At any given time, it is estimated that 10-20% of adults have neck pain. Neck pain is the fourth leading cause of disability in the US. It is more common for women to have neck pain than men. Neck pain becomes more common as we age. Neck pain symptoms can include muscle spasms, reduced range of motion in the neck, and tightness in the neck or upper back. It is estimated that neck pain costs our society around 88 billion dollars each year, and is rising.
Having neck pain, although common, is never normal. It should be taken very seriously. When someone experiences neck pain, it is a sign that a problem needs to be addressed. Neck pain is your body’s signal that something is wrong. Sometimes, people will try to ignore it, pretend it’s not there, or cover it up with some stretches or pills. None of these addresses the root cause of the neck pain, thus delaying true healing in the body.
When someone experiences neck pain, they must receive prompt attention. Delaying expert advice and treatment increases the likelihood of additional, permanent damage. We make setting up an appointment for an initial evaluation super easy and convenient.
$49 New Patient Special
First visit includes a consultation, case review, careful exam, X-rays (if necessary) and initial adjustment. Second visit includes a doctor’s report of findings, care plan recommendations, and treatment if you decide to move forward. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Restrictions apply. Must mention this coupon at the time of scheduling.
How Our Care Protocol Works
First, we perform a thorough chiropractic exam and x-rays to determine exactly where the lack of proper movement is in your spine and which specific vertebrae need to be addressed.
Second, we restore proper motion to your spine and take stress off of the nerve by performing biomechanically and neurologically correct chiropractic adjustments.
Third, we teach you specific exercises to strengthen and stabilize your spine. These exercises are carefully designed to get you great results and NOT aggravate your condition.
Fourth, as clinically indicated, we perform non-surgical spinal decompression to take pressure off of the disc and off of the nerve giving you relief like you haven’t felt in years!
How We Treat Neck Pain In Centennial, CO
Your plan may include chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, cold laser therapy, and spinal decompression to help you achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Digital X-Rays
Performing X-rays on patients with neck pain is essential because they provide valuable information to understand the cause of the neck pain better better. The underlying cause of neck pain is major traumas, micro traumas, and stress, leading to poor posture and a lack of proper movement in the neck.
The X-rays help us to see the overall condition of your spine. Just like a car, the more rust and dents it has, the longer it takes to fix. With your spine, the worse the condition, the longer it will take to resolve. This may be complicated by arthritis and degenerative disc disease, which are visible on the X-rays.
The x-rays are part of our new patient process, which includes a thorough consultation that allows us to understand exactly how your neck pain is impacting your life. We also perform a detailed examination, which provides for neurological, orthopedic, and functional tests.
With neck x-rays, we’re looking at the curve of the spine. You should have a natural C-shaped curve in your neck when viewed from the side. The curves in our spine provide a nice cushion, almost a spring, and this helps us to absorb the impacts of everyday life. When we don’t have these curves, it can easily put a lot of stress on the spine, causing neck pain.
Whenever we lose the curve in our neck, it causes the head to travel forward. This causes a significant amount of tension in the neck and upper back. We might also notice decay and degeneration in the neck. That decay and degeneration don’t happen overnight. It has likely been going on for at least a few years, if not decades, which lets me know that we are working with a spine that has been damaged for quite some time. Our X-rays help us identify the cause of your neck pain and determine the best treatment approach.
Common Causes of Neck Pain in Centennial, CO
Poor Posture
The most common cause of neck pain is the accumulation of little stresses and traumas that occur to our spine. Little things that we essentially take for granted. This can include using poor posture when we sleep, read, work on our computer, or look down at our phone. Over the course of our lifetime, these activities add up and take a toll on our necks.
Acute Injury
There could also be acute injuries that cause neck pain. Things like playing sports, car accidents, landing awkwardly on a trampoline, banging our head on an overhead bin on a plane, or even slipping and falling on the ice. These acute traumas add up even faster because they cause so much damage if they’re not correctly cared for immediately.
Stress
Modern-day stress takes a toll on our brain and nervous system. Whether it’s traffic, financial concerns, a child going away to college, strained relationships, or even a death in the family, all of these affect our brain and nervous system. Stress has a cumulative effect on our nervous system, increasing the likelihood of experiencing pain. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a patient experience severe neck pain right around a significant life event, like getting married.
These major traumas, minor traumas, and stress add up over time and take a toll on our spine and nervous system. There comes a tipping point where your body has had enough, and then you feel pain in your neck. Sometimes, this can affect the muscles in your neck, the discs in your neck, as well as the nerves that come from your neck and go into your head, upper back, or even your arms. We may even see more long-term degenerative changes, such as arthritis in the neck.
