Why Does My Neck Hurt?
Your neck has a tough job. It has to hold, stabilize, and move the weight of your head every day for a lifetime. Holding up 11 pounds may not seem like a lot, but the seven bones and 20 muscles of your neck need to work together in harmony for you to move your head around and keep that weight balanced. Postural changes, sudden injuries, and arthritis are a few of the primary causes of neck pain. Pain can often be traced to a problem with either the muscles, bones, discs, or nerves in your neck. In some people, neck discomfort may also occur alongside cervical tension and migraine symptoms, making it important to consider how the structures and movement of your neck may relate to recurring headaches.
Respond Proactively to Your Pain
If you’ve ever been unable to turn your head for a day or two, you know how debilitating and life-changing neck pain can be. The sharp muscle spasms that restrict your ability to move can happen when your body tries to protect a spinal joint that isn’t moving correctly.
Almost every bone in your neck has a pair of sliding joints towards the back called facet joints. If an adhesion forms or the joint is stuck, your body will try to compensate or work around the issue for a little while. But, over time, this compensation can cause a cascade of additional challenges.
- Sudden injuries, arthritis, and postural issues can all contribute to neck pain.
- The small sliding joints (facet joints) of your neck can become stuck and cause muscles spasms and pain.
- Gentle spinal adjustments combined with daily stretching can help restore the motion of your facet joints and reduce pain.
Pain in your neck is your body’s way of saying “pain attention”! Even if it eases up by the end of the day, it’s a smart idea to have us evaluate your motion. Movement assessments are a part of our examination and provide us with an incredible amount of information about your body. By taking a proactive approach today, you may be able to prevent future episodes of neck pain and stiffness in the future.
Stenosis: How a Pinch in Your Neck Can Affect Your Whole Body
Have you been told that you have spinal stenosis? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from spinal stenosis each day, and it’s the number one reason people over 65 years old have spine surgery. Spinal stenosis is the compression, or pinching, of your spinal cord. It can occur due to a disc herniation, bone spur, or ligament overgrowth. However, drugs and surgery are not the only way to find relief.
Take the Pressure Off
For many people, the most significant challenge associated with spinal stenosis is the decreased ability to get up and move! Severe pinching in your neck can cause issues with your arms and legs. One of the best ways to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis is to open up the spinal canal and take the pressure off the nerves and spinal cord. Many chiropractic techniques focus on decreasing the pressure on your spinal cord, relieving the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis.
- Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine.
- Spinal stenosis is most commonly caused by degenerative changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis.
- Relief can often be found by building up your strength while improving the flexibility and stability of your spine with chiropractic care.
After chiropractic care, many patients report having a decrease in their symptoms, the ability to walk further without pain and find an improvement in their overall quality of life. If you have been slowed down due to spinal stenosis, do not hesitate to schedule an evaluation with us. We will provide a complete evaluation and guide you towards the best treatment options to find relief.
Is My Arm Pain Coming from My Neck?
Pain in your hand, wrist, or arm can be frustrating. You don’t realize how much you use your arms and hands until pain, numbness, or tingling gets in the way. Most of us don’t usually think that an issue in our neck may cause our arm pain. But it’s very common that arm pain can be traced back to a nerve issue in your neck.
Pinched Nerves Can Affect The Arms, Hands, and Shoulders
Hand, wrist, and arm pain often starts with a neck problem. When a spinal disc in your neck irritates or presses on a nerve, it can result in arm pain. Just like the power lines that bring electricity to your house, your brain and spinal cord split into individual nerve roots that deliver information to every part of your body. The nerves in your neck are specifically focused on providing strength and sensation to your head and arms.
- A bulged or herniated disc in your neck can irritate or compress the nerves that travel to your hands, arms, and shoulders.
- A recent study of people with cervical (neck) disc herniation showed improvement in over 86% of people who received chiropractic adjustments.
- Improving spinal mobility, decreasing inflammation, and improving your posture may help prevent future episodes of neck and arm pain.
