The neck is a complex structure, and parts of it can be the culprit when it comes to neck pain. The cervical spine has the unique job of giving your head both the support and mobility it needs. The average weight of an adult head is approximately 11-12 pounds, and the top vertebra balances this weight.
There are seven vertebrae that make up the cervical spine. At the top, the atlas vertebra forms a junction with the skull, and at the bottom of the neck at C7, the spinal column transitions into the thoracic region. Keeping the neck together are a series of ligaments, joints, and discs that give stability and enable movement. Nerve roots that branch off of the spinal cord housed within the vertebrae exit through openings at the left and right side of the spine.
Neck pain can take on many characteristics. It can feel:
Since neck pain is such a common, universal experience, we’ll discuss some of the most common conditions that come along with neck pain. Finally, we’ll talk about a branch of chiropractic care that can give neck pain sufferers a natural, lasting relief.
Those who are prone to neck pain might also find themselves experiencing more frequent headaches or migraines. Similarly, migraine and headache sufferers can sometimes feel their neck start to hurt or tense up. It’s no surprise that these conditions are connected. If the area where the head and neck meet, where the atlas (C1) vertebra is situated, is affected then normal blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow between the head and neck can be compromised.
The cartilage in the many joints that connect the vertebrae in your cervical spine can degenerate due to abnormal wear and tear over time. Rather than having the joints move smoothly over the cartilage surface, you might experience a grinding sensation along with neck pain. Osteoarthritis can also cause inflammation and bone spur formation, both of which can irritate nerves and cause referred pain, numbness, and tingling down the neck through the shoulder, arm, and into the hand.
Degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine can irritate nerves and lead to arthritic changes in the neck. If the discs are not kept healthy, they will start to become dehydrated. This can happen due to an injury, smoking, a misalignment (subluxation), or repetitive wear and tear.
In a whiplash injury, the head and neck move forwards and backwards suddenly. The muscles and ligaments of the spine can be damaged, torn, or even rupture as a result of a whiplash injury. Although we usually think of whiplash when we think of a car accident, particularly getting rear-ended, whiplash injury can also happen from a slip and fall, sports injury, or other circumstance that causes the head to accelerate and decelerate without warning.
A disc herniation happens when the inner jelly-like material of the disc (the nucleus pulposis) pushes out through the outer fibrous rings of the disc. A disc herniation can be extraordinarily painful as it can irritate the nerve roots in the neck or the spinal cord itself.
It certainly seems logical to see a chiropractor if you’ve been suffering from neck pain. But did you know that there are chiropractors who have additional training and focus exclusively on the alignment of the uppermost vertebrae in the neck? Upper cervical chiropractors have an intimate understanding of how the neck functions and how the alignment of the atlas, the top bone in the spine, can influence how the rest of the neck feels. Some of the benefits of seeing an upper cervical specific chiropractor include:
Upper cervical adjustments do not require a great deal of force due to the fact that they are so precise. Based on specific measurements of the spine, upper cervical chiropractors provide corrections that fit the needs of an individual patient. This equates to a gentle, effective adjustment without the need for forceful popping or twisting of the neck.
One of the most important goals of upper cervical chiropractic care is to provide adjustments that hold in place for longer and longer as your spine heals and becomes stronger. At each visit, your atlas correction will be checked to see if it is holding in place. The worst thing we can do is adjust a vertebra that is already in its correct position. You may need more frequent adjustments when first starting out under care. However, as things heal, visits can be spaced further apart.
There is no need to suffer endlessly with neck pain that doesn’t seem to want to go away on its own. Most upper cervical chiropractors offer a complimentary, obligation-free consultation to learn more about this revolutionary approach to care. To locate a practitioner in your area and start getting relief, click on the search function on our website.
References:
https://medlineplus.gov/neckinjuriesanddisorders.html
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
