Neck Pain

In fact, neck pain can make even the simplest of movements involving your neck, shoulders, head, and arms extremely difficult. If you are suffering from neck pain and looking for effective treatments, you have come to the right place. Understanding the root cause of your neck pain is crucial to getting the right treatment for your condition.

King Chiropractic & Laser is your trusted partner in Chelmsford, Massachusetts for effective neck pain treatments. Our team of medical experts realizes the importance of treating the whole person and not just his or her symptoms. Although medications and surgery are important and cannot be completely discarded, many aches and pains can be easily resolved with different types of conservative treatments including chiropractic care, lifestyle changes (diet & exercises), laser, and myofascial release.

Common Causes Of Neck Pain

The neck supports the entire weight of your head. Hence, it can easily be at risk of conditions and injuries that cause pain and restrict motion. Here are some of the most common causes of neck pain:
• Worn Joints – Neck joints tend to wear with age similar to any other joint in your body. The body often forms bone spurs in response to wear and tear. Bone spurs can reduce your neck range of motion and cause pain when inflamed. This is commonly called “degenerative joint disease” or “osteoarthritis”.
• Myofascial pain- Poor posture, stress, and repetitive use of your neck muscles can lead to myofascial trigger points, aka “knots” in the muscles. These can be very painful and radiate pain into the head, upper back, chest, or arms.
• Muscle Strain – Muscle strains can occur due to a sudden injury like a car accident or more slowly due to postural strain, such as when you sleep with your neck turned and wake up with a sore neck.
• Nerve Compression – A bone spur or a herniated disk in the neck can irritate or press on the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord. Nerve irritation or compression can lead to excruciating neck pain at times, as well as pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the arms and hands.
• Diseases –In more rare cases, neck pain can be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, infections, Lyme Disease, or even cancer. If we suspect any of these, we will refer you to the appropriate medical professional.

Treatments

In most cases, neck pain does not require injections or surgery and can be managed with conservative care. At King Chiropractic & Laser we use several different techniques to alleviate your neck pain:
• Chiropractic Care – A neck adjustment is a precise & effective treatment procedure applied to the joints of the neck. It works to improve the mobility of the spine and to restore the range of motion. This can be done by hand or with a special instrument called an Impulse, which gently taps the vertebrae. We often also provide neck traction either with our hands or a strap in order to stretch the spine and relieve pressure on the nerves.
• Myofascial release – We employ a variety of techniques to loosen tight muscles, such as trigger point release, stretching, Thera-gun, and Graston Technique.
• Class IV Laser – Laser therapy helps improve blood circulation to the neck, leading to less inflammation, pain, and stiffness, and speeding up healing time.• Electrical stimulation – This can be used to reduce muscle tension and spasm.
• Radial Pressure Wave – Sometimes called “shockwave”, this technique uses powerful pulses of sound waves to break up stubborn ‘knots’ in muscles and fascial adhesions, leading to better range of motion and less pain.
• Traction – The doctor applies gentle traction to the neck either with their hands or a special Y-axis strap. This helps open up the spaces between the vertebrae and is especially effective for people with arthritis, disc herniations, and pinched nerves in the neck.
• Lifestyle advice – This may include ergonomics, simple exercises, supplements/diet changes, and at-home massage techniques. If more intensive rehabilitation is required, we have good relationships with several local physical therapists and are happy to co-treat.

If you or someone in your family is suffering from neck pain, call the expert team at King Chiropractic & Laser in Chelmsford, Massachusetts to schedule an appointment today!