What is Neck Pain?
Neck pain is a kind of musculoskeletal pain that is caused by the muscles in the neck being stretched or strained. Neck pain is a common complaint. It affects people of all ages and genders. The neck is a very important part of the body, so it’s no surprise that neck pain, whether it’s chronic or intermittent, can be a debilitating health issue.
Neck pain can be a symptom of many health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. However, perhaps the most common cause of neck pain in adults is a misalignment in the upper cervical spine.
Signs and Symptoms of Neck Pain
As you might expect, neck pain is usually felt in the back of the neck, in the upper back, or in the shoulders. Sometimes the pain may radiate from the neck area to other parts of the body like the arms, hands, and shoulders.
Depending on the severity of the underlying issue, neck pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, including memory loss or difficulty concentrating, headaches or migraines, numbness or tingling in the arms or legs, dizziness or vertigo, changes in sleep patterns, and visual disturbances like blurred or double vision.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Neck Pain
The upper cervical spine is the topmost set of vertebrae in the spinal column. As a result, the upper cervical spine plays a key role in supporting the head and neck. If the upper cervical spine is misaligned or damaged, it can lead to pain, tightness, or dysfunction in the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in the neck.
The upper cervical spine is often misaligned because of bad posture or trauma. When the upper cervical spine is misaligned, it can cause the head to be tilted forward, backward, or to one side. This can lead to a condition called forward head posture, which is characterized by a rounded upper back and a head that is positioned too far forward.
Left untreated, a forward-facing head carriage can cause the muscles in the back of the neck to become overstretched, inflamed, and ultimately painful. This pain is often exacerbated by the additional pressure a misalignment places on the nerves in the neck.
How Our Treatment for Neck Pain Works
If you experience neck pain, you may be interested to learn that upper cervical chiropractic care can be an effective treatment for this condition. Upper cervical chiropractic care is a natural and safe form of treatment that uses spinal manipulation, diagnostic imaging, and exercise to restore proper alignment to the upper cervical spine.
At our office, we use X-rays and gentle cone-beam computed tomography scans to evaluate the alignment of the upper cervical spine. If a misalignment is detected, our expert chiropractor, Dr. Bello, will perform a series of gentle, non-invasive chiropractic corrections to restore proper alignment in the upper cervical spine and alleviate the symptoms of neck pain.
If neck pain is impeding your day-to-day life, get in touch with Dr. Bello. He services patients in Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Westwood, and the surrounding areas.