Regional Articles

Neck Pain - Is Chiropractic The Right Treatment?

View PDF | Print View | Html View Written by: Philip Vincent
Total views: 0 | Word Count: 520 | Date: Wed, 28 Oct 2009 | 0 comments

It is important to keep a few things in mind when considering a visit to a chiropractic office for neck pain. Chiropractic began with the intention of working with the spine to improve health, and while most neck pain is related to the alignment of the spine, sometimes it's not.

Chiropractic adjustment of the neck and cervical vertebrae may carry with it some risks, so your chiropractor will perform an examination first. While very low in its risk, an improperly done neck manipulation can actually cause some problems ranging from stroke to pinching and severing major blood vessels in that area.

Chiropractors clearly understand the risks involved in performing any spinal manipulation, especially to the neck, and only perform this procedure when it is the right treatment for the patient. The doctor of chiropractic will learn the patient's case history and perform a physical, orthopedic, and neurological examination before performing any treatment. When spinal manipulation goes wrong, it's often the result of an untrained, non-chiropractor attempting to perform the treatment.

Neck pain, headaches, and tingling or numbness in the upper extremities can be directly linked back to cervical vertebrae misalignment. The benefits of receiving a specific spinal adjustment to the neck can mean an end to a lifetime of a chronic condition. Many chiropractic patients only sought out treatment after all other more "traditional" treatments have been tried and failed.

Chiropractic adjustments can be just the thing for neck pain. Many times this neck pain may be caused by tension or posture issues which can be fixed in one or two visits with a skilled practitioner, even if it has been chronic. Because chiropractic can change, or reset the way a person carries their skeletal frame, this may also correct how they deal with the tension they carry around in their muscles and whether that translates itself into back or neck pain or not.

When deciding whether chiropractic is the right answer for your neck pain, the best thing to do is to check in with your general practitioner first if you have any specific concerns about your past history. He or she can help figure out if chiropractic is appropriate to your specific situation or if it would be unsafe. If you do decide to go with the chiropractic option, look for someone who specializes in skeletal, muscular and spinal problems.

This professional will likely do an X-ray on your neck and possibly your whole spine and after an examination may or may not recommend supplementing chiropractic treatment with massage, heat or cold therapy or even ultrasound and other techniques more commonly associated with physical therapy and sports medicine.

About the Author

Philip Vincent is a health care educator. Need a Chiropractor in Federal Way? Consider visiting this Federal Way Chiropractor.

---

Rating: Not yet rated

--Choose-- 0 1 2 3 4 5

Comments

No comments posted.

Add Comment

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.