Neck Pain Treatment at Bence Chiropractic Wellness Center

One of the main functions of your neck is to structurally support your head. The average adults’ head weighs 12lbs, think of a bowling ball. If there is dysfunction in the neck area, this can lead to an array of health issues. 30% of neck pain cases develop into chronic symptoms, which is why we want to address the neck pain as early as possible. Some causes of neck pain are poor posture, excessive electronic device use, poor sleeping positions, acute injuries and poor biomechanics. Poor posture and poor biomechanics are microtraumas that worsens little by little over time.

The build up of microtrauma leads to degeneration. Degeneration causes a lack of motion in the spine and this is where chiropractic care has a big impact.

Chiropractic adjustments help to gain motion in the neck joints and to have the proper spinal alignment to avoid degeneration. With every chiropractic adjustment, subluxations are found and eliminated to allow for proper nerve function.

How we treat neck pain

When you come into our office for the first time, expect it to take up to an hour for a comprehensive exam and consultation. The first part of the exam is the detailed case history with a doctor that will attentively listen. Then posture checks along with neurological scans will be performed. Orthopedic tests are different positions the doctor will take you through in the neck area to help determine the cause of pain. Then x-rays will be taken of your neck area to assess the cervical curve, alignment, and bone and disc health. The curve in your neck, cervical curve, is of high importance because when there is not a proper curve, this causes stress and tension on your spinal nerves and spinal cord. When a nerve has stress on it, it loses its function.

When there is a misalignment in the spine this causes interference or stress on the nervous system, this is called a subluxation. Our nervous system is composes of the brain, spinal cord and the spinal nerves. The nervous system controls and coordinates every cell, organ and tissue in our body. When a subluxation is present, the nerve is not signaling to the brain at its full capacity. As a chiropractor, we find these subluxations in your spine and take the pressure of the nerve so that there is a full line of communication between the body and the brain. Subluxations are corrected through chiropractic adjustments that allow your spine to have the proper motion and alignment. If your headaches are being caused by a subluxation, then they won’t get better until that is addressed.
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Massage therapy for neck pain

The neck muscles tend to be tight and weak in most of the adult population, especially in women because this is where stress tends to settle in the female body. Women are 1.5 more times likely to complain of neck pain. Massage therapy helps to loosen up tight muscles and to help lymph drainage to help remove toxins from the body. Massage therapy and chiropractic care compliment each other. Massage therapy can address the direct cause of neck pain if the cause is a pulled or strained muscle or a result of a nerve irritation.

Exercises for neck pain

Exercises help to strengthen muscles and to stabilize neck structures along with chiropractic adjustments. Theses exercises are great to do even if you are not experiencing neck pain, we call it “flossing” your spine. You do these exercises twice a day, once first thing in the morning and then right before you go to bed. We show you how to do these exercises in our office and then give you a plan for you to do at home.

Causes of Neck Pain

Tech Neck

Tech neck, also called “text neck,” is increasingly common due to prolonged device use.
Adults spend an average of 4 hours daily looking down at devices, leading to poor posture.
The head shifts forward, increasing pressure on neck muscles and ligaments.
Each inch forward adds approximately 10 lbs of pressure on the neck.
Chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and stretches can help realign the spine and reverse the damage.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Common in older adults as aging causes disc breakdown, often worsened by poor biomechanics and lack of motion.
Other contributing factors include obesity, smoking, and physical trauma to the spine.
Discs supply nutrients to nerves through motion; degeneration shrinks nerve space in the neck.
Chiropractic care can help restore proper alignment and joint motion in the cervical spine.

Spinal Stenosis

A serious condition involving narrowing of the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Symptoms may include pain, numbness, weakness, or bowel/bladder dysfunction.
Pain typically worsens with standing or walking and may improve when sitting or bending forward.

Osteoarthritis

Caused by degeneration from lack of motion and prolonged poor biomechanics.
Bone spurs (extra bone growth) develop as a protective response, which can compress spinal nerves.
Results in neck pain and is traditionally seen in older adults but now occurs earlier due to poor posture.
Chiropractic adjustments help restore motion, alignment, and slow or reverse the condition’s progression.

Whiplash

Occurs due to trauma (e.g., car accidents) where the neck moves forcefully forward and backward.
This can straighten the natural curve of the neck and cause tissue damage.
Symptoms may not appear immediately but develop hours or days later.
Chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy (after inflammation subsides) are crucial for preventing chronic issues.

Questions

When should you see a chiropractor for neck pain?

You should see a chiropractor right away to address your neck pain. The longer you wait, the more the condition tends to worsen and then the longer the healing time.

Is it ok to pop my own neck?

You should try to avoid “popping” or “cracking” your own neck. When you do this on your own you are moving joints that can already move, therefore making them hypermobile and not moving the joints that need the correcting. Chiropractors are trained to put the proper force and motion into a joint.

How should I sleep with neck pain?

You should sleep on a pillow on your side or on your back. Make sure your pillow is level with your shoulders so that your neck is straight, not putting extra stress on the muscles and nerves.

How do I relieve my neck pain?

Chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, specific stretches and exercise and reducing inflammatory foods in your diet.

Are chiropractors covered by insurance for neck pain?

Yes, we accept most insurance plans. When you come in for your first visit, we check on your insurance coverage for you.