Neck pain slowing you down?
Most people have experienced neck pain at some time in their lives. Maybe you have neck and shoulder pain from sitting at a computer all day. Or a pinched nerve in your neck after sleeping wrong. Maybe you have neck pain from a whiplash injury, or chronic stiffness that interferes with your sleep.
Whatever the case, Dr. Keith McGahey of Eastside Chiropractic Group can help! Chiropractic, when combined with other therapies like Active Release, can end neck pain quickly. Even when other therapies have failed. Have a look around. And when you’re ready give Dr. McGahey a call. He’s been helping people with neck pain since 1998, and chances are he can help you too!
Neck Pain – Injury, Stress, Poor Posture, And Why Your Computer Hates You
If you’ve resorted to THIS, it may be too late!
Neck pain is very common in both men and women. And that’s more true than ever before with so many people using computers and smart devices. Throw in poor posture and stress, and eventually your neck is going to give you problems. Whiplash, physical labor and playing sports are also common causes of neck pain.
Your neck is flexible, which makes it prone to injury. And because your head is so heavy, your neck has to do a lot of work to support it. Computers don’t help! They suck you in and pull your head and shoulders forward, creating a lot of stress on your neck and shoulders. If you’re not careful, that computer will have you looking like a praying mantis before long. But there are things you can do to win that battle (more on that down below).
Common Causes Of Neck Pain
Most cases of neck pain will fall into one of a few categories:
1. Neck Pain From Overuse or Wear and Tear
These days, most of us use computers at work and home, text on our phones, and drive. Most of us have stress and poor posture as well. All of these factors can put a tremendous amount of stress on your neck. Over months or years, this can lead to overuse of the muscles in your neck and shoulders, as well as wear and tear on the joints in your neck. The result? Neck pain (and shoulder pain, and upper back pain, and headaches… you get the idea).
2. Neck Pain From Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries leading to neck pain. But contrary to popular belief, car crashes are not the only cause of whiplash. Playing sports, especially contact sports, falls, collisions, and even jarring movements like those experienced on a roller coaster can cause a whiplash injury.
3. Neck Pain From Other Causes
Any sudden, jarring, or unnatural movement of the neck has the potential to cause injury to the joints, discs, muscles, ligaments or nerves. Even sleeping wrong can cause your neck to be stiff and painful. In some cases, depending on the injury, you may develop headaches, dizziness, shoulder pain, or even numbness and tingling of the hands and fingers.
Common Neck Symptoms – More than just a pain in the neck!
Remember when YOUR neck was flexible?
Obviously, the most common symptom of a neck problem is neck pain. There can also be stiffness, especially with turning your head to either side. Your symptoms may also be worse on one side or the other. Headaches, called neck headaches, can also occur when your neck is hurting – it’s no coincidence that neck pain and headaches happen together.
Sometimes neck pain can travel to other areas. An injury to a disc in your neck may cause pain to spread to your shoulders, upper back or shoulder blades. A pinched nerve in your neck can cause sharp pain, and even numbness and tingling in your arm as far down as your fingers.
Neck Pain Treatment – Chiropractic May Be Your Best Option!
Most cases of neck pain involve soft tissues AND joints. It’s rarely just one or the other. So if you want your treatment to be effective, you need to address all of it. If you only address one component, you may get some relief but you won’t ever feel well.
Chiropractors specialize in returning normal movement and function to your joints. And that can give significant relief of neck pain. For your muscles, Active Release is the gold standard for soft tissue treatment, and can provide immediately relief of neck pain. Together, they’re a dynamic combination for providing neck pain relief.
A Long-Term Plan For Neck Pain
Let’s face it. If using a computer is what caused your neck pain, and you have to use a computer for another 30-40 years, you’re in big trouble. And that goes for any activity that got you in this mess. So treatment has to go beyond simply making your muscles and joints healthy. It has to address your long-term needs.
Dr. McGahey’s approach to neck pain treatment is simple:
1. Restore normal motion and alignment to the joints of the spine
2. Break up scar tissue in the muscles of the neck and shoulders
3. And most importantly, help you with strategies to keep your neck feeling well after you’re done with treatment.
Neck Pain Relief When You Need It
If neck pain is starting to interfere with your life, don’t ignore the warning signs. If left untreated, a stiff and sore neck can quickly turn into a more serious problem. Dr. McGahey can help get to the source of your neck pain, and create a plan to help you feel better and stay that way.
What Are You Waiting For? Give Us A Call!
Just call or click today to schedule an appointment with Dr. McGahey. He’s a preferred provider with most insurance companies, and no referral is necessary. You’ll be glad you did!