Dealing with a sore neck is not just a bother but can also affect your performance at work, your focus in your personal life, and the daily activities you usually enjoy. If waking up with neck soreness becomes a regular pattern, it can lead you to become irritable and more and more desperate to find a solution.
Getting relief for your neck pain is a necessary for your all-around quality of life. Finding out why it is happening can help resolve more than just your pain. It can increase the quality of your life, since pain is an indicator of something gone wrong. There are a number of possible reasons for your neck pain, which have been listed below.
Consider whether you have experienced some kind of head or neck injury in the past, or if you have exposed your neck to repetitive awkward movements such as from your sleep position or holding a phone between your ear and your shoulder. All of these can eventually lead to some changes in your spinal alignment. If the problem is the result of an injury, it may have happened many years in the past, but the problem took time to develop in severity. It is not uncommon for old injuries to resurface after years of being untended.
No matter what your history, if the underlying problem is due to a misalignment of the cervical spine, immediate relief could be only one upper cervical chiropractic visit away. The reason for this is that when the vertebrae in this area shift from their proper position, it places stress on the brainstem and interrupts communication between the brain and body.
Th good news is that here at Advanced Spinal Care, we specialize in the knowledge and methods necessary to restore this type of alignment and get you back to living life free of neck pain. We invite you to call us for a free consultation to see how we can best meet your specific needs.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is so prevalent that it would be difficult to find someone who has not had some kind of neck discomfort at some point. For many people, neck pain is just something that they cope with since it is a normal and constant part of life. Neck pain could feel like a continuous dull ache or like a paralyzing, sharp pain that suddenly spikes due to certain movements. In cases that are particularly severe or have been happening for a long period of time, here is a list of several other symptoms a person may suffer from as well:
Obviously, finding a solution for their neck pain is a high priority for those suffering with it. For most people, they find their relief in a bottle of medicine, such as anti-inflammatories or pain relievers. Other options are certain therapies, surgeries, or interventions. The problem with the most commonly recommended treatments is that they only deal with the symptoms instead of addressing the underlying cause.
Upper cervical chiropractors specialize in the area of neck injuries, and it is one of the top complaints we handle with patients at our offices at Advanced Spinal Care. We see so much success with our neck pain treatments because our focus is on tending to the root of the problem instead of short-term relief of the symptoms. The uppermost vertebra in the spine, the atlas (C1), is unique because it is the most freely moveable bone in the entire spine. Unfortunately, this special attribute makes it more susceptible to misalignment. If there is a shift out of alignment for the atlas from its normal position, it can result in problems throughout the neck and rest of the spine, like muscle spasms and inflammation.
If you have a neck injury resulting from something as minor as a fender bender or your job requires you to sit at a computer all day, the ongoing neck pain could be the result of an atlas misalignment. When you come to our office, we will do a thorough examination to identify whether this is the case of you. If it is, we will apply a gentle, precise adjustment to restore your normal alignment. When the vertebrae in your neck are able to move properly, then pain and discomfort will decrease. If you have tried everything and have experienced only temporary relief, then give us a call.
References:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/basics/definition/con-20028772
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain will affect nearly every person at some point in their life. The different kinds of neck pain range from a dull ache to sharp, shooting pain that radiates down the arms and into the hands. There are a few common causes of neck pain:
No matter the reason for the neck pain, treating the symptoms of the problem will only provide short-term relief. Searching for treatment that focuses on the root cause of the neck pain is necessary for any kind of long-term solution to occur.
Sometimes, relief from neck pain can come from something as simple as a hot shower or a massage. However, when the neck pain is constant, or persistently returns every few days or weeks despite resolving for short spells of time, it becomes more urgent to find a lasting solution. The neck is made up of 7 vertebrae. Many of them move and behave the same way, except for the top two. These two are the atlas and axis, which are designed to move uniquely from the rest because their purpose is to give the head most of its range of motion. Due to the vast mobility of these vertebrae compared to the rest of the bones along the spine, they are more susceptible to misalignment.
Upper cervical chiropractic focuses on the position of the atlas and axis and how they may be impacting the rest of the neck and spine’s overall health and alignment. Any time the atlas misaligns, it causes dysfunction in the natural alignment of the spine as all the vertebrae beneath it must compensate for the incorrect position of the bones above. As a result, the muscles strain, degeneration in the discs can begin, and a loss in the range of motion can happen. Fixing the atlas misalignment using gentle, specific upper cervical adjustments relieves the vertebrae below of unnecessary pressure. This will also allow the nerves in that area to be restored to their optimal function and health. As the body heals, neck and back pain can be resolved.
