Neck pain is very common in today’s fast-paced world. Who has time for it? Yet, it seems to affect almost everyone at one time or another. Most of us shrug it off and continue on. However, sometimes neck pain can really put a crick in your day. Sometimes, it is so bothersome that it makes you begin to worry if something serious is wrong. In this article, we will discuss some red flags to be aware of and, then, we will consider a natural way to find relief for neck pain that has been successful for many.
Rest assured, most cases of neck pain are not serious. If you have been involved in an accident or the pain you feel is extremely severe or something you find very odd, it is important to seek immediate medical care. Don’t ignore something you feel is serious. The following information refers to non-emergency situations and can help you decide whether or not you need to seek the care of a professional for your neck pain.
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Thankfully it is very rare, but neck pain can be a warning sign of cancer, an autoimmune disease, a structural problem (spinal cord injury or threat to a vital blood vessel), or an infection. Realize though, these situations create hard-to-miss signs and symptoms in addition to pain. They are also likely to be diagnosed quickly. This means, if it feels serious, go have it looked at by a professional. The general rule of thumb is that when the following 3 things are present, it is a good time to make an appointment to have your neck pain checked out.
The 3 red flags to watch for are:
The following list of red flags should be taken seriously. If you have more than one or two of these, it is possible that something serious may be going on in your neck and you need to seek immediate care. Keep in mind that these are reasons to be checked out by a doctor, not reasons to begin to worry. Most cases will turn out to be nothing.
Things you do not have to worry about have to do with arthritis. Signs of wear and tear on the spine, arthritis, and degenerative disc disease are all things that produce neck pain but should not cause you immediate danger.
Sharp, stabbing, and shooting neck pains are usually false alarms as well. These are generally related to musculoskeletal problems.
A stiff neck can be serious, but it is very rare. If it is hard to bend forward and you feel like you have the flu, you can be concerned. Otherwise, it is probably nothing too serious.
If you are bothered by neck pain, and it is not the kind you need to seek immediate medical care for, a visit to your local upper cervical chiropractor can prove to be very beneficial. We focus on making sure the top two bones of the neck are in proper alignment. If either the C1 or C2 vertebrae are out of place, they can be a likely source of neck pain. Using low force corrections to realign these bones may be all that is needed to help you see an improvement in your neck pain and feel better overall.
TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.
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.