What You Should Know About Chronic Neck Pain

Years of slouching, poor posture and excessive tension placed upon the cervical spine can lead to chronic conditions. Neck pain is the third most common cause of chronic pain and more than a quarter of Americans reportedly suffer from it, according to the American Osteopathic Association. A common concern of chiropractic physicians, chronic neck pain can affect your overall physical wellness.

Women Experience Neck Pain More Than Men

A new study from Loyola University, reports women are 1.38 times more likely to report neck pain stemming from cervical degenerative disc disease than men. Cervical degenerative disc disease occurs when the body’s natural shock absorbers become worn and start to degenerate over time. Research also shows conditions such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia and migraine headaches occur more frequently in women than men. While widely debated, proposed explanations include hormonal differences between genders and the fact that women are more likely to actually report pain than men.

Common Causes

The cervical spine, or neck, houses the spinal cord and sends messages from the brain to control all aspects of the body. It begins at the base of the skull and connects to the thoracic spine, or upper back. It is remarkably flexible, strong and allows movement in all directions. Discs made up of a gel-like substance sit between each of the seven vertebras and act as a natural shock absorber, while contributing to the overall mobility of the neck. Outside stress and extra force, including trauma, that is placed on the cervical spine often leads to the development of a number of chronic and painful conditions. Chronic conditions such as cervical degenerative disc disease and cervical osteoarthritis can develop from excessive damage to the cervical spine. Common symptoms of chronic neck pain include:

  • Numbness

  • Tingling

  • Weakness

  • Burning

  • Radiating pain

  • Stiffness

Chiropractic Treatment Can Help

Chiropractic physicians use a wide range of techniques to treat and reduce chronic neck pain, while aiming to improve the range of motion in the cervical spine. Cervical spine manipulation, or manually adjusting the neck for better range of motion, can provide relief for multiple symptoms. Instrument Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) is a technique in which hard-edged instruments, commonly HawkGrips instrumentsIASTM, are used to diagnostically follow the kinetic chain to locate and treat the specific area of pain. In addition, functional rehabilitation and corrective exercises can help to prevent future and reoccurring conditions.

Don’t let chronic neck pain affect your everyday life. Make an appointment with us today at www.carolinactivehealth.com/contact-us so you can live life and be active!