Neck Pain, Headaches, and Fort Worth Chiropractic Care
April 1st, 2009 | by admin |Our pillow, bed, or sleep position is not always explanation for our stiff and painful neck when we get up in the morning. We also make an effort to figure out what is taking place when we move our neck suddenly and feel a sharp pain that feels as if something has suddenly slipped out of position or is pinching a “nerve.” Though it may seem so, one single incident is seldom the cause of most neck problems, but more often than not the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, poor work and lifestyle habits, and lack of proper exercise for strength and flexibility. Naturally, some neck misalignments are due to traumatic events such as a whiplash accident, a fall, or a sports injury.
Anatomy
To understand neck pain, it is important to be aware of the anatomy of the spine. The movement of the spine is guided by neck vertebrae that are composed of posterior joints, called facets, that connect vertebrae to one another. The inter-vertebral discs join the bodies of the vertebrae and are composed of a form of dense cartilage that encases a soft material in the center, called the nucleus. The principal function of the disc is as a shock absorber and spacer between the vertebrae. In a canal positioned between the body and the facets of the vertebrae is the spinal cord. Spinal nerves exit the spine between the vertebrae and provide energy to muscles and organs of the body. Transversely, they carry sensory impulses, including pain information, from the body to the brain. The nerves that go out from the neck are responsible for the entire upper extremity including the shoulder, elbow and hand, as well as structures of the head and neck. The neck has a natural forward curve when observed from the side that helps appropriately balance the weight of the head, as well as to decrease stress on the neck joints. For more information please feel free to visit your Fort Worth Chiropractor.
Risk Factors: Neck Pain and Computer Use
More and more people are now earning a wage sitting at a desk in front of a computer. The use of computers has risen significantly, and many individuals spend eight to ten hours a day slumped over the keyboard and staring at the monitor. When we sit with our head in a forward bent position-the posture that most desk workers assume-the ligaments that hold the facets together and the muscles in the neck are put under enormous strain. Furthermore, the normal forward curve of the neck may become reversed and create more stress on the surrounding tissue of the neck. All of this can lead to spinal problems including disc herniation and subluxations, which are the main causes of spinal nerve pain. Besides general pain, spinal nerve inflammation in the neck can cause symptoms such as headaches, eye problems, giddiness, arm and hand pain (and paraesthesia), as well as shoulder pain.
Headaches and Chiropractic Care
Headaches or migraines are usually associated with disorders of the cervical spine. When the cervical vertebrae lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels that are associated with structures in the head are stretched or irritated thus producing symptoms from a dull ache to throbbing pain. Trigger points, the tight knots in the muscles of the neck, can also refer pain to the head. Of course there are other factors connected with headaches including toxic fumes, certain foods, additives such as MSG, alcohol, caffeine, and stress. Nevertheless, the alignment of the neck and the agitation of surrounding tissues should be a primary consideration when treating headaches and migraines. Chiropractic manipulation and management have proved to be very effective in the treatment of headaches. Ask your Fort Worth Chiropractor about the benefits of Chiropractic care.
Whiplash and Chiropractic Care
Many people are involved in car accidents. Rear-end collisions are the most common. During such an accident, the passenger in the front vehicle gets his or her head powerfully jolted backward and then forward causing damage to the structures of the back and front of the neck. This kind of trauma is often called a whiplash. Even at low speeds, the amount of force arising from such an accident is very intense and can cause trauma to the ligaments, muscles, facet joints, discs, and spinal nerves. Whiplash injury includes neck pain and immobility, and other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vertigo, arm and should pain, tingling in the hands and fingers, and weakness of the arms and hand. Immediate evaluation and x-rays are vital in order to rule out a fracture. More often than not in many cases, the injuries are mainly to the soft tissues and joints. Proper care is crucial in recovery from the pain and symptoms of whiplash, and also to prevent future disability. Your Fort Worth Chiropractor is educated to understand whiplash injury, and is more than capable of managing the case from injury to recovery.