Neck Pain

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is a very common complaint. The CDC indicates that other than low back pain, it is the 2nd most prevalent non-arthritic joint pain. Your neck extends from your skull to upper torso and consists of 7 cervical vertebrae, 3 neck muscle groups, and 8 spinal nerve roots.

The head sits on top of the cervical spine and weighs 11 pounds on average. If the bones, ligaments, or muscles of the neck have any injury, abnormalities, or inflammation, you may experience neck pain or stiffness.

Furthermore, the spinal nerves that branch out of your neck control your head, face, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, throat, shoulders, and elbows. It also serves as the pathway for nerves that branch out of the spine further down and control the rest of your body. The primary symptoms of neck pain are listed below, but other nerve pinches may also cause tingling and numbness, muscle weakness, and other problems elsewhere in the body.

What are the symptoms of neck problems?

If the curve of your neck is not correct, you may feel a number of symptoms, such as:

You may also experience a stiff neck with more severe pain if you have to hold your head in place for long periods of time, such as working at one computer screen or driving.

What causes neck problems?

Neck pain can be caused by many things:

If you have a medical condition such as a nerve or muscular condition, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, or arthritis, these can also result in chronic neck pain.

What can I do about neck pain?

A correct and natural neck curve is one of the most important parts of a functioning spine and body. A correctly curved neck is not straight and actually has an angle between 31 and 40 degrees.

The best thing you can do for neck pain is to prevent it. Good posture, frequent breaks, better ergonomic equipment, sleep positioning, and avoiding heavy bags are all great ideas. If you can’t reduce the weight of heavy bags, consider bags with wheels or switching arms regularly.

Here at BackFit Health + Spine, we are also about prevention, or if you’re already in pain, reducing or eliminating it. Treatment at BackFit may include:

• Chiropractic Care: Gentle, precise, spinal adjustments to correct misalignments. Ask us about The Thompson drop table and activator methods for the neck. Our Chiropractors specialize in neck pain and can help you identify the cause of your pain.
• Physical Therapy: A custom exercise and stretching plan to improve your neck strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
• Massage Therapy: Boost circulation, reduce inflammation, release endorphins, and relieve tight muscles.

By evaluating each individual’s specific concerns, we are able to properly diagnose and treat the cause of your pain for fast, natural neck pain relief. With locations all over Arizona, there is a BackFit Health + Spine near you to help you get back to feeling your very best.