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Neck pain
Your neck is the most vulnerable part of your spine. Not only does it support your 10- to 12- pound head, maintain a gentle forward curve, and permit head rotation, but it must also allow the free flow of nerve, impulses to the head, face, hands and the rest of your body.
Beside discomfort and annoyance, chronic neck pain is a sign that something is wrong.
Improper telephone use is but one of many causes of neck pain.
A thorough examination can reveal its likely cause(s) and suggest the best approach for optimal results.
Chiropractic care improves function and structure.
What causes of neck pain?
Many everyday things can cause neck pain, such as watching TV, using your computer, reading a book, or falling asleep in a chair or an airplane. The temporary pain that results can resolve on its own, especially when the offending activity is discontinued.
When it doesn’t, a more serious underlying problem may be indicated.
Thorough Examination
A thorough examination can determine if you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care. These tests may involve your ability to turn and bend. Muscle tone of the supporting muscles in the neck may be tested. Diagnostic imaging to reveal the underlying structure of the spine may be requested. These and other tests are designed to identify the cause and location of your neck pain.
Most common cause
The most common cause of neck pain is functional distortions in the spine resulting from vertebral subluxations. The subluxations are seen in cases of reverse cervical curves, whiplash and joint instability. The body responds by tightening muscles in the neck, “splinting” the joint to protect it from further insult. Chiropractic care can help.
pairs of facet joints
Most of the pain-sensing nerves in the neck are located in the pairs of facet joints on the back side of each vertebra. These smooth, interlocking surfaces allow you to rotate your head and bend your head up and down. If these joints become locked or fixated, neck pain can result. Chiropractic care can help restore proper joint motion.
Degenerative changes
A more difficult problem to correct is the degenerative changes that results from neglect. Years of uncorrected spinal problems can cause bone spurs, disc thinning and other forms of spinal decay. These types of problems respond more slowly, and some type of on-going supportive chiropractic care may be necessary.
stress
Our response to stress is another common cause of neck pain. Deadlines, Rush-hour traffic. Overcommitments. Work pressures. Family obligations…
Ever meet someone who has a “pain in the neck”? Each of us is susceptible to our body’s unconscious response to people and circumstances. These perceptions can show up as episodes of neck pain.
If the weakest link in our bodies is our neck, stress can show up there. While chiropractic care cannot reduce the stress of your busy life, it can help improve your ability to handle and tolerate it. Without drugs or surgery!
Why did the chiropractor take pictures of my lower back?
Many patients are surprised when their chiropractic examination involves other areas of their body besides the local site of their symptom(s).
Some neck pain causes can be a compensation to problems in the feet, knees, hips and lower back.
Your chiropractor sees you as a whole person, not just a collection of “parts.”
Will I have to have neck adjustments?
If your problem is the result of abnormal motion or position of spinal bones in the neck, cervical adjustments can be effective.
There are many ways to adjust the neck, and Dr Denis Chouinard, chiropractor, has become an experienced master. Years of practice makes these spinal adjustments safe and effective.
Much safer than common aspirin or much relaxers!
How long will I need chiropractic care?
Some patients see quick improvement and then immediately discontinue their care. They often suffer a relapse since muscles and soft tissues have not had time to fully heal. Others discover that degenerative changes to their spines make periodic checkups a worthwhile investment. We’ll make recommendations, but how long you benefit from chiropractic care is up to you.