Reference:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/basics/definition/con-20028772
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is a common complaint around the globe. It is possible that your neck pain is coming from an ever increasing epidemic called text neck. This is due to the abundant usage of mobile devices in today’s busy world. This is where the term, text neck, comes from. Text neck is referring to neck pain coming from the regular use of a tablet, smartphone, or similar device. Why does this lead to neck pain?
For one thing, the human head can weigh as much as 12 to 14 pounds, which is no problem if you are keeping your head upright. However, if you tip your head forward just a few degrees, the neck becomes stressed. Even if you have your head at a 15-degree angle, 27 pounds of pressure is put on the neck. If the head angle is more severe, you could have 60 pounds of pressure applied on the neck. When you put this into perspective, you realize that when you bend your head forward to look at your phone, your neck takes the brunt of the problem.
However, neck pain is not the only problem that comes from text neck. The lungs can also be compromised. Lung capacity can be reduced by as much as 30 percent. Other health problems can include headaches and back pain. Neck misalignments often are the end result of text neck.
If you have a misaligned C1 or C2 vertebra, you may be experiencing neck pain because of it. Upper cervical chiropractors have been specifically trained to find these small misalignments and then work at correcting them. We use a gentle method to encourage the bones to move back into place on their own. Once corrected, if any soft tissues have been damaged, they can begin to heal. The same holds true for nerves. Neck pain often improves after an adjustment.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is not pleasant, and it does matter which position you sleep in to keep your neck in proper alignment. If you are seeking the care of an upper cervical chiropractor for neck pain, you want to ensure your recent adjustment stays in place as long as absolutely possible. If you sleep in the wrong position, you may throw off your adjustment. This is particularly true if it is a couple of days after your initial adjustment when your muscles are healing. Continue reading below to see the best and the worst ways to sleep. If you have not had a chiropractic adjustment yet, this information still applies to you. We all need to take care of our necks while we are sleeping.
Waking up with a stiff neck usually causes you to wonder if you “got up on the wrong side of the bed” or “slept wrong” somehow. While we have to sleep at night, we must remember there is a right way and a wrong way when it comes to back and neck health.
Waking up with a stiff neck may mean it is time to visit us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California. We can make sure you are not suffering from a misalignment, and if you are, we can work to correct it.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
It seems as if almost everyone has had some experience with neck pain at one time or another. It might be from the way you slept the night before, the aging process, overusing your muscles, or an accident of some sort. No matter the cause, the end result is often pain and stiffness. So, is it a good idea to apply heat or ice to the sore area?
Ice: This is a good place to start. Ice is recommended for the first 24 to 48 hours. New injuries tend to be hot and swollen. Icing can help reduce the pain from the body’s natural response to injury: inflammation. Icing the area helps calm the tissues down. This is vital in the first stage of the healing process.
Heat: Heat is the next step in the process. It is good for relieving chronic muscle aches and stiffness. This is also appropriate if you have had a long day at work, and your neck muscles feel sore and achy. Heat can bring some well-needed relief.
Both heat and ice can play a vital role in your recovery. However, you may get to the point of needing professional help. If heat and ice do not give you the relief you need, you may consider visiting us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California.
The neck is made up of seven vertebrae surrounded by ligaments, muscles, and tendons to stabilize and move the neck. Any of these can become irritated and inflamed. The atlas bone -- the top bone of the spine -- is the most freely moveable bone of the spine, allowing the head to move in various directions. The atlas also protects the delicate brainstem. If it becomes misaligned due to some type of head or neck trauma, neck pain can result.
We use a gentle method to help the atlas bone realign more naturally than using force to pop or crack the neck or spine. This technique encourages the bone to move back into place, often leading to relief for those suffering from neck pain.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck pain is very common in today’s world. It can be due to a variety of things like tight muscles, a knot in the muscle, or tired muscles. It may be helped by applying ice to the sore area. However, in some cases, there might be more serious reasons for the neck pain:
It has been seen that neck pain is commonly due to a misalignment in one of the bones of the upper cervical spine, particularly the C1 and the C2 vertebrae. If either of these bones is misaligned by just ¼ of a millimeter, it can cause major problems throughout the body. The brainstem is located in the same area as these bones. If these bones are out of alignment, they can put undue pressure on the brainstem and cause it to send improper signals to the brain. A misalignment also can cause trauma to the muscles and nerves located here. The body also compensates for this misalignment by readjusting the spine to keep the head in proper placement.
