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Can Neck Pain and Whiplash be helped by Chiropractic Care?
By Spa guru | March 24, 2009
Introduction
If we wake up in the morning with a stiff and painful neck, the tendency is to blame the situation on our pillow, bed, or sleep position during that night. We also make an effort to figure out what is taking place when sudden neck movement causes a sharp pain that feels as if “something” has slipped out of position or that a nerve is being “pinched.” It is helpful to understand that most neck problems are rarely caused by a single incident, but usually by the cumulative effects of unsuitable sitting posture, bad work and living habits, lack of proper exercise and flexibility, and other lifestyle-related factors. Naturally, some neck challenges are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.
Anatomy
In order to understand neck pain, it is helpful to be aware of the anatomy of the spine. The movement of the spine is piloted by neck vertebrae that are composed of posterior joints, called facets, that connect vertebrae to one another. Inter-vertebral discs, made of tough cartilage, connect the “bodies” of the vertebrae. This dense cartilage surrounds the nucleus, a soft material in the center of the inter-vertebral discs. The main function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. In a canal found between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. The spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae and provide the energy to make the muscles and other organs of the body function. They also carry impulses from the body to the brain concerning pain, touch, position, temperature, as well as other senses. The nerves that go out from the neck are responsible for the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The natural forward curve of the neck balances the weight of the head and decreases stress on neck vertebrae. For more information please feel free to visit your Colorado Springs Chiropractor.
Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use
A larger majority of people are now making their living sitting at a desk in front of a computer. The use of computers has risen dramatically, and many individuals spend eight to ten hours a day slumped over the keyboard and staring at the monitor. When we sit with our head in a forward bent position-the posture that most desk workers assume-the ligaments that hold the facets together and the muscles in the neck are put under tremendous strain. Furthermore, the normal forward curve of the neck may become reversed and create more stress on the surrounding tissue of the neck. All of this can lead to spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the primary causes of spinal nerve irritation. Besides general pain, spinal nerve inflammation in the neck can generate symptoms including headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.
Headaches and Chiropractic Care
Headaches or migraines are commonly associated with disorders of the cervical spine. Symptoms, from a dull ache to throbbing pain, are caused when the cervical vertebrae lose their essential position or motion and sensitive nerves and blood vessels, related to structures in the head are stretched or inflamed. Trigger points, the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, can also refer pain to the head. Of course there are other factors related to headaches including toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. Still, the alignment of the neck and the irritation of surrounding tissues should be a foremost consideration when treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractic care has been shown to singularly beneficial in the treatment of headaches. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor can give you further information regarding treatment and pain relief.
Whiplash and Chiropractic Care
Many people are involved in car accidents. Beyond question the most common auto accident is when one car collides into the rear-end of another car. During such a collision, the head of the passenger in the front car is powerfully wrenched back, and then forward, causing harm to the structure of both the front and back of the neck. This sort of injury is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force generated by such an accident is very strong and can cause trauma to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Besides neck pain and immobility, symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and shoulder pain, tingling in the hands and fingers and weakness of the arm and hand are coincidental with whiplash injury. Immediate evaluation and x-rays are crucial in order to rule out a fracture. Usually in many cases, the injuries are primarily to the soft tissues and joints. Proper management is crucial in healing from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Colorado Springs Chiropractor is educated to understand whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from start to finish.
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