Expert Neck Pain Treatment in Surbiton
Book NowWHAT IS THE MOST Effective neck pain treatment?
Chiropractic has a long-standing record of achieving excellent results in neck pain treatments. Whilst Spinal Manipulation remains the Gold Standard for care, today we’ll run through the axillary treatments available at the clinic that help transcend clinical care for conditions resistant to standard neck pain treatments.
Neck pain is when you have pain or discomfort above the shoulder muscles, known as the cervical spine region.
Neck pain is one of the most common conditions we treat, in fact, it is the second most presented MSK condition behind low back pain, with estimates that 20% (LBP=40%) of the population at any given time will be suffering from some form of neck pain rising to 70% (LBP=80%) in a lifetime.
“At The DISC Chiropractors we believe that the most significant factor in back pain is unsurprisingly Disc Injuries (the clue is in our name 😊),
With neck pain, although it’s entirely possible to be suffering from an acute disc herniation it is far more common for patients to present with Degenerative Disc Disease and Postural Issues affecting the Nerves Mechanically”.
WHAT Causes neck pain?
The neck is particularly prone to pain. Due to its location and large range of motion, the neck is often left open, unprotected and subject to injury. Whether this be due to the unrelenting postural stress of modern life or more traumatic events such as falls, car crashes or sporting knocks.
Damage to the structure of the neck alters the natural alignment, a condition which is known more commonly as a whiplash injury.
Just like in back pain treatment, a thorough exam process is key to finding out the underlying cause of any tissue damage rather than trying to paper over the cracks and solely focus on pain relief.
Neck pain is significantly impacted by the following:
- Poor Posture
- Trauma/whiplash (including minor impacts)
- Stress
- Alignment issues
- Jaw/dental Issues
Does posture affect neck pain?
Posture is one of the primary causes of neck pain. If the head sits forward on the body, it increases the shear forces applied to the neck, causing muscles to tire and joints to stiffen.
The modern world is changing too quickly for our bodies to adapt to evolutionary changes. The invention of books, newspapers and magazines started a trend of looking down that has only been greatly amplified by the arrival of mobile phones and tablets.
‘Text neck’ or ‘Iposture’ are just a few of the slang term being used to describe the forward head posture that puts undue stress on the muscles and joints of the neck. Simple physics!
What this image indicates is that when the neck is placed in a disadvantaged forward position the effective weight of the head effectively triples.
The term ‘Head Forward Posture’ refers to a poor habitual neck posture. This occurs when the neck shifts forward. Rather than the weight of the head being balanced on the bones of your spine, the increased load is instead shifted onto the trap muscles and other supporting structures.
As a result, many individuals experience strained neck muscles, tension headaches, and fatigue.
Substantial research has gone into poor posture as a cause of neck pain via the straightening effect on the alignment of the vertebrae. A normal neck should have a curvature of 42 degrees; patients who have a neck curve of less than 16 degrees are considered significantly more likely to suffer from neck pain.
Is whiplash a cause of neck pain?
Whiplash is a neck injury that can occur when your head is suddenly and forcefully thrown forward or backwards. However, its effects on pain levels can be delayed by many years due to ligament damage. additionally, it is a common misconception that the impact needs to be large or that it has to be from a Road Traffic Accident (RTA).
The sudden movement can cause important structural ligaments in your neck to become torn or damaged. However, unlike ligaments in the extremities which have millions of nociceptive (pain) fibres within them, the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament (PLL) in the neck has none.
This means that if you sustain damage to the shape or curve of your neck you may not have a huge amount of symptoms at the time, it could be years in fact until its effects are fully felt.
One hallmark of a patient who has suffered from a whiplash injury is visualised via an Xray, where an alteration in alignment can be seen and is known as a reversed cervical lordosis.
What are the symptoms of neck pain?
Symptoms of neck pain vary depending on the part of the neck that is most disturbed. Pain can be one-sided or bilateral, affecting the upper or lower portions with relatively equal occurance.
Consisting of 7 vertebrae, neck pain can be neatly dissected into two halves.
- The nerves of the upper 3 vertebrae control functions in and around the skull, stress around this ‘suboccipital region’ often can lead to symptoms such as headaches and vertigo.
- The lower 4 vertebrae are responsible for the brachial plexus of nerves which control function around the shoulder girdle and down the arm to the fingers. X-ray imaging is particularly useful for Neck Pain that extends into these areas.
The neck’s structure and alignment shouldn’t be underestimated for pains far and wide around the body… Bare in mind every nerve message to the low back, feet and even your organs must pass through the neck so disturbances in this area can be the cause of pain almost everywhere.
Neck Pain Symptoms can include:
Pain or stiffness in the neck, jaw, shoulders back or arms
Headaches
Dizziness
Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
Tingling or numbness in the arms, hands or shoulders
Memory loss or difficulty concentrating
Nervousness or irritability
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue
Burning or prickling around your neck
Depression
Vertigo
what is the best form of neck pain treatment?
The first steps towards gaining neck pain relief often come by mobilising the soft tissues and joints in the area; this is achieved by using a combination of Manual Chiropractic Techniques with our unique blend of Instrument Assisted Adjusting tools, which can be used to gently initiate movement, release adhesions and blood flow (healing) in stubborn or inflamed tissue.
But before treating neck pain is important to find the underlying cause, often the pain experienced by a patient is the last “domino” to fall in a cascade of reactions.
A thorough examination at our DISC Clinic in Surbiton will help not only identify exactly what is currently generating the pain but also aim to identify its root cause.
Neck Pain treatment techniques -continued
Spinal Decompression Therapy is the powerhouse treatment available at The DISC Chiropractors, this traction technology provides a unique ability to heal disc injuries and to un-trap the nerves that are often at fault for pain further down the nerve chain in the arms and hands.
When Neck Pain struggles to heal, Laser Therapy is an extremely safe and effective method of advancing rates of recovery. Its warm photon light energy stimulates mitochondrial activity to enhance recovery in every cell of the body. Laser Therapy is especially useful in arthritic cases involving chronic inflammation that might be otherwise contraindicated for manual manipulation.
A major part of how our treatment protocols work is to ensure whilst the pain is coming under control, we are filling the patient with the knowledge of how to keep and maintain their results using corrective measures and rehabilitation tools to enhance their outcomes.
Our clinic is one of only a handful of clinics in the UK trained to prescribe Denerroll Spinal Orthotics, research-proven to help correct abnormal spinal curves.
Contact Us
To discover how we can assist with your Neck Pain Treatment, don’t hesitate to click the icon below and book a comprehensive consultation for a detailed evaluation of your situation.
Alternatively, why not organise a free chat with one of our expert clinicians? We’re always eager to talk about everything DISC-related and look forward to helping you!