Chiropractic Treatment For Neck Injuries and Pain

Neck pain can come from multiple sources. Injuries such as Whiplash are the most commonly thought of injury, but there are other factors that can impact the area as well.
Outside stress commonly is felt in the neck, particularly if you work in an office setting at a computer and are bent over a desk all day. The physical makeup of the body can also cause issues. The weight of the head is precisely balanced over the fragile bones of the neck and spine area and, with your head weighing about the same as a bowling ball, even a single erratic movement can cause problems for your body.
Neck pain can present in other areas as well. The nerves at the top of your neck move into your head while the nerves at the base move into your spine and lower extremities. This means that you can experience headaches or arm pain, but the problem will stem from an area that is not displaying any symptoms.
Our Conyers Chiropractors will treat your neck pain seriously, by starting with a complete set of X-rays of the area as well as a full exam. Our Chiropractors work together to create a multi-dimensional approach to your care plan, incorporating medical treatment, Chiropractic, and physical therapy.
Our treatment options, such as our class four FDA-approved cold laser therapy and cervical spine decompression, will help alleviate your neck pain as well as any other places the discomfort exists. If these are not working as well for you, our doctors will order an MRI to take a closer look at the area and begin consulting with the AICA Conyers interventional spine Chiropractors to expand the treatment to include epidurals, facet blocks or nerve ablation.
On the rare occasion that our in-house procedures are not completely effective, our clinics have relationships with some of the best neurosurgeons in the metro Atlanta area. This means that while 99 percent of our patients do not require surgery, the few that do will be in the best hands possible. So take charge of your pain and call one of our clinics at your convenience, as they are available to speak with you 24/7. Schedule your appointment today by dialing (404) 602-0386!

Common Causes of Neck Injures and Pain

An injury to spinal ligaments, joints, discs, and muscles can lead to neck problems. Other causes of spinal pain can be obesity, poor posture while standing and sitting, and under-use of the muscles in your abdomen – needed to maintain proper weight distribution and balance. When the abdominal muscles are too loose, you can overcompensate by using your neck muscles. Doing this excessively will lead to a chronic neck pain, and can end up causing pain in other parts of your body.

Automobile Accidents

Automobile accidents are the leading cause of neck injuries. Any jerking movement that bends your neck in a tight curve and then back again can give you whiplash, which is named for the whip-like motion that stresses the neck bones and can cause damage to the adjacent tissue. Additionally, when whiplash occurs, your neck muscles respond by contracting, which can weaken the muscles and cause pain and neck stiffness.

Aging

The age-related spinal pain offenders are degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis. All of these can affect your neck. Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder that hits cartilage, ruining it, while the body begins to form bone spurs that hinder spinal flexibility.
Spinal stenosis constricts the small gaps that nerves use to travel down your vertebrae, which puts pressure on the nerve roots causing pain and loss of sensation in the neck, arms, and shoulders. Degenerative Disc Disease begins to compress the discs in your spine – minimizing their elasticity, and shortening them. Telltale signs are deformed disks that make you feel numb, tingle and cause pain.

How Our Conyers Chiropractors Diagnose Neck Injuries and Pain

Just because the pain begins in your neck doesn’t mean that’s where the damage ends. When you come to AICA Conyers, the Chiropractor will check your whole spine; it’s all connected, and a pain in your neck may be indicative of a problem farther down the spinal column.
To determine the root of the problem, your Chiropractor will likely have you stand and walk to assess your gait, posture, and range of motion. You’ll also discuss your medical history, and may undergo further tests, X-rays, and in certain cases where there is concern over concealed tissue damage such as a herniated disk, an MRI.
All of this information will aid your doctor in designing the best treatment strategy for you. This may include coaching regarding lowering stress, incorporating healthy habits, and living according to your goals. Deficiency in any of these areas can lead to tension that will affect your neck and back. Your Chiropractor will check your spine, looking for something out of place, a muscle spasm, or pain.
The Chiropractor will evaluate the alignment of your shoulders, the curve of your spine, and test your back strength, reflexes, and the limits of where you are experiencing any pain. Because Chiropractors only work with external, low-impact manipulation of your body, they usually don’t prescribe medications or deal with intrusive methods such as surgery. If your diagnosis is something more extreme, such as a fracture, Board Certified Orthopedists are also included on our team.

Common Chiropractic Techniques That Treat Neck Injuries and Chronic Pain

Examples of frequently used, gentle chiropractic techniques include (but are not limited to):
Cervical manual traction: The patient is usually sitting or lying face up, or less commonly, lying face down on the stomach. The Chiropractor pulls gently on the neck, stretching the cervical spine. They will often vary the angle between flexion (forward) and extension (backward), based on comfort, and search for the correct angle to most efficiently reduce the tension.
This method is often combined with mobilization, switching between the two and/or doing both concurrently. The patient is usually lying relaxed on his or her back while the chiropractor manually moves the vertebra in the neck right to left, and vice versa, switching between a side to side and figure 8 motion, applied at varying degrees of pressure.
This is a smooth stretch, with the goal of reducing fixations (areas where motion is limited to the cervical spinal segments). An oscillatory movement with the hands is also commonly utilized during cervical spine mobilization.

Call The Chiropractors At AICA Conyers Today For Treatment

Don’t hesitate to find pain relief. Call us today for a free consultation and X-ray. Finding the problem brings you closer to resolving it.
And don’t wait, our Chiropractors are here to treat you and bring the relief you need. We combine the latest in spinal manipulation techniques, medical technology, and lifestyle fitness to help you to a quick recovery. Our staff is available 24/7 to answer any of your questions, schedule you for an immediate consultation, or assist you with communications to your insurance provider. Just dial (404) 602-0386 to speak with one of our friendly staff members.