Neck pain and stiffness treatment in Virginia Beach.

Imagine holding a bowling ball in your out stretched hand for hours at a time, believe me it would get heavy and your arm would get very tired and sore. Sitting for hours at a computer looking down can have a similar effect and create quite a bit of neck pain. The average human head weighs about 9 lbs. This can put quit a lot of strain on the neck over the coarse of the day.

The good news is that we are very well designed with plenty of musculature to support and maintain proper neck posture. The bad news is I don’t believe we were meant to sit at a desk for 8 hours a day. Of coarse many other things can cause neck pain. Any type of prolonged over use can aggravate the neck. Even laying on the sofa with the head at a bad angle for long periods of time can produce neck pain.

All this being said, if our neck is at its best structurally and mechanically our ability to put stress on our neck without causing pain greatly improves. This structural and mechanical part is were the chiropractor comes in to play. We find and isolate neck issues that lead to pain.   Most mechanical and structural conditions of the neck are do to trauma.

Trauma can come in many forms. An old auto accident, sports injury or slip and fall can all cause chronic mechanical problems with the spine. These conditions in later years become the foundation of arthritis. Repetitive over use and heavy manual labor can also produce these glitches.

Chiropractors find specific areas in the spine that are causing issues and treat them accordingly.   Once the spine is restore to good structure the pain should relieve. Proper exercise, stretching, rest and nutrition, as well as setting up an ergonomic work environment go a long way to preventing the return of neck pain. At New Life Chiropractic we reduce the pain and educate our patients on how to keep the pain away. Call Today 757-222-0910

 

Torticollis

 

Torticollis is one of the most painful and scary conditions affecting the cervical (neck) region of the spine. This is an acute spasm of the neck muscles that forces the head to rotate and the chin to come down toward the chest and the neck gets locked this way. Any attempted movement can cause sharp stabbing and radiating pain.

 

There are several possible causes of torticolis. The most likely is a subluxation or locked up vertabrae in the upper neck (C1-C2) causing rotational fixation and a pinched nerve. Other suspected culprits include hypertension or high blood pressure, trauma, or a visit to the dentist. 30% of the cases are of unknown or idiopathic origin. Bruxism or tooth grinding as well as a recent sinus infection could be involved. Under all circumstances the muscles in the neck spasm and contract and movement becomes impossible.

 

Torticollis is diagnosed by a series of orthopedic and neurological tests primarily to rule out more serious conditions such as infection. A long time chiropractor has no difficulty with this diagnosis. Just the head lock in a rotated and flexed position tells us we are dealing with torticollis.

 

Treatment goals include reduction of muscle spasm, neck pain relief, restoring full range of motion and able to perform all routine activities. Chiropractic treatment is really the only effective treatment for this condition. Massage and slow moderate stretching are done to elongate and mobilize the restricted tissue. Ultrasound and ice are applied to reduce the inflammation and swelling that are always present. Other treatments that may be done include trigger point therapy, interferential or electrical muscle stimulation as well as transverse friction massage. All of which can be performed at New Life Chiropractic of Virginia Beach.

 

Home exercises and stretching are prescribed to reduce the chance of recurrence. Light stretching of the neck muscles, easy isometric exercises and relaxation techniques are taught to our patients. Don’t suffer through a bout of torticollis. All the pain relievers and muscle relaxers in the world will have very little affect. Call New Life Chiropractic and we will get you in for a same day appointment. 757-222-0910

Chiropractic treatment for neck pain caused by whiplash in Virginia Beach.

Getting checked by a chiropractor is very important following a trauma to the back and neck. Any time we are in an accident we get a snapping injury to the tendons and ligaments of the spine commonly referred to as a “whiplash” injury.

Whiplash is a cause of  neck pain that can occur during rear-end automobile collisions, when your head suddenly moves backward and then forward — similar to the motion of someone cracking a whip. These extreme motions push your neck muscles and ligaments beyond their normal range of motion.

The traditional medical treatment for this condition has been muscle relaxers, pain killers and often times a brace to immobilize the neck.  This is ok but does nothing to prevent long term problems. In fact the scar tissue and adhesion’s are often worse do to the neck brace.

These injuries heal on their own, but unfortunately you are left with scar tissue and adhesion’s that over time become arthritic and cause premature degeneration and chronic neck pain and stiffness.   Chiropractors treat these areas and keep the joints mobile during healing which reduces the pain and hopefully reduces the chances of long term problems. We at New Life Chiropractic of Virginia Beach are happy to do a free consultation to explain in more detail the benefits of chiropractic treatment following a trauma.

Neck pain caused by sleeping wrong.

Neck pain from sleeping wrong is one of the most common conditions treated at New Life Chiropractic. The big question is what does sleeping wrong mean? Once we fall asleep our subconscious minds take over and the way we sleep is really beyond our control. So why do we occasionally wake with a stiff and painful neck.

Some possible causes of mourning neck pain and stiffness are overuse or trauma the day before, poor sleeping hygiene, bad quality mattress or pillow and alcohol or sleep aid use.

How can I improve my sleep hygiene?

Limit daytime naps to 30 minutes or less. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine close to bedtime.  Exercise a minimum of 10 minutes per day. Steer clear of heavy, rich, fatty, spicy and citrus foods right before sleep. Be sure to get some sun exposure. Establish a regular nighttime routine to relax (warm bath, good book). Make sure your sleep environment is pleasant. Temperature should be 65 -70 and no bright lights or TV.

Alcohol and sleep aids can cause you to sleep with very little movement. If you stay in a position for a long period with your neck in a kinked position you can definitely wake with neck pain or stiffness. A proper pillow and mattress can also make a huge difference. I am a fan of pillows with a bit of contour designed to cradle and support the neck. The core pillow below is the one we have available at New Life Chiropractic.