We live in a world where we are constantly sitting, using our phones and computers, or lounging in awkward positions. Even as we age, we experience aches and pains that we didn’t when we were younger (sometimes, even sleeping in the wrong position can lead to all-day stiffness the next day.) Now more than ever, it’s important that we take good care of our physical health.
Neck pain can often lead to several other conditions, such as headaches, jaw pain, and dizziness. Without treatment, you may also cause nerve damage, leading to numbness, tingling, or shooting pain down your shoulders or back.
A neck pain chiropractor in Boulder, CO, is the solution to your nagging neck injury. If you have tried therapy, injections, or even surgery, and still can’t find a good solution for your pain, you might want to give chiropractic treatment a shot.
Luckily, we have compiled a complete guide that will review the common causes of neck pain and how chiropractic care can help. Keep reading on for more information.
We see three primary causes of neck pain: strain, trauma, and arthritis.
The most common is a neck strain, where muscles and tendons are overstretched. Things like poor posture or an awkward night of sleeping can cause muscle and nerve pain.
Traumatic events, such as motor vehicle accidents or sports injuries, can cause neck pain. When injuries like these happen, it is important to seek evaluation from a healthcare professional (ahem, chiropractors like us can help with this) to determine the cause and decide on a treatment plan. Without medical treatment, you could risk more severe injury and chronic pain. We are a team of local professional chiropractors in Boulder, CO that can help you with neck pain and are highly qualified to evaluate and treat neck pain injuries.
Another cause of neck pain that we often see is arthritis. Arthritis is a degenerative condition that compresses the discs and can cause nerve pain if left unaddressed. You may also notice popping or reduced range of motion.
One of the most common causes of neck pain is whiplash, which usually occur with motor vehicle accidents.
Even though they can be common in car accidents, any high-velocity impact can overstretch the muscles in your neck and cause long-term discomfort. Some of the complications associated with neck pain and whiplash are headaches, vision changes, and an annoying inability to look over your shoulder quickly.
While neck pain is an obvious sign of a neck injury, it isn’t the only one. Other neck injury symptoms include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you may want to reach out to a chiropractor with specialists in neck pain, such as us. Neck discomfort is NOT normal, and it can drastically impact your life and interfere with daily activities such as work, dressing, sleeping, and hobbies.
When addressing neck problems, you need a qualified chiropractor who specializes in neck injuries. Chiropractors are certified healthcare professionals with extensive backgrounds in muscle, ligament, and skeletal injuries.
During your initial visit with us, we will perform an in-depth assessment or evaluation. Our main goal is addressing your neck pain, but we also want to be familiar with your overall health and wellness in order to asses for better overall health outcomes.
Depending on the causes of the pain, we may also order an x-ray or MRI imaging for a better understanding of what is causing your neck pain. Lastly, we will either refer to a spinal specialist and surgeon or begin chiropractic treatments.
We have specialized techniques that help reduce pain and improve function. These include techniques like:
For example, headaches can be drastically reduced by spinal adjustments and are often used when addressing neck pain. From our experience, we know it is likely that you will need more than one session, and we may also send you home with exercises and stretches you can do on your own.
Since chiropractors often follow various holistic or natural remedies, we can also consult on diet and lifestyle changes that can help with your neck pain. While many think of chiropractors as professionals who perform high-velocity joint manipulations, we are also trained on various evidence-based modalities that help in all aspects of life.
Some of the most common modalities used to help with neck pain include:
In cases of myofascial pain, shockwave therapy can be used. It uses acoustic waves that target soft tissues and helps improve circulation and tissue healing. Our goal with this treatment is to reduce overall pain. Shockwave therapy is ideal for chronic neck pain patients who want a non-invasive and affordable treatment option.
Research shows that spinal pain is one of the most debilitating conditions that affects people all over the world. Many patients prefer the non-invasive treatments that chiropractors offer.
In comprehensive studies, spinal manipulative therapy is just as useful as other forms of treatment, including physical therapy. Experts recommend spinal manipulative therapy and therapeutic exercise for the best results.
Additionally, evidence suggests that chiropractic care can reduce prescription opioid use. One study examined nearly 56,000 Medicare patients with spinal pain. All participants had prescriptions for opioids, and the study participants who received chiropractic care had a 56% decrease in prescription opioid refills than those who did not receive chiropractic care.
How do you go about finding a chiropractor? First, you will want to search for clinics near you.
Next, start fine-tuning your searches for chiropractors specializing in spinal and neck pain treatments. They should have several modalities and hands-on expertise working with various neck conditions.
Lastly, check online reviews and credentials. This will give you a good background of the reliability and reputation of a clinic.
If you have a crick in your neck that you’ve been dealing with, or even a new twinge that’s been happening lately, a chiropractic visit is essential for your long-term health outcomes. At Boulder Back Pain Clinic, our chiropractors specialize in several treatments for neck injuries and pain and are ready to help you get out of pain.
Neck pain is debilitating and can lead to chronic headaches and lost quality of life. It can be a bother that you feel at work, something that prevents you from your favorite hobbies, and can even impact your sleep quality.
We also utilize several modalities that have excellent evidence supporting their uses in reducing pain. Are you ready to change your life? Schedule an appointment today and start feeling the difference!
I've been seeing Dr. Cahn for over 3 years now and love that he is relaxed, genuine, and personal. He has helped resolve issues with my neck, low back, and hip. I go in for the treatment, but it's probably the great conversations we have that keep me coming back!
Dr. Guzik is awesome. He's knowledgeable, affable, and passionate about wellness. He has a natural, easygoing way with patients that will put you right at ease. I have only great things to say about this practice and Dr. Guzik!
Both Dr. Cahn and Dr. Guzik are highly knowledgeable and skilled in providing excellent care to their patients. They were instrumental in getting me through an injury to be able to compete competitively in triathlon this season. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing high level chiropractic care!
