Do you feel like your neck is constantly stiff and sore? Do you find yourself turning your head to the side to get a better angle on things? If so, then you may have chronic neck pain. And while these symptoms aren't life-threatening, they can be debilitating for those who are experiencing them.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to relieve that neck pain and get relief from all of those aches and pains! In this article, I will be discussing simple and effective ways to help reduce their neck pain in just minutes.
What do you need to know about neck pain?
Neck pain is a prevalent symptom of many different diseases and conditions. It is often a result of an injury such as whiplash, but it can also be caused by degeneration due to aging or wear-and-tear on the spine after years of poor posture or previous neck injuries.
What are some symptoms?
Neck pain often manifests in one region—either at your shoulder blades, lower back and hips (lumbar), upper back/scapula area (thoracic), or from that base of the skull down along either side with those cervical vertebrae to the end tips (cervical). The severity will depend mainly on what's causing your neck pain: if it's arthritis, for instance, the pain is unlikely to go away without intervention.
Neck pain can also cause you to experience headaches and migraines, so it's not unusual for those who have neck pain to be diagnosed with chronic tension-type headaches or migraine disorder.
Other symptoms of neck pain include numbness in arms/hands (due to nerve compression), tingling in fingers/toes (usually caused by poor circulation), dizziness, lightheadedness, difficulty swallowing food, or a lump in throat sensation trying to swallow.
How do I know if this sounds like me?
If your head always feels like it needs occasional readjustment because one side doesn't feel "right," that may indicate an issue with your neck.
Common causes for chronic neck pain are:
- Poor posture.
- Previous injury to the spine.
- Degeneration of discs (from aging or wear-and-tear).
- Arthritis in the cervical vertebrae from osteoarthritis.
- Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis ankylosing spondylitis.
Neck pain can also be caused by a blood clot(s) that have moved into one side of your neck, which is called deep vein thrombosis - this disorder is most common after surgery when you're immobilized on either side in bed for extended periods.
And lastly, it could be due to neurological conditions like cervical dystonia, where muscles go out of control spontaneously with no rhyme or reason.
How do I know what is wrong with me?
If you have chronic neck pain, it's best to consult a doctor who will be able to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of your discomfort. Your family physician may refer you out for further testing if they're uncertain as to the diagnosis.
This could mean MRIs (to rule out tumors) or blood tests that can check for autoimmune disorders, known as culprits in neck pain cases such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
The last thing you want is to continue suffering from constant headaches when there might be something else going on! That said, there are some easy ways that anyone can help themselves feel better.
- Try to find a pillow or neck brace that will align your spine and neutralize any tension in the neck by supporting it.
- Gentle massage of the muscles surrounding the joints can help relieve discomfort if done correctly, so try having someone else do this as an alternative to self-care (you could also take up yoga!)
- Ice is another great way to reduce inflammation - you should place ice on your painful area every few hours for twenty minutes at a time. Be sure not to apply too much pressure with it, though.
- Overdoing things will make everything worse...as we know from experience, when we wake up feeling like our necks are about to snap off after sleeping wrong all night.
If all efforts to reduce neck pain fail, it may be time for some physical therapy. This is often the most effective way of treating chronic cases - though you should always consult with your doctor beforehand.
Lastly, if this has been going on for more than three months and there are no other symptoms like arm or shoulder weakness and numbness (which can indicate a more serious medical condition such as stroke), make an appointment with your physician just in case. You may also visit a chiropractor near you to help you out with the pain.
It's better to rule out anything that might need attention sooner rather than later so that we don't have any lasting problems down the line or, worse yet, risk hurting ourselves even further by continuing activities that cause us discomfort without knowing what could be wrong.
How to get rid of neck pain after cracking it?
Neck cracking, or popping as it is also known, can effectively relieve tension in the neck and avoid pain. However, there are a few things you need to know before going ahead with this remedy that might help prevent injury.
