» Neck Pain

• Can neck pain be serious?
• What can cause neck pain?
• What can I do to ease the pain temporarily?
• What can the Doctor of Chiropractic do to help?
• What can I do to prevent neck pain?

Can neck pain be serious?

Your neck is the vital passageway through which the spinal cord passes to connect the brain to the arms and legs and key bodily organs and tissues. The brain and spinal cord, with its important spinal and autonomic nerves, control and coordinate almost all body functions. Your brain stem actually protrudes down to the 3rd vertebrae in the neck.

The seven cervical vertebrae (spinal bones) in the neck have highly mobile joints so that you can bend your head forward and backward, tilt it to either side and rotate the head and neck. Since the neck is exceptionally flexible, it lends itself to injury and pain more easily.

Depending upon its severity, an insult to the head or neck may injure the supporting muscles, tendons and ligaments of the neck and perhaps interfere with essential circulation to the head and brain. A neck injury may even disrupt the functioning of the spinal cord and the autonomic nerves distributed by the cervical vertebrae. This can result in serious interference with the life-support communications network of the body.

What can cause neck paain?

Some neck pain may be job related. Individuals who sit in the same position and face the same direction for long periods, such as secretaries and word processor operators, may experience neck stiffness and/or muscular spasms. Other jobs, such as those involving the repetitive motions which are common in industry, may also lead to neck pain. Workers who operate a drill press, power equipment or continuous assembly line operations may feel fatigue and soreness in the supporting head-and-neck muscles. These and similar situations can bring on muscle tension and irritation of the nerves and blood vessels in the neck.

Strains to the cervical vertebrae are another common cause of neck pain. Strains can be brought on by a forceful movement of the neck, strenuous lifting, swinging or pulling motions of the arms, or a fall. One of the most frequent of neck ailments -- whiplash -- can produce mild or severe reaction, even resulting in debilitating, permanent damage.

A degenerative disease of the bones and joints -- osteoarthritis -- can also be a source of neck pain. Sometimes called "wear and tear" disease, it can be the result of a lifetime of physical traumas (shocks) or even poor posture. Slumping, rounded shoulders, and even a straight military posture can be harmful. Osteoarthritis occurs when the discs become thin -- pulling the bones closer together and producing grinding sounds. This leads to pain and nerve disturbances, and may eventually cause the vertebrae to fuse together.

Still other causes of neck pain may include osteoporosis, swelling of tissue, irritation of joints, damage to the nerves or spinal cord, fracture of a vertebra, tumors and cancerous conditions, and less obvious sources such as referred pain from a heart attack.

Symptoms or neck pain may include headaches, numbness, tingling in the arms and legs, and localized swelling and inflammation.

What can I do to ease the pain temporarily?

• If you have reason to believe that you have a whiplash injury, immediately stabilize the head so that it cannot be exposed to further injury. (Only for the first 1-7 days)



• Apply an ice pack(s) to the area to help reduce inflammation and swelling and thereby decrease the pain. Use the ice pack(s) for periods of 20 to 30 minutes with at least a 30-minute interval between each application.



• If you experience neck pain other than whiplash, do not stabilize the head because you may further stiffen the neck, reduce the range of motion and cause increased immobility. Keep your neck active and flexible. Do exercises/stretches in all ranges of motion.



• If you have insidious, recurring pain (longer than 3 months), apply moist heat to the back of the neck and shoulders. Use the heat for periods of 20 minutes, with at least a 30-minute interval between each application.

A word of caution: these are temporary remedies and not a substitute for seeking immediate professional care.

What can the Doctor of Chiropractic do to help?

Doctors of chiropractic are educated and trained in the detection and care of problems of the spinal column and in maintaining the delicate balance of the neck and spine. Your first visit to the chiropractor will include a complete chiropractic examination. X-rays may be ordered to screen for possible underlying pathologies and to reveal extreme distortions in your spine.

If your chiropractor feels that chiropractic care is appropriate in your case, you will be given a plan of treatment specifically designed to get you out of pain as fast as possible, and then to strengthen the spine and correct the posture, if possible. This manual procedure will help reduce the misalignments and ease the pressure on the spinal nerve roots. In addition, your chiropractor may advise you on therapeutic exercises, job safety, work-related posture, dietary information and a complete program of chiropractic care.

What can I do to prevent neck pain?

Your doctor of chiropractic cannot correct painful neck conditions without your help. These steps can help you:

• Don't sleep on your stomach because this can cause harmful stretching and twisting of the neck muscles.



• Don't stack several pillows or even one very thick pillow under your head and neck when sleeping; by doing so you can put stress on the upper back and neck.



• Don't watch television or try to read while lying down because this can contort the neck; always sit upright.



• Take frequent breaks or change positions when doing work which requires you to bend your neck downward or face the same direction for long periods.



• Don't use purses or bags with a shoulder strap because the weight can pull on the neck and disturb the nerves that supply the shoulders, arms and hands. Instead, tie a knot in the shoulder strap and carry the purse or bag in your hand.