There are lots of reasons why someone may seek the care of a healthcare professional, and one of the most common reasons is neck pain. Neck pain can be incredibly debilitating. Some people develop neck pain following a traumatic accident, while other people may develop neck pain as a chronic medical condition. There are a lot of people who believe that they need to undergo surgery or take prescription medications to recover from neck pain. Fortunately, this is not always the case. Take a look at some of the most common reasons why someone may develop neck pain, and learn more about how chiropractic care can be helpful.
Whiplash Following a Car Accident
One of the most common reasons why people develop neck pain is whiplash following a motor vehicle accident. If you are involved in a car accident, your neck may end up bouncing from side to side quickly. This places a lot of stress on the nerves, ligaments, and tendons in your neck, causing you to lose your range of motion. You may have difficulty turning your head from side to side, and you might experience discomfort depending on your sleeping position. A chiropractor can use manual therapy known as chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments of the spine which has many health benefits besides just alleviating nerve pressure and joint pain. That way, your injury can overcome the damage caused by a motor vehicle accident and put you on a better road toward recovery.
Osteoarthritis Can Be Chronic
There are also situations where chronic medical conditions can lead to neck pain. For example, you may suffer from something called osteoarthritis. This is an inflammatory condition that degrades the cartilage in between the bones in your body. This is a condition that can show up just about anywhere, but one of the most common locations is in the neck.
If you develop osteoarthritis in your neck, your bones may rub against each other more than they should. As a result, you might develop inflammation in your neck, which can lead to chronic pain. A chiropractor can use chiropractic adjustments to help relieve the pain as well as stop the progression of osteoarthritis as long as the joints haven't fused together.
A Pinched Nerve Can Cause Shooting Pains
You may also suffer from neck pain because of a pinched nerve in your neck. A pinched nerve develops when your vertebrae get too close together, compressing the nerves as they leave the vertebrae. There are lots of reasons why you might develop a stinger. It may have happened in a motor vehicle accident, you may have developed a stinger while playing contact sports, or you may have severe stenosis in your neck. Regardless of the reason why, a chiropractor can use adjustments and manual therapy to alleviate compression of your nerves, helping you recover. Your chiropractor will talk with you about how your specific treatment process can alleviate nerve entrapment and help you recover.
Work With a Local Chiropractor
In the end, these are just a few of the many causes of neck pain. It is important to understand that neck pain comes in many shapes and forms, and a chiropractor can work with you to develop a treatment plan that has been customized to meet your needs. Surgery can lead to complications, and medications can lead to side effects. Even though there might be some situations where they are required, a chiropractor may also be able to develop a comprehensive plan to help you recover without exposing you to these risks. Consider reaching out to a chiropractor in your local area to learn more about your neck pain treatment options.
If you don't have a local chiropractor, please give us a call. Our Doctor of Chiropractic helps people just like you overcome neck pain. Chiropractic is safe, effective and a healthier alternative than most when dealing with neck pain. So, give us a call. We're here to help!