Neck pain is very common.  In fact, statistics show that 2 out 3 Americans will suffer a bout of acute or chronic neck pain throughout their life.  Unfortunately, only 15% of the population will seek out a chiropractor for treatment of neck pain and the associated symptoms, turning instead to their medical doctor for medication that only covers up the problem.  Chiropractic care has been around for over 110 years successfully treating conditions of the neck and spine.  Regular users of chiropractic care will agree that when treated regularly they seldom have neck problems return.

Anatomy of the Neck: The neck is made up of seven vertebrae that are stacked one on top the other.  The discs are found between each vertebra and the discs should be nice fat and parallel in shape.  The discs create space between the vertebra that allow the nerves from the spinal cord to exit the spine and travel on to the organs they innervate.   The outer portion of the disc (annulus fibrosus) is the tough circular exterior composed of concentric sheets of collagen fibers (lamellae) that surround the inner core. The inner core (nucleus pulposus) contains a loose network of fibers suspended in a mucoprotein gel.   While the disc is very tough and durable it can be damaged by trauma or repetitive use.

Causes of neck Pain:

Sports Injuries: Many neck problems experienced by adults as they get older can caused by the sports they played when they were younger such as hockey, football, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, etc. When you are young your body is resilient and compensates for those injuries

Sports Injury

.They appear to subside or even go away only to return when you are older. The reason for this is when you get hit in the upper back, neck or head and one of the vertebra of your neck gets knocked out of its normal position, the soft tissue (disc, Ligaments, tendons) of the neck will heal and hold that bone in that abnormal position. It would be the same as if you broke your forearm and did not have the ulnar bone set, it would heal in that broken position.  The abnormal positioning of vertebra in the neck will cause the joint to break down and wear out sooner than it would normally leading to stiffness, soreness, decreased range of motion and other neck problems. While medical doctors and physical therapists are very good at what they do, but they are not chiropractors. A chiropractor will look to find that vertebra that has been knocked out of its normal position and work to put it back into its normal alignment allowing that joint to properly heal and function normal again. Waiting for the pain to go away is not a wise solution and taking medication to cover up the pain is also not a solution. If you are experiencing pain in your neck and looking for a solution call my office today 401-433-3600.

 

Whiplash / Auto Accidents: Whiplash is a term that describes damage to the soft tissue of the neck that occurs as a result of a motor vehicle accident or getting hit from behind. Any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward can cause whiplash. The sudden force stretches and tears the muscles, ligaments and tendons of your neck or upper back. The most common type of car accident is the rear impact, and typically the occupant in the vehicle that gets “rear-ended” is at the greatest risk of whiplash injury. Many times accidents victims will try to ignore the soreness and pain in the neck and upper back and hope that it will eventually go or worse yet they will go to the E.R or their medical doctor and have muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory prescribed. That course of treatment is a cover up or a temporary fix. If not corrected, over time the likely hood of neck problems returning is very high. If you have been involved in an auto accident it is always a good idea to have your neck and back evaluated. 401-433-3600

Neck Sprain / Strain: Neck strain is often just called whiplash. Although it is usually associated with car accidents, any impact or blow that causes your head to jerk forward or backward can cause neck strain. The sudden force stretches and tears the muscles and tendons in your neck.Neck strain afflicts many amateur and professional athletes. People who play contact sports like football are especially prone to neck strain.Neck strains are often confused with neck sprains. They’re a bit different. Neck strains are caused by damage to the muscle or the tendons, bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Neck sprains are caused by tearing of the ligaments, the tissues that connect the bones to each other.  Soft tissue injuries will affect the joint and make it unstable causing it to lose its proper alignment. When the joint becomes unstable and losses it normal positioning it may cause pressure on the one or more of the spinal nerves that exit the spine at the level of injury causing radiating pain into the shoulders, arms and hands. If not corrected this can lead to chronic neck problems. If you suffer from this type of injury, call my office 401-433-3600 for an appointment.