Tech Neck
For many of us, we spend hours each day in front of our computers or looking at our phones. We don’t use proper ergonomics or biomechanics, which can cause a condition called Forward Head Posture. When the head and neck move forward, it places significant stress on the muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and discs of the cervical spine. Think of it like holding a bowling ball in your hand and perched on your shoulder. When you support it properly, it’s pretty easy to have that bowling ball for an extended period of time. However, when you hold it out in front, even a couple of inches, it drastically changes the biomechanics and physics. The bowling ball is much harder to hold when it is out in front. The same thing happens when we have Forward Head Posture. Many of our neck pain patients exhibit Forward Head Posture, and they achieve results with chiropractic care.
Bulged or Herniated Discs
Bulging and herniated discs are one of the most common causes of neck pain. Cervical spinal discs are the cartilage between the vertebrae of our neck. These discs act as a cushion and spacer between the vertebrae, providing support and protection to the spine. That spacing provides space behind the body of the vertebra for the nerve roots to exit the spinal cord and then form individual nerves. The outer fibers of the disc are called the annulus fibrosis, and the inner part is called the nucleus pulposus. When the disc bulges, the nucleus pushes out onto the annulus, without breaking any of the annular fibers. However, when a disc herniates, the annular fibers are damaged, and the nucleus pushes out beyond the boundary of the annular fibers. It is generally considered more serious than a bulging disc. These conditions can produce a range of symptoms with varying levels of severity. These are conditions that we see in our office daily and have achieved tremendous success in treating.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease can easily be identified on spinal X-rays. DDD is a symptom of a larger problem. The reason discs break down is that they are not receiving the necessary nutrients. Discs are avascular, meaning after the age of 20, they don’t have a direct blood supply. They maintain their health through a process called imbibition. Imbibition is the process whereby the more our spine moves, the more nutrients are delivered to the disc. However, when our spine gets stuck and doesn’t move as it should, fewer nutrients get delivered to that disc. The vast majority of our neck pain patients have some degree of DDD, and we have a significant amount of success treating them.
Whiplash
Whiplash happens whenever there is a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head and neck. This commonly occurs in a car accident, but can also happen with a slip and fall, or while playing sports. Whiplash places significant stress on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and discs in the cervical spine. Any treatment following a whiplash injury should focus on addressing the injured structures. If a whiplash injury is not evaluated and treated promptly, it can easily become a long-term, chronic problem. A whiplash injury can easily lead to neck pain and other symptoms like vertigo, jaw pain, tinnitus, headaches, and migraines. We frequently see whiplash patients in our office and achieve excellent results with them.
Check Out Our Location Near You
12201 E Arapahoe Rd B10, Centennial, CO 80112
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a chiropractor in Centennial, CO, a good option for neck pain?
Absolutely. Chiropractic has been proven to provide tremendous relief and lasting results for those with acute and chronic neck pain. Chiropractic gets to the root cause of the neck pain, not just trying to cover it up with pain pills, muscle relaxers, or needle injections.
When should you see a chiropractor for neck pain?
You should consult a chiropractor as soon as you start experiencing pain in your neck. Neck pain is common, but never normal. Whenever you experience neck pain, it is your body’s way of telling you that something is amiss. You shouldn’t wait to see if it will go away on its own. Just because it feels better doesn’t mean that the cause of the pain has been corrected.
Is massage or chiropractic treatment more effective for neck pain?
In some cases, massage can provide relief for neck pain. However, chiropractic focuses on the root cause of the neck pain. Typically, the root cause of neck pain is neurological dysfunction between the brain and body. When the spine doesn’t move as well as it should, various symptoms can occur, including neck pain, bulging or herniated discs, muscle spasms, pinched nerves, numbness, tingling, and weakness, among others. While we recommend massage in some cases where the muscles are affected, starting with a chiropractor is generally the best approach.
Is it okay to crack my own neck?
We never recommend cracking your own neck. When you crack your own neck, you might get some relief because it releases endorphins. However, you are likely moving the wrong vertebra, the wrong direction. The vertebra that needs to move is likely the one that is the hardest to move. Thus, when you crack your own neck, it is the vertebra that is already moving properly that most likely moves even more. In contrast, a chiropractor precisely identifies the specific vertebra that needs to be adjusted and moves it in the direction it needs to move.
Does insurance cover chiropractors for neck pain?
Yes, the vast majority of insurance companies, as well as Medicare, consider chiropractors to be primary care providers. This means that you don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor. We always perform a complimentary benefits check to inform you of your coverage and how we can assist you. We will always let you know your out-of-pocket expenses before we begin a care plan.
What’s the best way to relieve my own neck pain?
Some people find temporary relief from ice, heat, stretching, or exercising. However, the most effective way to address the root cause of your neck pain is to consult with a chiropractor. A chiropractor will perform a thorough consultation, case history, examination, and spinal x-rays to get to the root cause of your neck pain and provide long-term relief and correction.
$49 New Patient Special
First visit includes a consultation, case review, careful exam, X-rays (if necessary) and initial adjustment. Second visit includes a doctor’s report of findings, care plan recommendations, and treatment if you decide to move forward. Not valid with any other offers or promotions. Restrictions apply. Must mention this coupon at the time of scheduling.