The Importance of Your Neck!
The neck region has the vast responsibility of fully supporting the head. In order to do this it must remain strong and flexible withstanding a life time of abuse. Whether one sits at a computer or stands for hours at a time; all of these routine positions can eventually strain or damage the neck. As stress on the neck is increased sublimation can begin to work its way down to the shoulders and back. The repetitive motions that we make on a day to day basis are often the root causes of our neck pain. Other people suffer with neck pain due to straining, age, accidents, falls or even an injury to the head.
Neck pain is commonly diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, neck strain, whiplash, a herniated disc, or a pinched nerve. Sometimes it is a combination of two or more of these conditions.
Critical to Good Health
The neck region is made up of 7 vertebrae. These vertebrae are crucial to maintaining the proper structure and position of the neck. The vertebrae or small bones that surround the spinal column are spaced with soft cushioned tissue called discs. The discs act as buffers protecting the neck from shock. Intertwined between these vertebrae and discs are the all important nerve endings.
If a disc ruptures or herniates; it creates a bulge that forces excessive pressure onto the nerves in the vertebrae. Sometimes a bulged disc may cause pain or inflammation that causes pain in the arm and weakness or tingling in the afflicted part of the body.
Take a look at this list. You will quickly notice how many things can be affected by a misalignment of the neck. The nerves and muscles of this area greatly influence many other functions of the body including:
arteries veins lymph glands thyroid gland parathyroid glands esophagus larynx trachea
Because of the far-reaching effects, it’s easy to see how neck pain can serve as a warning signal that one would do well to heed.
Allowing the Body to Heal Itself
A doctor of chiropractic is highly trained to diagnosis the different types and causes of neck pain. A chiropractor is essentially a specialist in spinal manipulation. Manipulation works to return motion to the spine. It is the lack of normal motion (restricted motion) that causes the pain in the first place. Once normal motion is restored, the muscles relax and pain lessens. The key is to allow the body to heal itself, and this in turn is the key to relief from the ongoing discomfort of neck pain.
Chiropractors are uniquely trained to treat the body as a ‘whole’. Although a chief complaint may be neck pain; chiropractors will take related issues such as poor posture and unhealthy repetitive motion into consideration and help the patient learn ways to reduce the stress on their bodies. The knowledge and insight they can give allows a person to experience a pain-free future.
Neck pain is highly debilitating and can disrupt your normal day to day routines. The truth is that there is no reason to continue to suffer and a chiropractor may be the perfect place to begin looking for the relief you need.