4 Common Causes of Neck Pain in Trappe, PA

1. Whiplash injury – a common misconception is that whiplash can only occur from a serious car accident.  The fact is that whiplash can occur from even a minor fender bender or from an incident on the sports field.  Whiplash causes strain of the soft tissues of the neck and can also cause misalignments of the vertebrae.
2. Muscle strain – nowadays, a lot of neck pain comes from extended usage of smartphones and tablets, forcing the neck into a forward position.  This posture causes strain on the muscles of the neck, which can lead to pain.
3. Arthritis – the joints of the spine in the neck can wear out.  This can cause disc deterioration and the formation of bone spurs.
4. Compressed nerves – compressed discs, bone spurs, and misalignments of vertebrae can irritate or put pressure on the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord.  This can cause pain as well as numbness and tingling in the arms or hands.

Natural Neck Pain Care

It’s no secret that chiropractors have been helping people overcome neck pain for a long time.  Upper cervical chiropractic care is a more specific niche of chiropractic care that addresses the uppermost vertebrae in your neck, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2).  These two bones are quite different from the rest, accounting for the majority of the range of motion of the head as well as supporting the weight of the head.  When either of these two vertebrae are not positioned properly, the neck cannot bear the weight of the head correctly, resulting in compensation.  These compensations can cause any of the four scenarios mentioned above, leading to pain, discomfort, neck stiffness, and loss of range of motion.

At the Head and Spine Pain Center, we take a detailed look at each patient’s head and neck alignment.  Since the upper cervical spine is designed for mobility rather than stability, the majority of neck issues begin there and then find their way down through the rest of the neck.  Using gentle, precise adjustments to the atlas or axis, we are able to accomplish great results.  Once the upper cervical spine is aligned, the head is re-centered, reducing strain on muscles and pressure on nerves.  Upper cervical care can be the natural, lasting solution for your neck pain.