Neck pain can be acute from stress, strain or traumatic injury. It can also be chronic in nature and due to arthritic or degenerative conditions. Left untreated, acute neck pain is likely to become chronic neck pain in the future. Many older adults who have neck stiffness, limited mobility and pain can trace their current neck problems to an older injury that may have taken place many years prior.

The neck is prone to injury for a couple of reasons. For one, it has the all important job of holding up your noggin, which can weigh more than 8 pounds. The neck is also a very intricate area of the human body. It houses probably the most important area of the spinal cord and is comprised of bone, muscle, tendons, ligaments, cartilaginous discs, nerves and major blood vessels. In short, a lot can go wrong!

Because of this intricacy, you may experience a variety of symptoms when there is something wrong with your neck. Neck pain and stiffness can also be accompanied by pain that extends to the shoulders and even down one or both arms. You may have “cervicogenic” (neck-related) headaches, dizziness and vertigo.

Whiplash occurs when the neck is forced beyond its normal range of motion. This can occur due to a sudden jolt as seen in a car collision, blunt force trauma as seen when someone bumps their head and jars their neck or it can even occur as a result of repetitive strain injury or misuse (holding the phone receiver between your ear and shoulder).

Your neck pain may be caused by disc degeneration either from the natural aging process or from an old injury. The intervertebral discs are cartilaginous and fluid-filled and are basically, shock absorbers for your spine that allow fluid movement. As they degenerate, they lose integrity. The outer material may become worn and the fluid may leak leading to compression of the disc and narrowed space between the vertebrae.

Stress can cause neck pain. When we are stressed, we tend to hunch our shoulders and tighten our muscles. Repetitive motion injuries are common causes of neck pain as are poor posture and poor work station conditions. You may have neck pain simply because you are sleeping on the wrong type of pillow or because your mattress needs to be replaced or supported with a board.

Chiropractic care for neck pain in Oaklawn, IL offers you the very best in neck pain care. Gentle spinal manipulation, decompression and massage therapy will reduce inflammation and provide a healing environment. We offer individualized treatment plans designed to treat YOU, not just your symptoms.

Beyond hands-on treatment for neck pain, we will include education and advice on healing and strengthening exercises, nutrition, posture and ergonomics to help you avoid further degeneration or injury and start you down the road to a pain-free life!

Call your chiropractor in Oaklawn, IL today to find out how Dr. Hoekstra can ease your neck pain!

By Nathan Ruof D.C.