First of all, if you have never done this before or aren't sure how to do so safely, please consult your physician first about any possible contraindications. This includes people who currently suffer from migraines/headaches (due to increased intracranial pressure), high blood pressure (increase risk for stroke), and those with osteoporosis since the force of the movement could cause fractures at weakened sites in their neck bones.
Secondly- make sure you do not force the neck to move before it cracks. There should be a feeling of discomfort or tightness in your neck muscles, but no pain at all-- if you feel any sharp pains, stop immediately and consult with a physician as soon as possible.
Next, find someone else's help to apply pressure on your head or hold firm enough while performing this movement which might need some strength for its execution (though only people who know how should perform it). You may also want to consider using an implement like a towel under one arm-hold and slowly rotate back and forth until you hear/feel the pop sound.
Do not overdo this, though! If after two minutes there is still unrelieved pain, seek medical attention.
Finally, if you are a chronic sufferer of neck pain or arthritis, it is best to see your doctor for an alternate remedy that will not put undue strain on the ligaments in this part of the body.
To avoid further injury and maintain healthy spinal alignment, these conditions should be treated appropriately by someone who knows what they are doing- such as a chiropractor/physiotherapist.
Can chiropractic care help relieve neck pain?
Chiropractors are often consulted for neck pain or problems. Chiropractic care is the second most common type of complementary and alternative medicine in North America.
Chiropractor care can provide relief from a variety of conditions that include:
- headaches;
- back pain;
- persistent aches and pains;
- sciatica, which causes lower back pain radiating down one leg to toes ;
- Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motions from long hours on computer keyboards, writing instruments, or assembly line work.
Chiropractors like Dr. Paul Grindstaff of ChiroRehab of Texas in Dallas, Texas, are often sought primarily as part of an integrated treatment plan for chronic health issues such as migraines, whiplash-related injuries, pelvic floor disorders like prolapse and incontinence. Recently there has been increased interest in chiropractic care for neck pain.
Neck cracking refers to the sound heard when a vertebra is manually moved back into alignment with its normal position, relieving pressure on nerves and improving blood supply. Many cultures have practiced this since ancient times. Neck manipulation or "adjusting" became popularized because it proved effective at treating various conditions, including;
- headaches,
- stiff necks,
- inner ear infections that caused dizziness and nausea,
- sore backs from long hours of bending over workstations,
- whiplash injuries,
- various types of chronic pain.
Treatment is extremely safe when performed only as recommended and supervised by a qualified healthcare provider. It is no riskier than any other type of manual therapy like massage, physical therapy, or osteopathic manipulation.
Doctors who have studied the practice believe that this form of treatment effectively relieves symptoms related to fibromyalgia, scoliosis, torticollis, or a herniated disk.
What does a pinched nerve in the neck feel like?
It's often difficult to pinpoint the exact location of a pinched nerve in your neck because it can be felt throughout various parts of the body. A common symptom is pain that radiates down one arm or side of the face.
The good news: there are three steps you can take right now to relieve this type of tension!
- Make sure you're sitting up tall and not slouched over while you read on- hunched shoulders tend to push out discs in our spine, which may result in more pressure being put on nerves located near those areas.
- You should also try tilting your head backward for five minutes at a time every day. This will decompress your spine and relax muscles around your neck.
- If you're still feeling stressed or tense, find a way to relax and unwind- take deep breaths, go for a walk outside (if the weather is permitting), or do some yoga!
Final words
Finding relief to your neck pain can be difficult. Some people might turn to an OTC medication, but that can cause lasting side effects and isn't always practical. Consider chiropractic care, this non-invasive and drug-free treatment can help you find relief from your neck pain.
Visit this website today ChiroRehabOfTexas.com and see how this treatment can help alleviate your pain and discomfort.
Neck cracking is a common treatment for those who suffer from chronic or acute neck pain, which most of us have experienced at one point or another in our lifetime. Neck cracking has been practiced by populations worldwide for centuries. Its benefits are well understood among experts in human anatomy and health care practices such as chiropractors.