Relieve Neck Pain

Can a Chiropractor relieve neck pain? Yes, but we also have some DIY tips that will help prevent any discomfort.

When to see a Chiropractor for neck pain?

It might be that you woke up with a stiff neck. Or you had a couple of stressful days. Those symptoms usually pass after a few days and can be successfully eased with simple exercise routines and proper sleep.

But what about the big warning signs that it’s time to visit your Chiropractor for neck pain?

1. Your neck pain is worse when you first wake up
2. Your pain is constant, even after a few days
3. You can’t move your head from side to side without severe pain
4. You are considering self-medication
5. You believe that the neck pain has a more serious cause
6. The pain moved to numbness or tingling in your hands
7. The pain was caused by an accident

How can a Chiropractor relieve neck pain?

As part of the treatment plan, your Chiropractor may use a combination of manual therapy and spinal manipulation.

The first step would be to locate the source of your pain and to ask you questions about your symptoms and remedies you’ve already tried.

The Chiropractor will evaluate your spine to figure out if other regions of the neck are affected, but it’s not just about the manual treatment – it’s about education.

What you’ll learn are useful tips about stress management, nutrition, and mindfulness; tips you can use in your everyday life to prevent future discomfort and pain.

Other than the physical exam, you’ll also go through your past medical history together, and you might need to do an imaging test that will help the diagnosis.

What causes neck pain?

In most cases, the cause is a pinched nerve. Try to pay attention to your posture – are you sitting uncomfortably? Is your neck stuck in an awkward position for a long period of time?

It might be that your pillow is too flat, or you slept on your stomach all night long.

There’s also a possibility that you experienced a whiplash – an injury that occurs when your neck experiences a sudden sharp movement from side to side or forward and backward.

Self-Neck adjustment: What you can do at home

Good news is that there are several things you can do to ease the pain. Self-therapy is fine as long as you are cautious about it, but it’s also the most effective when it’s combined with manual therapy.

1. Make it cold

Ice can reduce the swelling to an inflamed area. Hold a pack of ice wrapped in a towel on your neck for 40 minutes; make a 20 minutes break and repeat.

2. Change your pillow

Your pillow might be the main cause. Make sure that it’s firm and that is not too flat so your body won’t be held in an uncomfortable position.

3. Stretch it out

There are a couple of simple neck stretches that can help you loosen stiff muscles. Remember, you should pay attention not to extend your neck beyond its normal limits.

1. The first option is to sit or stand with your shoulders down. Bring your left ear to your left shoulder and repeat the stretch on the other side. Hold for 10 seconds on each. Try doing 3 repetitions per side.
2. The second exercise is to keep your shoulders down and tilt your head forward. Align your right eye with the outside of your left knee. Repeat on the other side and hold for 10 seconds.
3. The third and the most fun exercise aims to strengthen the deep neck muscles by pulling your chin back as if to create a double chin. You can do it standing up, but you can also pull it off if you are lying on your back.

4. Take a walk

Try not to stay in one position too long. Stretch out after 20 minutes of sitting or take a walk.

You should avoid driving until the pain eases. Your ability to look over your shoulder will be restricted which can impact your safety and even cause the symptoms to worsen.

How Can Neck Pain Be Prevented?

You can prevent neck pain by practicing good posture and by changing your habits. The most common cause of neck pain is stress – there are ways to recognize the signs early on and take action to prevent it from overwhelming you.

What you can do now, at home or at your workplace is to check if your computer monitor is on your eye level. You can also look for a cause in your bedroom –a flat pillow might seem like your best mate, but now it’s time to make some new friends.