What Causes Neck Pain and How to Avoid It
August 20, 2010
It’s no wonder that millions of Americans are plagued by neck pain every day. Our busy lives and hectic work schedules can all contribute to the occasional bout of neck pain. However, for many people, neck pain isn’t just a rare occurrence – it’s a cumbersome daily experience. If this sounds all-too-familiar, then it’s time to take action. From injury to stress and everything in between, identifying the causes of neck pain is the first proactive step in treating it…
…Not to mention stopping it for good.
Take a look at the list below to identify the cause of your neck pain – and how to avoid it.
- Are you experiencing mild discomfort in your neck? If so, it’s highly likely that your sleeping position is the neck pain culprit. Poor sleeping positions – such as lying on the stomach or side – can force the neck into awkward angles, which puts tremendous amounts of pressure on its sensitive nerves. Additionally, these sleeping positions can force the lumbar spinal cord (the lower back region) into an unnatural alignment, which also contributes to neck discomfort.
- There’s no doubt that chronic neck pain can be a hassle – but worrying about it can make the pain even worse. Worry and stress are two of the biggest neck pain culprits; unfortunately, they’re all too common with our busy lifestyles. Easing this type of neck pain involves reducing the amount of stress in your life, or seeing a chiropractor who can show you gentle exercises to loosen and relax your strained neck muscles.
- Poor work posture can also contribute to chronic neck pain. Because a majority of Americans are sedentary for more than eight hours a day, it’s no surprise that posture can have a significant impact on the neck muscles. To avoid this kind of pain, invest in an office chair that supports the natural curve of your spine, or place a rolled-up towel between your chair and your lumbar spine to support your lower back’s curve.
- Trauma, injury and arthritis are also significant contributors to neck pain. In this case, seeing a doctor and chiropractor to treat the neck pain is highly recommended. One important note: in some instances, neck pain can be a symptom of meningitis, a rare but serious disease which is most common about young adults living in shared communities, like dormitories. If your neck pain is accompanied by a rash, fever, severe headache and vomiting, call 911 immediately and seek treatment.
To avoid this type of neck pain, try switching your sleeping position so that you’re laying on your back. Investing in a memory-foam mattress can also help alleviate nighttime neck pain.
When considering treatment for neck pain, our physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).
Chiropractic Treatment and Neck Pain
December 23, 2009
A 42 year old, female patient presented with neck pain that had been present for 2 months. The pain came on gradually and without a specific cause. Her vocation is answering the phone for a busy mail order shoe store. She works 40 hours a week, 5 days per week and never weekends. Pain worsens with work, especially by the end of the 8 hour shift. Other pain producers include driving more than 30 minutes, reading more than 30 minutes, and washing hair with the head back. Pain improves with resting the head on a chair or pillow, moving the head in circles, 600 mg of Ibuprofen (repeated 3x/day), and a hot shower. She describes the pain as an ache with intermittent sharp pain that is becoming more frequent, “…when I move the wrong way.” There is no shooting pain into the arms or hands.
Sound familiar? This is a “typical” neck pain patient that presents to chiropractic offices around the world. What is different is that every person is unique and each case must be individually managed. For example, some patients “hate doctors” or are extremely anxious about going to any doctor. This might stem back to a prior “bad experience” with a health care provider at a very young age or perhaps even a more recent event. None-the-less, the approach used in this type of presentation may be best if it is very methodical, reassuring, and fully explained. A “low-force” type of manipulation may be best suited for this type of person as “cracking” of the neck may be too frightening for this patient. On the other hand, a different patient may not be happy unless there is a “good crack” and will not be satisfied until a chiropractic adjustment is performed.
It is equally important in both cases that a complete explanation of, 1) What is the condition causing the symptoms? 2) What can be done to treat it (that is, “what are my treatment options”)? 3) Will the proposed treatment “fit” into my busy schedule, financial situation, and my philosophy about health care? Providing answers to these questions will usually end with the best results, as the patient will understand the issues most important to them and will have confidence that those issues are understood and appreciated by the doctor. In both cases, management may include 1) modifying the work station by switching to a head set rather than pinching a phone between the neck and shoulder; 2) evaluating the patient at their work station to check for proper posture at the desk, proper computer monitor positioning, etc. and making modifications as needed; 3) teaching the patient cervical range of motion exercises and other stretches that can be done at the work station, multiple times a day, that only take a minute or two; 4) cervical traction (if this “feels good” when tested during the exam); 5) use of a cervical or contoured pillow; 6) neck / upper body strengthening exercises; 7) the use of ice as needed; an anti-inflammatory diet (for example, a gluten-free diet); 9) nutritional supplementation, as indicated. Of course, most of the time, all of these approaches do not have to be included, but are options.
Neck pain, headaches, and upper back pain are conditions are commonly treated by chiropractors. If you, a family member or a friend require care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our service. We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and we look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.
To learn more about Back Pain Relief, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Chludzinski services all of Union County and Hudson County, including Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison, Kearny, Newark, Elizabeth, Westfield, Clark, Fanwood, Plainfield, Watchung, Mountainside, Berkeley Heights, South Plainfield
Pinched Nerves and Neck Pain
December 15, 2009
“I woke up yesterday morning with severe neck pain that radiates down my right arm to my hand and I can barely move my neck without producing the shooting arm pain.” Or, “…for the last few months, I’ve had this nagging pain in my neck and when I look up, my arm goes numb.” Or, “Every time I bend my head to the left, my left arm goes numb. I’ve noticed when I lift weights, I can only curl 15 lbs with my left arm compared to 35 lbs with the right.” These are common histories describing a classic “pinched nerve in the neck.” So, what is a “pinched nerve?” To answer this, let’s first look at what a “nerve” is.
There are two types of conditions that commonly pinch nerves, which generally occur at different times of life – those with a herniated disk (younger > older patients) and those with arthritis (older > younger patients). A combination of the two conditions producing the pinching effect on the nerve can also occur making the diagnosis process a little trickier. The following diagram helps explain these conditions.
Both of these conditions are commonly treated by chiropractors. If you, a family member or a friend requires care, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our service. We are proud that chiropractic care has consistently scored the highest level of satisfaction when compared to other forms of health care provision and look forward in serving you and your family presently and in the future.
To learn more about Back Pain Relief, sign up for a free report, or click here to register for a Free, In- Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, feel free to give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $245 Value).
Article by Dr. Eric Chludzinski, DC. Dr. Chludzinski is the founder of Hudson Center for Spinal Care located in Bayonne and Scotch Plains, New Jersey. In preparation for his career, Dr. Chludzinski attended St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, NJ graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Natural Science. He continued his studies at Life University School of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA graduating in the class of 2002 as a Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Chludzinski services all of Union County and Hudson County, including Jersey City, Hoboken, Harrison, Kearny, Newark, Elizabeth, Westfield, Clark, Fanwood, Plainfield, Watchung, Mountainside, Berkeley Heights, South Plainfield
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