Neck Pain Can Ruin Lives
We always hear how lower back pain ruins lives but the same can be said about neck pain. Neck pain is a condition that can vary from being very temporary to a much more chronic problem. Something as simple as "sleeping wrong" can overstretch certain neck muscles resulting in spasm that can be very painful. This type of condition is usually relatively short-lived and disappears within a day or two. Using ice or heat will provide relief. However if the position of sleeping (especially on a couch which is a huge "no-no") causes more of a structural problem, it can become a chronic condition. The cervical vertebrae can move out of position resulting in a subluxation, which can cause neck pain radiating with tingling and numbness into the arm and hand. The nerves that exit the spine in the neck branch and travel down the arms innervate the muscles, ligaments, tendons, skin and blood vessels. They allow the brain to communicate with the arms and permit movement, feeling, control blood flow and provide information as to the positions of your arms in space. The nerves also go to your head and can cause headaches.
The cervical discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae. These discs are subject to injury from trauma such as automobile accidents and falls and from repetitive type motions such as computer work, occupational stress that puts your neck in awkward positions, lifting improperly, sleeping on your stomach, sleeping on a poor quality pillow or sleeping without a pillow or more than one pillow, etc. Degenerated discs, herniated discs and ruptured discs can cause a great deal of neck pain and spasm with pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms. If the nerves become irritated by the discs, they can become permanently injured. Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies are used to determine if the cervical nerves are damaged. The pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in the arms and hands can surprisingly occur without neck pain, while still being caused by disc herniations in the neck. They also can be caused by irritation of the nerves in the shoulder, elbow or wrist. (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) The EMG can help to determine where the problem exists.
The types of treatment depend on the cause of the neck pain. If it is due to muscle strain or ligamentous sprain, physical therapy is the best option to encourage healing of these damaged tissues. If the cause is subluxations, the best treatment is chiropractic adjustments, which consists of very gentle movements to relieve pressure on spinal nerves, discs and joints. If the neck pain results from herniated, degenerated, bulging discs or facet syndrome, the best treatment option is Cox Cervical Distraction, which is a very conservative procedure that Dr. Schwartz, a Bradenton chiropractor board certified in chiropractic neurology and electrodiagnosis, performs to remove pressure on the cervical discs and nerves. He is the only chiropractic neurologist in the area certified in Cox Distraction.
Jay H. Schwartz , DC, DIBCN, DIBE
Posted In:
Herniated Disc Treatment
Cox Distraction
Neck Pain
