Suffering from persistent neck pain? You’re not alone. An estimated 50% to 80% of people with neck pain don’t fully recover from their symptoms. Many of these people eventually develop chronic neck pain.
To tackle chronic neck pain, it’s important to understand the potential causes and available treatments for this condition.
What Causes Chronic Neck Pain?
It can be triggered by several different factors, such as:
●Age-related spinal degeneration
Spinal degeneration in the cervical spine, which is the portion of the spine that makes up the neck, can trigger neck pain. Specifically, osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis are among the most common degenerative conditions that can lead to chronic neck pain.
●Neck injuries
Injuries that affect the neck, like whiplash, can damage the soft tissue in the neck, potentially leading to persistent neck pain.
●Stress
High stress levels can make you tense your neck muscles. Over time, this tension can lead to pain and stiffness in the neck.
●Overusing the neck muscles
Repeatedly straining the neck muscles, such as during certain sports or other physical activities, is a possible cause of chronic neck pain.
●“Tech neck”
“Tech neck” is a term that’s used to describe neck pain caused by frequently hunching over a computer, smartphone, or tablet. When you spend hours looking down at a device, it keeps your neck out of alignment with the rest of your spine. This poor posture can lead to neck pain in the long run.
Treatment Options For Chronic Neck Pain
Patients suffering from chronic neck pain have multiple non-invasive treatment options available to them. Used alone or in combination, the following therapies can help relieve pressure on the cervical spine, alleviate inflammation, and ease pain.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic techniques focus on improving the alignment of the spine to reduce inflammation, release tension, support healing, and relieve pain. Chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression, active release, and a variety of other techniques may be used to provide immediate and long-term relief from neck pain.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is commonly considered a luxury. However, there are many notable health benefits of massage therapy, including several for chronic neck and back pain. Massage therapy can relieve pain, improve flexibility, alleviate anxiety, and help enhance weak muscles.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Physical therapy and functional rehabilitation can support and speed up patients’ recovery from chronic neck pain. Cervical spine exercises, interferential electrical stimulation, ultrasound, cryotherapy, moist heat therapy, and kinesio-taping are therapies that may be included in your physical therapy program for neck pain.
To learn more about treatment options for chronic neck pain, schedule an appointment at Wasserman Chiropractic today.
