Neck Pain - When Should I Come In?

Neck Pain – When Should I Come In?


Neck pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they come to a
chiropractic office for the first time, second only to low back pain. Neck pain
affects all of us at some point in life, and for some, it can become a chronic,
permanent problem that can interfere with many desired activities and lower
their quality of life. There are many different causes, and prompt evaluation
and treatment is important is some cases.

Neck pain and stiffness are the two most common symptoms that present for
evaluation and treatment. This can be located in the middle of the neck and/or
on either side and can extend down to the shoulders and / or chest. It can
contribute to or cause tension headaches that can travel up the back of the head
and sometimes behind the eyes. Pain often increases with neck movement, such as
when turning the head to check traffic while driving and/or it can hurt at rest
while held in static positions, such as when reading a book. Neck pain can come
on gradually or quickly and often cannot be traced to a specific injury or cause
making it a challenge to figure out. While neck pain is often not serious or
life-threatening, there are causes that should be evaluated promptly. If you
wake up with acute neck pain associated with very limited range of motion, this
may be due to torticollis, or wry neck, and prompt treatment helps it resolve
more quickly than “waiting it out.” Torticollis can be caused by exposure to a
draft, changes in weather, trauma, or after a cold or flu. When in doubt, come
in for an evaluation and treatment, as anxiety associated with the “fear of the
unknown” only adds to the stress associated with neck pain and it’s ALWAYS best
to be “…safe than sorry!”

Numbness or tingling may accompany neck pain and can be located in the face,
arms, hands, and/or fingers. This is one of those times to come in promptly, as
these symptoms may indicate the pinching of a nerve root in the neck. There are
MANY chiropractic treatment approaches that effectively treat nerve root
pinching, and treatment should NOT be delayed. Other common symptoms may include
clicking, crunching, or grinding noises, technically called crepitus, which may
or may not be benign. If the noise is accompanied by pain, especially if it
radiates down to the shoulder blades or arms (either side or both), it’s time to
promptly come in. Any time symptoms occur acutely or come on fast, it’s best to
get evaluated as soon as possible.

Dizziness is another common symptom that can result from neck problems and is
often associated with movement such as rising from laying or sitting. Certain
positions of the neck can also bring on dizziness. This is sometimes caused by
the “stones” in the inner ear shifting out of position and is technically called
BPPV or “benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.” When this occurs, we can usually
manage it very well with treatment and specific BPPV exercises. Other times,
dizziness may be due to a restriction in blood flow reaching the brain. In which
case, a prompt evaluation is VERY appropriate, especially if blackouts occur.

Sleep interruption or difficulty falling asleep are other good reasons to seek
prompt evaluation and treatment. Sleep loss can lead to many problems such as
excessive fatigue, tiredness, irritability, and just generally feeling poor!
Remember, prompt care usually results in prompt resolution!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision
and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.
If you, a friend, or family member requires care for neck pain, we would be
honored to render our services.  Visit http://www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for
more information.

"My Accident Was 2 Years Ago... Could that Cause My Neck Pain Today?"

The short answer is yes. But let’s look at how the neck is injured in whiplash and why a trauma from years earlier can produce symptoms today. Even in more moderate motor vehicle collisions with substantial car damage, symptoms rarely come on the day of the injury. When symptoms do occur immediately, this is a sign that the injury to the neck was more severe. In most accidents, we initially feel a bit shaken up and shocked more than anything else. When the vehicle has substantial damage, this can completely occupy our thoughts. How are we going to drive to work the next day? We may not think to see a doctor immediately because a more pressing concern is to get the car into the shop and arrange for a rental. If a pain in the neck begins, we take a few pain pills such as ibuprofen and the pain seems much better, even cured. But whiplash is much less straightforward than a simple tight muscle from over exertion. Whiplash causes the neck bones to displace from the stretched ligaments and discs. Over months the bones gradually creep further into the direction of the damaged ligaments. Since gravity is working all of the time, the tendency over time is for the misalignments to get worse. Once a critical threshold is reached, the nerves become irritated and pain develops. An initial little problem has now become much worse because the neck has healed in this abnormal position. The scar formation that occurs after injury is now holding the neck in an abnormal position. When injury occurs we may adapt or compensate to the abnormal position. But over time the limits to this compensation are passed, producing pain. Because of the scar formation that develops after injury, the joints of the spine may not move normally. To compensate for this limited motion at some joints, others have to take up the slack. These joints then become hypermobile, producing irritation to the nerves and spinal cord. The hypermobility is produced by stretched-out ligaments. As months, and even years, pass the stretched ligaments become even more stretched due to the effects of gravity and the movements of our head in every day life. The athlete may notice these changes right away because their physical performance is something they are very accustomed to. In someone with a more sedentary life-style, the neck pain, stiffness, or headaches may come on months or even years after the injury. Visit www.olsonchiropracticcenter.com for more information.