What Causes Neck Pain and How Can I Treat It?
Neck Pain in Lakewood
In Lakewood there are many causes of neck pain many of which overlap one another. Below is a brief overview of some of the most common causes of neck pain.
Spondylosis in Lakewood
Most neck problems are the result of degenerative changes in the joints of the neck that happen over the course of years. Over time these degenerative changes, known as spondylosis, will result in pain. An important note is that most problems associated with spondylosis are a normal part of aging.
Degenerative Disc Disease in Lakewood
The normal aging process also involves changes within the intervertebral discs. Repeated stresses and strains weaken the connective tissues that make up a disc. Over time, the disc loses its ability to absorb shock resulting in an even greater toll on the disc and other structures of the neck.
As disc degeneration progresses, the space between the vertebrae becomes smaller. This compresses the spinal joints, eventually resulting in the development of arthritis in the spinal joints.
These degenerative changes in the disc cause the spinal segment to become loose and unstable resulting in even greater wear and tear and eventually leading to disc herniation and protrusion. A herniated disc in the neck is often associated with a pinched nerve and subsequent upper extremity pain and weakness.
Further disc degeneration results in the development of bone spurs, which is the spine’s attempt to stabilize itself. These bone spurs can further irritate the nerves exiting the neck and causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the neck, arms, and hands.
Muscle Strain and Whiplash in Lakewood
People with minor neck pain or stiffness are often told they have a muscle strain when, in fact, there is very little muscle involvement other than protective muscle guarding or spasm which is the body’s way of protecting itself from further injury.
A true muscle strain is a condition where the muscle has been involuntarily overstretched. A classic example of this type of muscle strain is the whiplash syndrome. Whiplash was first described in 1923 and was defined as an acceleration-deceleration injury to the neck. Recent definition of whiplash, however, includes all types of neck injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash is graded on a 0 – IV scale with a Grade 0 representing no pain and no physical signs and a Grade IV representing pain complaints along with fracture and/or dislocation.
Forward Head Posture in Lakewood
Forward Head Posture Described Forward Head Posture is one of the most common postural problems in our so-called “modern” society. In actuality, it is the modern lifestyle that is responsible for it—as we’ll see in a minute. In essence, FHP in Lakewood is the result of either repetitive forward head movement, or the carrying or holding of the head in a position where the ears are forward of the shoulder plum-line.
Proper postural alignment finds ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and ears all falling along the same vertical line. The relatively heavy head must directly rest on the neck and shoulders, like a golf ball on a tee. Yet, FHP finds the head sticking out, forward of the shoulders, with the ears in line with the chest or front of the deltoids.
Did you know that pinched nerves, tightened muscles, postural imbalance all cause blood stagnation, which leads to toxic buildup. Think of a pond where the water is not moving and has become stagnant. The blockage of free-flowing water leads to stagnant water where nasty things grow. In the human body, where there is blockage or stagnation, there is pain.
The problem is that repeated forward and/or downward facing postures cause concurrent hypotonic (lengthening) and hypertonic (shortening) of several major muscles (i.e., lavater, rhomboid, trapazious, pectoral), degeneration of cervical (neck) vertebrae, and irritation of cervical nerves.
Here’s what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it: “FHP leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniation, arthritis, and pinched nerves.” (Mayo Clinic Health Letter, V.18, #3, March 2000
Chiropractic care is more than just making your pain disappear, it is about learning, understanding and taking care of your body to improve quality of life.
If you suffer from neck pain, take heart: you’re not alone. Statistics show that 8 out of 10 people will experience neck or back pain in their lives!
Contact Dr. Jason Jumper at Renew Chiropractic, your Lakewood Chiropractic Neck Pain Doctor, for an appointment. We’ll help relieve your neck pain so you can get back to enjoying your life again! Call Today! 720-493-5885
What Causes Neck Pain and How Can I Treat It?
Neck Pain in Lakewood
In Lakewood there are many causes of neck pain many of which overlap one another. Below is a brief overview of some of the most common causes of neck pain.
Spondylosis in Lakewood
Most neck problems are the result of degenerative changes in the joints of the neck that happen over the course of years. Over time these degenerative changes, known as spondylosis, will result in pain. An important note is that most problems associated with spondylosis are a normal part of aging.
Degenerative Disc Disease in Lakewood
The normal aging process also involves changes within the intervertebral discs. Repeated stresses and strains weaken the connective tissues that make up a disc. Over time, the disc loses its ability to absorb shock resulting in an even greater toll on the disc and other structures of the neck.
As disc degeneration progresses, the space between the vertebrae becomes smaller. This compresses the spinal joints, eventually resulting in the development of arthritis in the spinal joints.
These degenerative changes in the disc cause the spinal segment to become loose and unstable resulting in even greater wear and tear and eventually leading to disc herniation and protrusion. A herniated disc in the neck is often associated with a pinched nerve and subsequent upper extremity pain and weakness.
Further disc degeneration results in the development of bone spurs, which is the spine’s attempt to stabilize itself. These bone spurs can further irritate the nerves exiting the neck and causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the neck, arms, and hands.
Muscle Strain and Whiplash in Lakewood
People with minor neck pain or stiffness are often told they have a muscle strain when, in fact, there is very little muscle involvement other than protective muscle guarding or spasm which is the body’s way of protecting itself from further injury.
A true muscle strain is a condition where the muscle has been involuntarily overstretched. A classic example of this type of muscle strain is the whiplash syndrome. Whiplash was first described in 1923 and was defined as an acceleration-deceleration injury to the neck. Recent definition of whiplash, however, includes all types of neck injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash is graded on a 0 – IV scale with a Grade 0 representing no pain and no physical signs and a Grade IV representing pain complaints along with fracture and/or dislocation.
Forward Head Posture in Lakewood
Forward Head Posture Described Forward Head Posture is one of the most common postural problems in our so-called “modern” society. In actuality, it is the modern lifestyle that is responsible for it—as we’ll see in a minute. In essence, FHP in Lakewood is the result of either repetitive forward head movement, or the carrying or holding of the head in a position where the ears are forward of the shoulder plum-line.
Proper postural alignment finds ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, and ears all falling along the same vertical line. The relatively heavy head must directly rest on the neck and shoulders, like a golf ball on a tee. Yet, FHP finds the head sticking out, forward of the shoulders, with the ears in line with the chest or front of the deltoids.
Did you know that pinched nerves, tightened muscles, postural imbalance all cause blood stagnation, which leads to toxic buildup. Think of a pond where the water is not moving and has become stagnant. The blockage of free-flowing water leads to stagnant water where nasty things grow. In the human body, where there is blockage or stagnation, there is pain.
The problem is that repeated forward and/or downward facing postures cause concurrent hypotonic (lengthening) and hypertonic (shortening) of several major muscles (i.e., lavater, rhomboid, trapazious, pectoral), degeneration of cervical (neck) vertebrae, and irritation of cervical nerves.
Here’s what the Mayo Clinic has to say about it: “FHP leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniation, arthritis, and pinched nerves.” (Mayo Clinic Health Letter, V.18, #3, March 2000
Chiropractic care is more than just making your pain disappear, it is about learning, understanding and taking care of your body to improve quality of life.
If you suffer from neck pain, take heart: you’re not alone.Statistics show that 8 out of 10 people will experience neck or back pain in their lives!
Contact Dr. Jason Jumper at Renew Chiropractic, your Lakewood Chiropractic Neck Pain Doctor, for an appointment.We’ll help relieve your neck pain so you can get back to enjoying your life again! Call Today! 720-493-5885