Because of the delicate structure of the neck, many everyday things can cause neck pain such as watching TV while leaning on the arm of the sofa, falling asleep in a chair with your neck unsupported, spending long periods of time at the computer, improper sleeping positions, or even sleeping under the fan or air conditioner. Temporary neck pain will usually resolve on its own within a day or two, if the offending activity is discontinued. However, when pain doesn’t go away for several days or longer, it usually indicates some kind of underlying condition that needs to be examined. One of the most common reasons for neck pain is the functional imbalance in the spine which results from vertebral misalignment. When a vertebra (bone) is out of place, normal movement is altered causing stress on delicate spinal joints and surrounding soft tissues. This typically results in “a pinched nerve”. When this happens the body causes muscles surrounding it to tighten up to “splint” the area in an effort to prevent further damage to joints and nerves. As a result muscles and nerves become inflamed causing pain which can even radiate up into the head, down the arms, or into the shoulder blades. Numbness and tingling (needles and pins like when your foot falls asleep) may also be present into the arms or hands.

Most of the nerves which come from the spinal cord in the neck, typically exit through an opening called the IVF (inter-vertebral foramen). When the vertebrae become locked in place, they cause difficulty with the movement of the neck resulting in pain. Chiropractic care along with physical therapy can help to alleviate the pain, relax the muscles, and restore proper motion to these painfully fixated joints. If left untreated, the acute pain will sometimes subside, leaving the fixation. When this occurs, the abnormal weight bearing of the head places increased stress upon the joints of the neck causing degenerative changes, spurring, bulging or herniated discs, and arthritis to occur. Over the long term these permanent changes affect not only the functional ability of the spine but cause permanent problems in the neck, shoulders, and upper extremities. Neck pain isn’t just a “pain in the neck” it can lead to much more!

At Northwest Wellness Center our physicians and staff specialize in spinal conditions, such as neck pain. We can determine if you have vertebral misalignments, spinal degenerative changes, arthritis, herniated discs, or other types of conditions and we are properly equipped to treat you and get you back on track so that you can get on with your life!