Get RID of Neck Pain!

“How do I know if I am having pain in the bone vs pain in the muscle? Isn’t one more serious than the other? How do I get relief from my neck pain?”

We frequently get these types of questions in our chiropractic office and thought the newsletter a great place to address the topic, so please forward this email to a friend or co-worker you know who is….ahem, we mean, who HAS a pain in the neck! 😆 

Bone pain and muscle pain usually present differently.

Bone pain is typically more dull, deep, lasts longer, and can be more debilitating. It is also usually clear where the specific location is, as opposed to a general region that is achy. Regular treatments like ice/heat and over-the-counter medications tend to be less effective on severe bone pain, with the pain returning quickly and persistently if not being continually treated. Bone pain can mean a more serious underlying issue is beginning to occur. It should be investigated quickly to catch anything serious and potentially prevented.

What is more frequent, is a pain originating in the tissues surrounding the bones, nerves between vertebrae being pinched, or muscles around the affected area feeling sore. This type of pain is usually more general in location, can be sharp or dull, and will tend to respond better to the usual pain treatments like medications, stretching, chiropractic adjustments, or rest.

Now that we’ve identified the difference in the types of pain that can be occurring in your neck, what does a chiropractor say about getting rid of that pain?

We’re glad you asked!

Along with the vast amount of underlying causes to your neck pain, there is likely an equally vast number of treatments that can bring relief. This is great news! There is no one-size-fits-all solution and there is a high probability that there is a treatment out there that will be perfectly suited for YOU.

BONE: If you truly think your pain presents as bone pain, you should see your doctor right away and rule out anything more serious going on before trying other alternatives.

Muscular: If your neck pain is due to a muscular strain, or other injury, here are a few things that should offer relief:

• Alternate ice and heat for 12-15 minutes each, once per hour until symptoms subside.

• Make sure you are using a proper pillow! Your pillow should have specific support for the length of your neck and provide support while allowing specific head space that doesn’t strain the neck muscles while sleeping for extended periods of time. We have a pillow we recommend in the office, in addition to being able to order a different pillow if we have a conversation that leads us to a different solution for your specific situation.

• Gentle stretching a few times per day should help loosen up those muscles. There are always great videos on YouTube showing proper form and variety for those hard-to-reach muscles. Here’s one you can try! CLICK HERE

• Try BioFreeze instead of Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen causes tiny tears in the stomach lining that can lead to ulcers and those tiny tears can take six weeks to heal after just one dose. BioFreeze is a great alternative and we carry that in the office for your convenience.

• Chiropractic adjustments can help with muscular pain in the neck in a couple different ways. When the vertebrae in the neck are out of alignment, this causes undo strain on the connective tissues and muscles surrounding the subluxation (misalignment.) Realigning those vertebrae, and treating the muscles with ice/heat rotation should alleviate the pain relatively quickly. Another way an adjustment helps reduce muscular pain in the neck, is that chiropractic adjustments get the immune system working at its peak performance state. Your immune system is responsible for sending help to any area of the body that is in pain or injured. With the immune boost from a chiropractic adjustment, your body will be healing itself in no time!!

Call, text, or stop by for more information on any of the products, techniques, or questions you may have for your situation. We are more than happy to help!

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In Health,

The Staff at PCW: Dr. Shawn, Dr. Kayla, Maddy, Charlene, and Claire