Neck pain can affect your mobility and make you struggle to fulfill your agenda for the day. However, you may not realize how limiting neck pain can be once you experience a simple head turn is not as simple after all. Many upper cervical care patients report neck pain issues, causing significant discomfort.
If you've been dealing with more persistent neck pain that has slowly worsened, it's time to pay more attention to your symptoms. If you did not experience any form of trauma, injury, or trauma, your chronic neck pain might be due to your daily habits.
While occasional neck pain is normal, chronic neck pain can be a real pain - literally. And, one of the most common causes of chronic neck pain is carrying a heavy bag day in and day out. That's because when you carry a heavy bag, the weight throws your body off balance and puts extra strain on your shoulders, back, and neck.
If your heavy bag is to blame, there are ways to work around it:
Please don't make it seem like you're carrying the world on your shoulders. If you are using a big bag, try to downsize, so you avoid filling your bag with a million other stuff you barely use. This will also prompt you only to bring what you use and need for the day. When your day ends, examine your daily bag, take out everything in it, and get a tinier bag you can bring for the next few days. Then, start organizing your stuff and include only those you use. Take out the things you have not used for the week. Leave some stuff on your work desk if you're only using them at work to free up more space in your bag and reduce the weight further.
If neck pain continues to occur even if you have significantly lessened your things, you may also check if the type of bag you're using contributes to your discomfort. For example, a lot of women tend to use shoulder bags by default. This usually puts uneven weight on your shoulders and puts unnecessary strain on one side of your muscles. Instead, try switching to a backpack to distribute the weight evenly, but remember not to bring heavy stuff as it can hurt your neck and your back too. If you like fashionable-looking bags, there are trendy backpack options too!
If you're still keen on using shoulder bags, you may lessen your neck and shoulder stress by alternating the sides where you carry your purse. Carrying your bag on one side for too long may be exhausting and can stretch the upper back and neck muscles. Make sure you distribute the weight by switching sides once in a while when carrying your purse.
Apart from the feeling of having the weight of the world on your shoulders because of heavy bags, there are also other reasons for your recurring neck pain, including:
Restful sleep is excellent, but not when you wake up with neck pain. Upper cervical care patients are advised to keep their necks in a neutral position even during sleep. So yes, even in your sleep, good posture is necessary.Your sleep position should match your pillow choice. Back sleepers may benefit from using softer and thinner pillows to support the normal curvature of the neck without forcing you into a forward head position. Side sleepers may need a thicker or medium-firm pillow to maintain their natural head position while supporting the space between the neck and shoulder. A pillow between your knees can also prevent you from twisting your lower back during the night. Stomach sleepers may need a body pillow until they fully transition to side sleeping. In addition, stomach sleepers are highly susceptible to back pain as they can force you to keep your neck twisted all night.
Have you ever heard of tech neck? It's the type of neck stress that occurs due to smartphones or computer screens. When you overextend your neck forward, you unconsciously increase your head's weight, and your neck bones and muscles tend to carry more weight than usual. Imagine if these bones support your heavier neck for an extended period due to the long time you're spending on your phone and computer, you're putting them under a lot of undue stress and pressure. Keep your screens at eye level and stretch and rest your neck and head occasionally.
A misalignment in your upper cervical spine, where your top two bones are located, can trigger several symptoms and health concerns, including neck pain. This is because the misalignment puts your bones in an unnatural position where it can squeeze on your nerves, muscles, joints, or ligaments. You will need a help of an upper cervical chiropractic doctor to correct said misalignments and relieve your pain and discomfort.
Your heavy bag, incorrect sleeping positions, and technology overuse may also contribute to upper cervical misalignment due to repetitive stress. Therefore you can benefit significantly from having your upper spine checked for overall health.Visiting a reputable upper cervical chiropractic doctor can better explain how the procedure works and how it benefits you in the long term. Remember that caring for your spine is the same as your other body parts, and if you have a balanced and aligned spine, you help keep your body's framework in its tip-top shape.If you are ready to experience the benefits of upper cervical care, whether neck pain exists or not, you can always book a consultation with an upper cervical chiropractic doctor near you. Caring for your upper cervical spine does not need to be prompted by pain. Maintenance and general care can also bring tons of benefits. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you back!
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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.
