Neck Pain Treatment: An Arlington Heights, IL Chiropractor’s Perspective
One of the most common reasons that patients visit our office is for neck pain treatment. It is estimated that neck pain affects between 30–50% of the adult population in a given year, and women are almost 1.5 times more likely to experience neck pain than men. It is also becoming more common for children, especially adolescents, to experience neck pain.
Understanding Neck Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
While we do care for patients with neck pain following an acute injury or trauma like a whiplash car accident, the majority of cases we see are the result of accumulated chronic micro-traumas that occur in daily life.
The neck supports the weight of the head, which weighs about 12 pounds on average. Anterior head carriage and improper posture greatly affect the amount of strain on the neck. For every inch that your ear sits in front of your shoulder, the effective weight of your head increases by approximately 10 pounds. This increased load places significant stress on the bones, discs, muscles, and ligaments of the cervical spine.
Other lifestyle factors such as electronic device use, sleeping positions, and poor biomechanics also increase stress on the neck. For example, many adults spend hours each day looking down at phones or computers, which can contribute to tech neck and increased cervical strain.
Over time these factors accumulate and can lead to neck pain and spinal dysfunction.
As chiropractors, we specialize in finding the root cause of your pain. Most neck pain is caused by restricted motion in the cervical vertebrae, known as a cervical subluxation. The chiropractors at Sleigh Family Chiropractic are trained to identify and correct these subluxations to restore normal spinal motion and help relieve neck pain naturally.
Signs and Symptoms of Neck Pain
Neck pain can range from mild stiffness to severe pain that interferes with daily activities. Symptoms may develop gradually from poor posture or appear suddenly after an injury.
Common symptoms of cervical spine dysfunction may include:
- Persistent neck stiffness
- Pain when turning or tilting the head
- Headaches that originate from the neck
- Pain that radiates into the shoulders or arms
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or fingers
- Muscle tightness in the neck and upper back
These symptoms often occur when spinal joints are restricted or when pressure is placed on nerves in the cervical spine. Early evaluation by a chiropractor for neck pain can help determine the underlying cause and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Common Causes of Neck Pain in Arlington Heights, IL
Subluxation
Cervical subluxation is a very common cause of neck pain, and this is precisely what chiropractors look for and treat. A subluxation is an area of the spine that is misaligned or not moving properly that is affecting the function of the spinal nerve.
Subluxations are caused by many things that occur in our everyday lives (looking down at devices, working on a computer, gardening, playing sports, and using poor posture) as well as acute traumas like car accidents and falls. The only way to get rid of a subluxation is to receive a specific chiropractic adjustment by a chiropractor.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is an age-related condition in which spinal discs break down due to increased stress on a spinal joint over time. The spinal discs are found in between each of the vertebrae of the spine. Subluxation, computer work, repetitive movements (especially looking downward), and poor posture are common causes of stress on the discs that leads to degenerative disc disease.
When that stress accumulates over time, the disc will wear out and appear thinner than normal. As the disc becomes thinner, there is less space for the spinal nerve to exit between the vertebrae. This condition will create pressure on the spinal nerves, which is a common cause of neck pain.
Although a degenerative disc cannot be reversed, it is important to seek chiropractic care to slow its breakdown. Chiropractors restore proper alignment and motion in the spinal joints so that there is less stress on the disc.
Bulged Cervical Discs
A bulging cervical disc occurs when the outer portion of a spinal disc weakens and begins to protrude outward. These bulging cervical discs can be caused by many of the same factors that cause degenerative disc disease. Subluxation, repetitive motion, computer work, and poor posture are all common causes.
A bulging cervical disc can be caused by acute trauma, such as a car accident or fall, but it is generally caused by the disc wearing out over time. The disc has a tough, fibrous outer layer and a softer, jelly-like inner layer. Damage to the disc causes it to become weaker and bulge out into the spinal canal or foramen, where the nerves exit.
If the bulged disc puts pressure on the spinal cord or the spinal nerves, neck pain, which may radiate into the arms and hands, will result. It is important to address a bulged disc as soon as possible so that it doesn’t develop into a more serious problem.
Herniated Cervical Discs
A herniated cervical disc is often the result of continued stress on a bulged cervical disc. However, acute traumas like car accidents and falls can cause a healthy disc to herniate. The difference between a bulged and herniated disc is that a herniated disc is the result of tearing at the fibers of the disc’s outer layer, which allows the inner nucleus of the disc to break through.
A herniated disc will put more pressure on the nerves and lead to more intense neck, arm, and hand pain. A herniated disc may require surgery, but getting conservative treatment from the chiropractor as soon as possible may help you to avoid surgery.
Tech Neck
Tech neck is a condition that arises from the hunched forward posture most people use when looking downward at a device or when sitting at a desk working on a computer. This position puts a lot of stress and strain on the neck. Normally, the cervical spine has a curve to it when you look at it from the side. This curve allows the neck to hold up the head with the least amount of strain on the bones, discs, muscles, and ligaments.
When we use the tech neck posture, we flatten that curve or maybe even cause it to curve in the opposite direction. Looking downward once won’t cause any major problems in the neck, but most people use tech neck posture for 4-8 hours per day. The cumulative stress will commonly lead to neck pain.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis typically arises from lack of motion within the spine that has been present for years and years. This most commonly occurs because of poor posture, poor biomechanics, and repetitive motions. When the joints are unable to function as they should, the bones of the neck begin to wear down, causing bone spurs to form.
