion tests, soft tissue palpation and joint play testing.

How long until patients typically notice relief?

Sometimes within as little as one visit.

Do you take any special precautions when adjusting the neck?

Yes, we always take precautions when adjusting the neck, and Dr. Martin likely leans more toward instrument adjusting versus manual. But there’s no difference documented in the research on whether one is more prudent.

How do you calm a nervous patient?

Thankfully, we don’t have very many nervous patients. For those who are anxious, however, we tell them that we will start with very gentle mobilizations, and we can move up to instrument adjusting. Often, we don’t need to manually adjust to get good success with neck issues.

Success Story

One of our patients is a woman who had surgery for trigeminal neuralgia. She was having terrible nerve facial pain because of that nerve being irritated. After the surgery, she had great results when they put a Teflon pad in to protect that nerve. Her face felt better instantly, but she had residual neck symptoms.

Specific exercises and neck adjustments were used and Dr. Martin also recommended a Denneroll, which is an orthopedic device for the neck. Within two years there was a noticeable improvement in her neck curvature and better range of motion.

Take That First Step Toward Relief

Get relief from your neck pain. Contact Martin Chiropractic Clinic today to schedule an appointment.
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