Neck pain is a widespread problem, with studies showing that up to 70% of the population experiences some kind of neck pain at some point in their lives. Bad habits like looking down at your phone, tablet, or laptop and poor posture/slouching are the most common culprits of neck pain.
Seven vertebrae comprise the cervical spine (neck). It’s natural ‘C’ shape curve is referred to as the “Arc of Life” because of the essential structural and neurological function it provides. Not only is it responsible for all head movement, but it also supports the weight of your head, commonly 11-15 lbs. Its structure is critical to protecting the brain stem and spinal cord, essentially an extension of your brain. Your brain and body communicate through this arc, facilitating all functions, both involuntary and voluntary, throughout your body.
Neck pain can be associated with muscle, joint, or disc problems. It could be as simple as muscle strain and sprain or joint fixation, causing inflammation, which can also lead to disc degeneration.
A misalignment of the cervical vertebrae, known as a subluxation, is a common cause of neck pain. Subluxation creates inflammation and irritates the nervous system, which is responsible for the proper function of the surrounding muscles and ligaments. This is a structural problem that requires a structural solution.
Conventional neck pain treatment relies on pain relief medication, which only masks the pain and doesn’t correct the root cause of the problem. The chiropractic approach focuses on identifying and correcting the root cause of the problem for long-lasting pain relief and improved overall health, well-being, and physical function.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Schedule Your New Patient Exam
Set up a time so you and your Doctor can do a thorough history and examination to determine the root cause of your pain.
2. Get A Customized Plan of Action
Your Doctor will create a custom plan of attack to not only get you out of pain fast but to keep you out of pain long term.
3. Live A Pain Free Energetic Life
Receive the care you need for your problem so you can get back to the time when pain wasn’t dictating what you could do.
How We Treat Neck Pain In Arlington, VA
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Getting to the root cause of the problem requires a thorough examination process. We want our patients to feel better, but we also want them to avoid dealing with recurring neck pain and the other adverse effects of spinal dysfunction. Our comprehensive evaluation includes:
- Motion palpation and static palpation by trained doctors
- Orthopedic and neurological exams
- Digital posture analysis
- Digital X-ray exam
- Bilateral balance weight check-up
The results of these exams allow us to tailor a care plan to your specific needs and health goals to fully resolve your problem. Simply masking the symptoms instead of correcting the root cause of the problem is a waste of your time, energy, focus, and money, and will result in recurring pain.
Digital X-rays
X-rays are an essential part of the diagnostic process. Through X-rays, trained corrective chiropractic doctors can identify which spinal vertebrae are misaligned, causing nerve and disc irritation, which is the root cause of neck pain. We can identify bone structure, disc height, spinal misalignments, phases of bone degeneration, and any abnormalities, such as a tumor.
The amount of radiation exposure during a digital X-ray is generally very low, making it a critical aspect for creating an effective treatment plan. These images will tell us where to focus our care and what kind of progress you’re making.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Arlington, VA
Chiropractors are the only health practitioners trained to identify, locate, and correct spinal misalignments, also known as subluxations. Misalignments can create joint fixation, which limits spinal flexibility and mobility and triggers nerve irritation and inflammation.
The symptoms of a cervical misalignment depend on which nerve is irritated. Possible symptoms that can be triggered are decreased range of motion, pain, numbness and tingling, memory or cognition issues, or headaches.
If a spinal misalignment is the cause of your neck pain, only a corrective chiropractor can help. A chiropractic adjustment will correct the subluxation, bringing not just relief but improved function and prevention of future injury. The chiropractic approach is natural, non-invasive, and relies on optimizing your body’s innate ability to heal.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
Exercises are an important part of our neck pain care. When given in the right way and at the right time, they work to stretch and strengthen the neck, helping the body hold the adjustments longer.
Nerves that come through each spinal vertebra activate our muscles. A misalignment can irritate the nerves that feed your muscles, resulting in pain and muscular dysfunction. Exercises will focus on stability and flexibility, allowing for maximum range of motion while also supporting proper posture so as not to disrupt the “arc of life.”
Common Causes of Neck Pain in Arlington, VA
Bulged Cervical Discs
Your spinal discs are made up of two key components:
- Anulus Fibrosus – the outer fibrous ring that contains the…
- Nucleus Pulposus – inner gel-like substance
When the disc is compressed due to a subluxation, it causes the nucleus to bulge against the exterior disc wall. This creates a ballooning effect that irritates nearby nerves. Symptoms of a bulged disc include neck pain and pain that radiates down into the shoulders and arms. It’s essential to find the disc injury causing this pain and have it corrected by an expert chiropractor.
Muscle Strain
Torn or overstretched muscles cause muscle strain. The nervous system connects and activates our muscles, so any nervous system dysfunction can result in the misfiring of certain muscles. Muscle strains can alter your spinal mobility and create tension pain. We often recommend RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation – to promote healing and recovery.
Facet Joint Dysfunction
Facet joints are the joints in the back of the spine connecting vertebrae from the top to the bottom. They allow for both spinal movement and stability. When the facet joints are misaligned, it creates inflammation and causes increased stress and pressure on the joints, triggering neck pain. A corrective adjustment can realign these joints to relieve pain and improve mobility.
Tech Neck
Tech neck is emerging as one of the primary culprits of neck pain. Staring down at a phone or hunched over a computer screen can alter the structure of our neck with adverse physical and neurological effects.
A healthy C-shaped neck curve stores all the nerves that control numerous organs, such as the eyes, ears, thyroids, and so on. If that structure becomes distorted, it will alter how those nerves function, impairing critical senses. Not correcting this posture can lead to permanent degeneration and more serious respiratory dysfunction.
Subluxation
A spinal misalignment interferes with communication between your brain and body, affecting everything from body systems to organs to muscles to involuntary processes like heartbeat and breathing, all the way down to the cellular level.
Only a trained corrective chiropractic doctor can find and correct subluxations. Using a chiropractic adjustment, a chiropractor realigns the spine, restoring the body’s ability to heal and function properly. No other healthcare provider is trained to adjust and correct a subluxation.
Check Out Our Location Near You
2300 N Pershing Dr #307, Arlington, VA 22201
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain Treatment
When should you see a chiropractor in Arlington, VA, for neck pain?
You should see a corrective chiropractor who does a thorough evaluation and takes X-rays as soon as possible to avoid any further damage to your spine, discs, and nerves.
Is it okay to “pop” my own neck?
It’s advised not to pop your own neck as it can further exacerbate your neck spine misalignment and lead to nerve damage.
Are chiropractors covered by insurance for neck pain?
Chiropractors are covered by insurance for neck pain because chiropractic care is an effective and efficient way to relieve neck pain.
Why does my neck hurt on one side?
Your neck could hurt only on one side if your neck spine is misaligned to one side more than the other.
How can you tell if your neck is out of alignment?
Only a corrective chiropractic evaluation that includes X-rays can identify if your neck is out of alignment.