This can create compression on the spinal nerves, creating neck pain. It is important to have this treated sooner rather than later, as we are unable to reverse osteoarthritis, but we are able to slow the degenerative progress.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a condition that arises when there is forceful, rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck. It is most commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents; however, it can be from any forceful motion.
It creates misalignments of the bones of the neck, which can compress the nerves, leading to pain in the neck, headaches, blurred vision, memory issues, and difficulty sleeping. If not addressed and left untreated, it can lead to long-term, chronic issues.
Neck Pain Treatment in Arlington Heights, IL: Our Chiropractic Approach
Finding the source of spinal dysfunction that is causing neck pain is our main focus here at Sleigh Family Chiropractic. Restoring normal spinal mobility, lowering nerve pressure, and promoting long-term healing are the goals of our method for treating neck pain.
We begin with a comprehensive evaluation of spinal alignment, posture, and nerve function to determine the underlying cause of your neck pain symptoms. Your doctor carefully reviews your health history and performs a detailed examination including spinal palpation, posture analysis, orthopedic testing, neurological scans, and digital X-rays when necessary.
Digital X-rays may be used to identify structural problems such as cervical misalignment, disc degeneration, or joint dysfunction that may contribute to chronic neck pain. Imaging helps us determine the safest and most effective areas for chiropractic adjustments.
A subluxation occurs when a spinal joint becomes misaligned or restricted. This places stress on the surrounding nerves and soft tissues. Chiropractic adjustments restore normal motion to these joints and reduce nerve pressure, helping relieve neck pain and improve spinal function.
We provide posture correction guidance, therapeutic exercises, and lifestyle recommendations to strengthen the muscles supporting the cervical spine. Improving spinal stability helps reduce stress on the neck and prevents recurring pain.
How We Treat Neck Pain In Arlington Heights, IL
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Before doing any sort of treatment in our office, we will first perform a comprehensive consultation and exam. We want to be sure that we know exactly what is causing your neck pain before recommending any treatment.
During your first visit, you will meet with one of our doctors who will carefully listen to your concerns and medical history. Your doctor may then recommend a detailed examination, including spinal palpation, posture analysis, orthopedic tests, and computerized neurological scans. Our goal is to uncover the root cause of your pain and develop personalized treatment recommendations.
Digital X-rays
Your doctor may also recommend digital x-rays. X-rays allow us to see the cervical curve, vertebral alignment, and disc spaces. Our x-ray analysis tells us where to adjust, where not to adjust, which chiropractic adjusting techniques will likely work best for your body, and how long it will probably take for you to feel better.
The information that we gather from digital x-rays is an important part of getting to the bottom of exactly what is causing your neck pain and how to safely fix it.
Custom Treatment Plan
Once we have analyzed the results of your evaluation, we put together a specific treatment plan for your condition. Your treatment plan will include what in-office therapies we recommend, how often, and for how long.
Additionally, your doctor will put together a customized home stretching program with images and videos of all recommended stretches and exercises. Regular progress evaluations will be included so that we can be sure that you are progressing as expected.
We also explain all out-of-pocket costs that you can anticipate. Our patients often tell us that they have never had such a thorough, well-outlined plan for their care. At Sleigh Family Chiropractic, we feel that it is important for everyone to be on the same page and know exactly what to expect.
Specific Chiropractic Care / Arlington Heights, IL
The main focus of what we do in our office to alleviate your neck pain is finding and correcting subluxations.
Subluxations are areas in the spine that are not in the correct alignment or are not moving like they should. They affect the function of the spinal nerves that exit between each of the bones of the spine, and pain is commonly the result.
Our chiropractors are trained in many safe and gentle adjusting techniques to correct subluxation. We know that every patient will respond differently to our adjustments, so we have studied many different techniques to tailor your treatment to your body.
Some patients love manual adjustments with popping and clicking noises, and some patients are terrified of that style of adjustment. The good news is that no matter which you prefer, we know a chiropractic adjusting technique for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When should you see a chiropractor for neck pain?
It is always best to see a chiropractor as soon as possible. Pain is typically the last symptom to show up; however, the problem has been developing for years and years. For this reason, it is best to come in earlier rather than later so you can have a quicker and smoother recovery.
2. Is it okay to pop my own neck?
We highly recommend not popping or cracking your own neck. When you crack your neck, you are moving joints that are already able to move and function as they should, which can lead to hypermobility. When we adjust the neck, we are moving joints that are unable to move and function as they should.
3. Is a massage or chiropractic better for neck pain?
Both chiropractic and massage are great for neck pain; however, chiropractic focuses on restoring motion into joints that are not functioning properly. When the joints are restricted, muscles that connect to the spine can become tight. Chiropractic care ensures joints are moving how they should, taking pressure off the nerves and allowing muscles that connect to the spine to relax.
4. Are chiropractors covered by insurance for neck pain?
Most insurance companies cover chiropractic care; however, when you come for your initial visit, we will make a copy of your insurance card and verify your chiropractic benefits, which will be discussed with you at the following appointment.
5. How should I sleep with neck pain?
The best sleeping position to relieve neck pain is lying on your back or side. When sleeping on your back, we recommend sleeping with a pillow without pushing your head forward. If you are a side sleeper, we recommend sleeping with a pillow that again supports the curve of the neck without pushing your head up and toward the shoulder.
Start Your Neck Pain Treatment in Arlington Heights
Take the first step toward lasting relief with personalized neck pain treatment in Arlington Heights, IL. The team at Sleigh Family Chiropractic provides targeted chiropractic care to help restore spinal motion, reduce nerve pressure, and support long-term recovery.