Neck pain is very common, so our South Florida chiropractors frequently answer patient questions about neck pain, its causes, and its treatments. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about neck pain and their answers.
Neck Pain and Whiplash FAQ, Answered by South Florida Chiropractor
Why does my neck hurt?
Neck pain can be the result of personal injuries, such as a slip or fall. You might have neck pain if you have recently been in an auto accident and have suffered whiplash. Your neck pain might be the result of a sports injury, such as a strain or sprain. Poor posture can cause neck pain, as can sitting in a poorly designed chair or sleeping on a bad mattress. “Text neck” can also make your neck hurt.
What is text neck?
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Text neck can happen when you look down at your phone too long or too often. Text neck is a repetitive stress injury, sometimes known as an overuse syndrome, which means that the injury occurs when you look down at your phone frequently.
The human head weighs 10 to 11 pounds on average. This means that, when you stand in an upright position with your ears perfectly aligned with your shoulders, your head exerts 10 to 11 pounds of force through the muscles of your neck. Moving your head forward even slightly, such as when you look down at your phone during texting, dramatically increases the force your head exerts on your muscles.
Why is the neck so vulnerable to injury and pain?
The human neck is a complex structure made of bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and other tissues that work together to support your head and allow you to move it in nearly every direction. The complex and flexible nature of your neck also makes it vulnerable to injury.
The bones of your spine, known as vertebrae, sit on top of one another. Your neck is part of your cervical spine, which are the top seven vertebrae of the spine. Tendons connect these bones to muscles, which move the rest of your body. Ligaments connect bones together to form the joints of your spine.
Rubbery discs sit between each vertebra to cushion the bones. Sometimes these discs can wear down, in a condition known as degenerative disc disease. These discs can also bulge outward to press against nerve and cause pain.
Your neck is also vulnerable to muscle and injury and pain because these tissues support the weight of your head. Misalignment of your spine can also cause neck pain.
What is whiplash?
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Whiplash is a neck injury due to a forceful back-and-forth whipping action of your neck. The injury usually occurs when your head and neck are forced backward and forward suddenly, much like the cracking of a whip. This lightning-quick motion and extreme stresses of whiplash can injure the bones, muscles, tendons, discs, ligaments, and nerves of your cervical spine. Auto accidents, especially rear-end car collisions, are a major cause of whiplash. Sports injuries, amusement park rides, and physical abuse can also cause whiplash.
Symptoms of whiplash typically develop within 24 hours, but they may not develop for several hours or even days after the auto accident or another incident. When symptoms do develop, they often include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches, especially at the base of your skull
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Feeling tired all of the time
Symptoms of whiplash can last for several weeks and prevent you from going to work, taking care of your family or engaging in your favorite pastimes.
Can chiropractors treat neck pain?
Chiropractors provide safe, effective and non-invasive care for the treatment of neck pain. Our chiropractor at Back to Mind provides a wide variety of personalized neck pain treatments, including spinal alignment, massage therapy, corrective exercises and even nutritional support that promote healing.
What should I do if I have neck pain?
If you have neck pain, make an appointment with our chiropractor at Back to Mind Chiropractic. Our chiropractor in South Florida provides patients with aggressive, but holistic care for neck pain.
For more answers to your questions about neck pain, or to receive treatment for your shoulder pain, make an appointment with Back to Mind Chiropractic. We have several convenient locations throughout Florida, including Pompano Beach, Coral Springs, Hollywood, and Tamarac. Make your appointment today by calling Back to Mind Chiropractic at +1(954)-986-4559.