A painful arm caused by a pinched nerve in your neck very rarely requires surgery. Many people can find relief through conservative approaches such as chiropractic care, movement-based strategies, and other supportive therapies. Reducing inflammation and giving irritated tissues time to recover are important parts of a comprehensive plan we use to help our patients reduce their symptoms and get back to the activities they enjoy.
It’s also important to consider what may be contributing to ongoing stress on the neck in the first place. Maintaining healthy postural alignment and cervical stability can help support the structures of your neck, encourage balanced movement, and reduce unnecessary strain that may contribute to recurring symptoms. Combined with appropriate care and healthy movement habits, improving your posture can be another helpful step toward supporting long-term neck and arm function.
Neck Pain: How To Find Relief
An episode of neck pain can quickly hamper your everyday activities. Whether you began experiencing pain due to an injury, degenerative spinal changes, or poor posture, it can be difficult to think about anything except the pain when you’re struggling. It’s estimated that 70% of people experience neck pain at some point in their lives, but you should know there are conservative paths toward relief.
Small Adjustment. Big Changes.
Neck pain can create everything from headaches to pain in your arms and hands to pain directly in your neck. Different types of pain can point to different contributing factors. Some common contributors to neck pain include strained muscles, restricted spinal joints, injuries, and postural stress. Each of these challenges can cause significant discomfort and may have you fearing that you have a more serious issue. With a proper examination, our team can evaluate your movement and identify factors that may be contributing to your symptoms so we can develop a personalized plan of care.
- Facet joints are small spinal joints at the back of your spine that can become restricted and contribute to pain and stiffness.
- Muscle strains can occur from prolonged postures at your desk, repetitive activities, or even sleeping in an awkward position.
- Movement-based care can support recovery by addressing inflammation, mobility, and healthy range of motion.
A small adjustment can make big changes in your quality of life. Our practice is focused on helping you feel (and function) better by improving your spinal motion and then providing you with the stretches and exercises you can do at home to continue your improvement. If neck pain has got in the way of you enjoying your life- give us a call. Our team is here to help.
A small adjustment can make a big difference in your quality of life. Our practice focuses on helping you move and function better through individualized care that may include specific adjustments, mobility work, stretches, and exercises you can continue at home. For some patients, upper cervical structural correction may be an important part of that approach, particularly when an evaluation indicates that the upper neck and its movement patterns need specific attention.
If neck pain has gotten in the way of enjoying your life, don’t simply learn to live around it. Our team is here to help you understand what’s contributing to your symptoms and develop a plan that supports healthier movement and long-term function.
Common questions
Neck pain can have many potential causes, including poor posture, prolonged computer or smartphone use, muscle tension, restricted joint movement, injuries, repetitive activities, and age-related changes. Identifying the factors contributing to your particular symptoms is an important part of choosing an appropriate approach to care.
Poor posture can place additional stress on the muscles, joints, and other structures of the neck, particularly when you maintain the same position for long periods. Improving movement habits, taking regular breaks, and addressing contributing mobility restrictions may help support healthier neck function.
Previous injuries can sometimes contribute to ongoing or recurring neck symptoms, particularly when they affect movement patterns or how the surrounding structures function. A comprehensive evaluation can help determine whether a previous injury may be contributing to your current discomfort.
Consider seeking an evaluation if your neck pain is persistent, recurring, worsening, interfering with daily activities, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms. Sudden or severe symptoms following an injury should receive prompt medical attention.
Chiropractic care may help support healthy neck movement and joint function for some people with neck pain. The appropriate approach depends on the underlying factors, your health history, and your individual needs, which is why a thorough evaluation is an important first step.
Take the Next Step Toward Better Neck Health
Neck pain can have many contributing factors, from prolonged screen use and poor posture to injuries, restricted movement, and changes in the structures that support your neck. Understanding the potential causes is an important first step, but persistent or recurring discomfort deserves more than simply trying to work around it.
At Sound Corrections Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to evaluating neck pain and movement. By looking at your history, posture, mobility, and individual needs, we can help you understand what may be contributing to your symptoms and develop a personalized plan of care.
Ready to find out where to start? Get Started with Care today.
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