subject: Chiropractic For Neck Pain? [print this page] When considering going to a chiropractor about your neck pain, it is first important to keep a few things in mind. The chiropractic practice began with the intent of only working with spine and back related problems, and while many instances of neck pain may be related to back misalignment, many others are not.
While low in its risk, a chiropractic neck manipulation may carry some additional risks if done improperly. A chiropractor should perform a thorough physical examination that can range from pinching or severing of the major blood vessels in the area or even stroke.
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 treatment can be very helpful in dealing with neck pain, even if it's chronic. Many times this chronic neck pain may be caused by muscle tension or posture issues which can be fixed in just a couple of visits with a skilled doctor, even if the problem has been around for years. Because chiropractic is so effective in dealing with the spine, this can also affect how the person deals with muscle tension or how they carry their muscles and whether that translates itself into back or neck pain.
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.
