| Neck pain can be experienced in many different | | | | might be present. While it seems tempting just have |
| ways. Sometimes we can wake up in the morning | | | | your neck rubbed or to put relaxing heat packs on |
| after sleeping in a strange bed or having had a | | | | you, the chiropractor wishes to understand the root |
| restless night and find that we have a stiff and | | | | cause, or underlying reason behind your injury. |
| painful neck. The pain might be felt on one side or | | | | If this is not done, long term problems can result in |
| both sides of the neck and may be accompanied by | | | | permanent injuries. After evaluating the x-rays or |
| other symptoms. | | | | scans, the chiropractor will assess the findings |
| These can include a burning pain, pain or numbness | | | | in combination with an extensive range of medical |
| radiating down the arms to the hands, causing a | | | | tests involving both neurological and orthopedic |
| tingling feeling in the hands or fingers. Weakness in | | | | evaluations. Based on the results of these tests, it is |
| the arms can also be a result. In addition, one might | | | | hopeful that a course of gentle and safe chiropractic |
| experience headaches, blurred vision or nausea. | | | | treatment commence and soon the troublesome |
| Often the headache is so severe that it is the | | | | symptoms will start to abate. |
| primary complaint and some people don't even realise | | | | There are some cases, unfortunately, where the |
| their neck is sore, stiff and possibly the source of | | | | problem has been placed before the chiropractor |
| their pain. | | | | very late after major changes have already taken |
| Neck pain can be caused by a traumatic incident such | | | | place in the spine and there may be a real challenge |
| as fall, sports injury or a motor vehicle accident, | | | | to grant relief and alter lifestyles. |
| either recently or in years past. You may have | | | | Often people with neck problems delay in seeking |
| adapted around the problem for so long that you are | | | | help from their chiropractor and think that the pain |
| not even aware how stiff and limited in movement | | | | will go away by itself. This can be short-sighted |
| you became. You might have sustained whiplash, | | | | thinking and, in fact, the problem may become worse |
| with long standing degeneration of the joints of the | | | | over time with the muscles of the neck and shoulder |
| cervical spine and due to abnormal postural changes | | | | blades becoming rigid and tight, further exacerbating |
| and disc bulges or protrusions. | | | | the problems. While we are all hopeful that problems |
| Of course, common problems seen today involve | | | | will go away 'by themselves' reality often shows us |
| poor desk posture, pillows with little height or | | | | otherwise and they keep returning to haunt us. |
| support, heavy shoulder bags, carrying little children | | | | If I had a penny for every time a patient told me |
| and shopping bags. It is no wonder that chiropractors | | | | their problem "fixed itself", I would have retired a |
| often promote contoured pillows to their patients | | | | long time ago. The very thought prolongs the |
| when we see what they have been spending 1/3rd | | | | problem in being assessed meaningfully. |
| of their 24 hour day supported by. | | | | At the first signs of neck stiffness, see your |
| Any one of the above problems needs immediate | | | | chiropractor. He will be able to advise you, if |
| investigation by a Doctor of Chiropractic. | | | | necessary, to seek a medical opinion if you have a |
| The chiropractor will have studied for at least 5 years | | | | high fever or significant symptom indicating you |
| at university to obtain his degree and is a competent | | | | should have medical investigation. |
| and trained professional. The chiropractor understands | | | | Chiropractic education prepares the doctor to be |
| that small incidents, often called 'microtrauma' build up | | | | aware of all the different possible causes of neck |
| over the longer term to create major joint changes. | | | | pain and headache - a thorough history and |
| The patient may be advised to have x-rays, CT or | | | | examination should include any medical problems you |
| MRI to evaluate the physical situation of the cervical | | | | have had and all the symptoms you are complaining |
| spine. Chiropractors understand that safety is | | | | of. However, most cases of neck pain do not involve |
| paramount and perform spinal imaging if the history | | | | infection and fever and can be treated very well by |
| and examination indicate that nerve compression | | | | the chiropractor. |