Chiropractic Care for Patients With Acute Neck Pain

By Brandi Goodman

When neck pain comes on suddenly and severely, it can be incredibly debilitating. Though there are stretches and various types of exercises you can try to find some minor relief at home, one of the preeminent methods for combating acute neck pain is seeking care from a chiropractor. Cervical manipulation may prove necessary to alleviate discomfort and restore range of motion.

What Conditions Cause Extreme Neck Pain?

An innumerable amount of conditions can spawn extreme neck pain. Whiplash during a car accident is one conventional culprit, though whiplash can also transpire on roller coaster rides or during high-impact activities. It can materialize from any collision activity, during a game of football, for example, or even when plummeting from a horse. Thus, it is advisable to always make deliberate movements, exhibit caution during any activity, and utilize head protection whenever warranted.

Extreme neck pain may also be caused by serious strain while working or lifting heavy objects. If you so much as turn your head while you are carrying a large box, for example, then you may end up with a serious ache on one side. Even maintaining an awkward posture, like staring down at your phone each day, can cause chronic neck pain. Whatever the reason or condition may be for your plight, the best thing to do is seek chiropractic treatments to find relief.

What Vertebrae Are Affected During Extreme Neck Pain?

The vertebrae within your cervical spine are the most affected during periods of neck pain. These include C1 through C7. The C1 vertebrae begins at the top of your neck, which sits at the very base of your skull. It is the first cervical vertebrae of your entire spine, and is the one that is most responsible for supporting your head.

If there is a misalignment within the C1 and C2, you may experience headaches along with the discomfort in your neck. If there is an issue in C3-C6, you are more likely to feel aches or develop problems in your jaw and ears. An issue with your C7 is likely to result in additional discomfort in your shoulders.

What Are the Spinal Consequences of Whiplash?

Whiplash is one of the common culprits of neck pain, and it can have very serious spinal consequences. You may experience:

• Limited range of motion
• Tingling or numbness
• A feeling of pins and needles in your neck or shoulders
• Neck stiffness
• Pain in your shoulders and upper back
• Headaches
• Shoulder and arm weakness

Symptoms can be delayed for up to 24 hours of an incident, and it can take months to recover. You will need a thorough treatment plan to help limit symptoms and get back to feeling normal. The soft tissues surrounding the spinal column are most often damaged during whiplash.

What Is Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis transpires when the position of each vertebrae begins to change and your spinal cord becomes compressed. It is generally caused by nothing more than changes in your spine due to age. Though it occurs anywhere within your spine, it most often occurs to your lower back or neck. Typically, this affects those 50 and older, though it can happen to younger people who were born with a spinal canal that is much more narrow than it should be. Chiropractic care may help render relief when you are dealing with this condition.

How Can Spinal Manipulation Correct Dysfunctions and Relieve Extreme Neck Pain?

Spinal manipulation can help to correct dysfunctions when careful manual therapies are utilized. With proper chiropractic management, and controlled hand thrusts to the correct joint, you should experience relief from your neck pain. The thrust moves the joint back into place so it can resume normal functioning and you no longer feel discomfort from it being misaligned.

Any chiropractic manipulation you receive needs to be planned carefully and executed precisely. Too much force can do more harm than good, so it is vital to work with a chiropractor who is proficient at neck adjustments and different techniques.

Seek Assistance From The Joint Chiropractic

Patients with neck pain should think about seeking assistance from The Joint Chiropractic. One or more neck adjustments could help assuage aches to the area and ensure you regain the ability to use your neck and shoulders as much as possible. They can also assess whether you require additional medical care and offer at-home treatment options to help limit daily discomfort.

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