Neck Pain

At some point in time, we have all experienced neck pain for one reason or another. It could be caused by multiple reasons or injuries; whiplash from an auto accident, playing a sport and getting hit or jerked around too hard, stress or bad posture, maybe you just slept on it wrong…Whatever the case and how the neck pain originated, it’s still not fun to live with. Most Americans today not only have experienced neck pain, but live with the chronic pain by not doing anything about it.

The weight of the head weighs about 12 pounds and carries 29 bones in total; 8 cranial, 14 facial, a hyoid bone (between chin and thyroid), and 6 auditory (ear) bones. That is a lot of weight for the neck to be holding. It is no wonder why neck pain is so common.

Studies are also developing that there is a new form of neck pain derived from cell phones. The reason is because we are constantly looking down, or are hunched over looking at the screens on a daily basis, so our necks and posture is being weighted down in an unnatural position. 

Most people tend to feel similar symptoms, some far less or worse than others. Here are a few symptoms of neck pain, and perhaps it will help you identify the severity of yours:

• Sore
• Sharpness or spasms
• Difficulty lifting objects
• Headaches or migraines

If neck pain progresses, it can be hard to sleep comfortably. Neck pain can also affect daily activities, like getting dressed or cooking, even driving, or watching kids run around. 

Neck pain typically develops in one of the following ways:

• Gradually over time
• Immediately post-injury
• Delayed post-injury
• Suddenly

Despite how you got the neck pain in the first place, what matters is how you care for your body and how to eliminate the neck pain completely. If you are unsure of what steps to take in order to find relief, going to your local chiropractor is a great start. He can assess your injury or pain, create an individualized treatment plan in order for you to heal and start living again!

Or getting a massage is helpful too, as this increases blood circulation and releases a lot of built up tension. 

Of course there are the severe cases where the physical trauma was too great, and needs to seek immediate medical attention and reviewed via CT-Scan or MRI.