It's no secret that neck pain is common. In fact, nearly half of Americans will experience some form of neck pain at some point in their lives. Many people blame their neck pain on stress, poor posture, or even aging — but these are all just symptoms (or complications) of a much larger issue or problem about your health.
If you've had neck pain for a long time, you may have considered undergoing surgery. Neck surgery can relieve chronic neck pain, but it's not always the first recommendation doctors will give you. So, when is it necessary to go under the knife already? In this blog article, we'll discuss neck surgery, the conditions that could require it, and a good alternative and preventive upper cervical care method for most neck pain-related problems.
Neck pain is a pretty common ailment and symptom that can result from several different things. Some people experience neck pain due to mechanical problems, such as arthritis or muscle spasms. Others may develop nerve irritation in their neck, causing them to experience pain when they turn their head too far toward one side of the body. In most cases, however, the cause of your symptoms will be more vague and difficult to pin down—you might have "neck" issues without knowing precisely what's going on with your body!
There are heaps of conditions that can cause or worsen pain in the neck. Here are some examples of them:
For most of these conditions, neck surgery is usually a last resort. Doctors advise patients to perform simple self-care or take advantage of natural pain relieving techniques like physical therapy and upper cervical care. However, if the pain persists for months, you might have a severe underlying issue. This is when doctors might suggest neck surgery as an option.
Physicians consider several criteria before advising a patient to undergo neck pain surgery. Generally, people whose neck pain has progressed and become severe and more persistent undergo surgery to ease their pain. In addition, patients who have tried oral medication and other neck pain remedies but still have neck pain, and other upper cervical or spinal issues constantly consider surgical intervention. Here are helpful guide questions to help you decide if you should include neck surgery in your list of remedies:
If you have a disc herniation or bone overgrowth along the spine, it may be helpful to look into decompression and stabilization surgical procedures. On the other hand, if you only have muscle strain or sprain, you may only need to rest a bit and practice helpful neck pain remedies like upper cervical care.
Doctors generally provide a comprehensive review of the issue before suggesting surgery. This means your physician will likely explain what might happen if you leave the problem alone. Don't hesitate to ask as many questions as needed to clarify your confusion and resolve your fears.
Neck surgery procedures vary from one patient to another. Some help address the source of the issue by removing the tissues involved. Others, on the one hand, provide partial relief. So it would help to clarify your options with your physician.
Upper cervical chiropractic care may be a viable alternative to neck surgery. In fact, many chiropractic doctors will treat patients with pain in their necks and see great results by providing gentle and well-calculated neck bone adjustments. Depending on the technique used, your chiropractor can apply the adjustments manually or with the help of a specialized tool or equipment.
Helping the neck bones shift back to their former alignment alleviates pressure on the nerve roots and muscle tissues. This allows you to experience significant relief. It can also help resolve issues that contribute to chronic neck pain, such as:
If your mind isn't set on undergoing neck surgery, you can look into upper cervical care. It's a promising relief method that has alleviated the pain of many patients. To know if you make a good candidate for neck bone adjustments, you must get in touch with an upper cervical doctor. This way, you can undergo the necessary diagnostic procedure to know how far your neck bones have adjustments and how long they have stayed in that position.
Once your upper cervical physician has a complete grasp of your situation, you can receive the adjustments and additional patient care instructions.
You can find a credible and trusted chiropractor and clinic near you through our comprehensive directory of upper cervical chiropractors.
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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.
