Almost everyone has a sore neck from time to time, but millions of Americans experience persistent neck pain that interferes with their lives. What’s worse, around 50% of people who experience severe neck pain end up with chronic or frequently recurring bouts of neck pain.
The best way to avoid long-lasting and disruptive neck pain is to get an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment to heal your injury or degenerative condition. That’s where our team of expert chiropractors comes in.
Here at Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center, Inc. in Santa Monica, California, we don’t prescribe medicine to simply mask your pain and send you on your way. We work to identify the root cause of your neck pain so we can resolve the underlying issue and provide lasting relief.
Neck pain causes
We diagnose and treat a wide range of painful neck conditions with the end goal of helping you lead a pain-free life. Some of the most common conditions we see are:
Herniated disc
The cushioning discs in your spine have a rubbery shell that surrounds a gel-like interior. When degeneration or injury creates a tear in the surface of the shell, the gel can push out and compress a nerve in your spine.
Herniated discs are common in your neck or lower back and can cause pain, numbness, and coordination loss in your arms, hands, legs, and feet.
Spinal stenosis
Spinal stenosis occurs when your spinal column narrows. Many people have spinal stenosis without pain or other symptoms, but the narrowing increases your risk of nerve compression. It’s often due to thickened ligaments, herniated discs, or inflammation in the surrounding muscles.
Arthritis
When you think about arthritis, you might associate it with your knees, wrists, or shoulders. However, you can develop arthritis in any joint in your body, including the joints between your vertebrae.
Another common misconception is that arthritis is something you have to live with as you age. Treatment is available, and the sooner you start to manage your condition, the less pain you’re likely to deal with in the long term.
Spinal misalignment
If injury, poor posture, or musculoskeletal weakness allows your vertebrae to move out of correct alignment, you can experience severe pain. Spinal misalignment can compress nerves and cause muscle imbalance, spasm, and inflammation.
Muscle spasm
When your muscles suddenly tighten or spasm, it triggers pain and stiffness that can reduce your ability to turn and nod your head. Muscle spasms in or near your neck can also contribute to jaw pain, headaches, and shoulder pain.
Injuries
The most common neck injuries are whiplash and neck sprains. Whiplash occurs when a sudden impact from the rear forces your head to jerk forward and back rapidly. This unexpected movement can strain your muscles and push your vertebrae out of alignment.
A neck sprain overstretches or tears the ligaments in your neck. You’re most likely to suffer a neck injury during a car accident or while playing sports or engaging in another vigorous activity.
Treatments for neck pain
Once we identify the cause of your neck pain, we can recommend a personalized treatment plan to heal your neck and relieve your discomfort. Our specialized comprehensive treatments include:
- Spinal manipulations
- Spinal decompression
- Massage and myofascial release
- Physiotherapy
- Medical massage therapy
If you have neck pain that persists for more than a couple of days or gets worse even if you’re treating it at home with heat, ice, or other over-the-counter remedies, call our office or make an appointment online today.
At Spinal Stenosis and Disc Center, Inc., we identify the root cause of your pain so we can deliver expert treatment.