Neck pain is often an indicator of an underlying issue such as herniated or bulging disc between vertebrae or spinal stenosis. Medication such as painkillers may help while muscle relaxants may eliminate spasms and reduce discomfort, but if you’re in Rocklin seeking treatment, read the following article and learn about your other options.
Manual Adjustments
A sore neck is a common issue that often results in pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion. It may be the result of whiplash injury, poor posture, degenerative conditions or stress and may range from mild to severe pain that affects shoulders, upper backs and arms. Left untreated, chronic neck pain may interfere with daily activities leading to headaches, backache and fatigue as well as cause interference with daily tasks and interfere with daily life activities such as work or school attendance.
Chiropractic practitioners offer manual adjustments to help alleviate neck pain and restore equilibrium to the musculoskeletal system. These manipulations typically use manual manipulation techniques but may also involve electrical stimulation or heat or cold therapy as needed to achieve this objective. Their primary goal is to loosen restrictions in spinal joints and decrease inflammation.
Manual chiropractic adjustments of the neck are known as spinal manipulation or Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT), and involve using skilled hands-on techniques to manipulate it. OMT usually employs high velocity low amplitude thrusts applied using an activator – these manipulations may produce cracking noises which indicate loosening of joints that will now allow more freedom of movement for some patients.
Neck pain may also be the result of pinched nerves. When this occurs, an herniated disc puts pressure on spinal nerves that then send signals back to the brain that trigger inflammation resulting in symptoms such as arm/leg tingling/weakness and difficulty sleeping.
Chiropractors are trained to assess and treat all forms of neck injuries, from herniated discs and whiplash injuries to chronic neck pain. In addition to manual adjustments, your Chiropractor Office in Rocklin may suggest massage therapy with a licensed massage therapist or physical therapy with a physiotherapist. They may also start you on nutritional changes or lifestyle modifications in order to relieve neck pain and restore normal function.
Myofascial Release
Your body’s fascia – the thin connective tissue that creates an uninterrupted web to support bones, organs and nerves as well as all your muscles–can become tightened and restricted due to sudden injuries, repetitive movements or chronic conditions.
Myofascial release (which you can learn about here) seeks to relax these areas of tension and fascial restriction through slow, gentle pressure that is applied slowly over time – in contrast with massage’s more rapid manipulations that may induce quicker relief. Myofascial release also takes a broader approach than trigger point therapy which targets specific muscle groups involved with your pain.
Myofascial release sessions involve your chiropractor applying pressure to these tender areas with their hands, elbows, or massage tools such as foam rollers or balls. During this process you may experience some sharp or shooting pain that will subside as the tightened muscles relax, leaving your body more relaxed and flexible afterwards.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression creates negative intradiscal pressure that helps reposition herniated discs and decrease pain, relieving any caused by spinal stenosis – narrowing of the spine that compresses nerves – as well as sciatica – an injury whereby compression of sciatic nerve runs from your lower back into legs causing pain, numbness, or tingling in legs.
At this treatment, you are fully clothed and may require a harness around your pelvis or trunk to prevent movement during the process. Once on the computer-controlled machine, which slowly moves back and forth to stretch out your lower body to stretch your spine. Each treatment typically lasts 30-50 minutes with multiple sessions over five-seven weeks required for maximum results.
According to a study published in Clinical Neurological Research, VAX-D treatment proved successful for many patients suffering from herniated discs in the low back, according to results reported by randomization. Groups were randomly allocated either VAX-D treatment or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323632) stimulation; those receiving VAX-D experienced significantly better pain, activity and mobility scores compared with those using TENS stimulation.
Your doctor can perform surgical spinal decompression by extracting the portion of a disk that is pressing against a nerve through either microdiscectomy or laminectomy procedures. A laminotomy removes part of the bony arch of your spine called lamina while also potentially eliminating osteophytes (bony growths on spine). With microdiscectomy, they use needles to extract fragments of herniated or bulging disks.
An invasive surgery should only be considered when other, less invasive approaches have failed to relieve pain and/or restore movement. When undertaking such complex surgeries, it’s wise to enlist the services of an experienced neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon, particularly if your injury is severe.
Injections
The neck is an extremely fragile part of our bodies, making it susceptible to injuries due to accidents, sports activities and simply everyday living. Many people suffer from neck pain at some point or another; from cracking their neck during sleep to stiffness from work or home life. A short period of rest and gentle stretches usually helps alleviate most cases; however it would be prudent to seek professional assistance if discomfort becomes chronic and hinders everyday activities, sleep patterns or hobbies.
Doctors conduct physical exams on patients to assess neck alignment, range of motion and tenderness. Additionally, they may pose questions to better understand what may be causing pain in the neck area. X-rays can often assist doctors in diagnosing fractures or slipped discs; CT and MRI scans provide more comprehensive assessments for neck injuries that may not be visible at first glance.
Muscle spasms are one of the leading causes of neck pain, especially after being inactive for too long. Car accident or trauma victims often experience sudden jerking movements of their head that cause muscle and joint damage. Other conditions that may contribute to neck discomfort include spinal stenosis – pinching of nerves can result in arm and leg numbness or weakness; osteoarthritis; and rheumatoid arthritis which leads to painful swelling and joint inflammation – each one can be managed effectively at home using ice/heat/stretches as effective solutions.