We use special x-rays and measurements to find out where your misalignment might be located. Once determined, we use a gentle method to help the bones move back into their original position. We do not have to pop or crack the neck or spine to get positive results. Once the misalignment is corrected, many patients see an improvement in their symptoms in a short period of time.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
When you think of whiplash, you usually imagine someone in a car accident being hit from behind. It only takes a hit of 5 mph to cause whiplash to occur. Some people can run faster than that. This shows that whiplash can occur more often than most people realize. When the head moves in a motion like a whip moving back and forth, it can cause muscles to tear, ligaments to become damaged, and other tissues of the neck to be negatively affected. When you endure whiplash, you often miss work days to recover, leading to a loss of productivity, emotional repercussions, and, if not cared for properly, long-term disability.
There is no way to test for whiplash. It is diagnosed based on symptoms. This can make care difficult as most of the time the diagnosis is just an educated guess. Once you have endured whiplash, you may notice symptoms that were not present before the accident, including:
Typical care for whiplash starts with icing the injury and using NSAIDs to reduce inflammation and pain. While this helps at first, it is not a long-term fix. In order to find that, a good place to start is by visiting us here in our Redwood City, California office. We will examine your neck to find the extent of the damage. Usually, it involves the top two bones of the neck, the C1 and C2 vertebrae. If they misalign, the structure of the neck is compromised and the ability of the brain to communicate with the body can be hindered. This impacts the nervous system and can cause a number of serious health problems down the road.
To correct the problem in the neck, we use a gentle method based on scientific measurements and precise adjustments to specific areas of the neck. We do not have to pop or crack the neck to get the results we want. We encourage the bones of the neck to move back into place naturally, leading to a happier and healthier person overall.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
Neck injuries are a very commonplace problem that can occur very easily. In fact, you may not even notice it has happened until you begin feeling pain. This may happen hours, days, or sometimes years later if the injury is not promptly cared for. How do injuries happen? Any of the following can be responsible:
While most of these injuries seem quite minor, they can cause major damage the longer they are allowed to go uncared for.
An end result of not caring properly for minor neck injuries is migraines. These are not just really bad headaches but a neurological disorder that is very disabling. They can cause you to miss out on many of life's activities if you have to cope with them. Often medication is taken to help ease the pain, but the truth is it just covers over the symptoms. It is much more important to address the underlying cause of migraines: the injury to your neck.
Upper cervical chiropractors have been specifically trained to find and then correct these tiny neck misalignments. Can you believe it only takes a misalignment of ¼ of a millimeter to wreak havoc on the entire body?
Here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California, we use a method that is gentle and specifically tailored to each of our patients. The technique we use does not require us to pop or crack the bones of the spine or neck. Rather, we encourage them to move back into place on their own without force, leading to a longer-lasting adjustment. The body can then begin healing from the damage inflicted on the neck, and the end results of neck injuries, such as migraines, can begin to improve.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
The term self-manipulation refers to when you try to crack or pop the bones of your neck back into place. Have you ever felt like you would feel much better if a certain area of your neck or back would just pop? In order to do that, have you ever tried to pop or crack it yourself or asked a friend to give you a hug from behind to do so? Let’s look at why it is not a good idea and how you can find real, safe relief.
A woman who was used to cracking her own neck suddenly started to feel ill. She had a severe headache, along with neck and shoulder pain, and a general feeling of being unwell. Thankfully, she sought medical attention, and it was discovered, after a battery of tests, she had a blood clot that could have killed her. This was caused by a tear in the vertebral artery and was brought about by self-manipulation. This proves just how serious self-manipulation can be, and we warn you to please not attempt it.
If you feel as if you need to have your back or neck cracked, the best place to start is to visit us here at Advanced Spinal Care in Redwood City, California. This is especially important if you have any of the following symptoms:
We use a method that is both safe and gentle to help our patients realign their spines without popping or cracking them. They often see relief in just a few visits.
To schedule a complimentary consultation call our Redwood City office at 650-595-0500 You can also click the button below.
if you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
