| Neck or Cervical Pain is a common occurrence for | | | | recommended. |
| almost every living being. In addition to injuries caused | | | | If the pain gets worse or lasts for several days |
| by accidents, stress, or other health issues, we are | | | | without any improvement, please consult with your |
| constantly exposing our head and neck to strenuous | | | | physician. |
| positions for extended periods of time. The advent | | | | FEVER, STIFF NECK, VOMITING, AND LIGHT HURTS |
| of personal computers is a contemporary application | | | | YOUR EYES |
| of necessary convenience that oftentimes causes | | | | These symptoms may be from a simple viral illness |
| the body to pay a severe penalty. | | | | or from meningitis, a more serious infection around |
| The neck is the upper part of your flexible spinal | | | | the brain. |
| column, better known as your backbone, extending | | | | This is an EMERGENCY situation and you must see |
| along most of the body. The neck region (cervical | | | | your doctor or be taken to the emergency room |
| spine) contains 7 bones (or vertebrae labeled C1-C7). | | | | immediately. |
| These bones are separated by intervertebral discs, | | | | THROBBING PAIN OR NUMBNESS DOWN YOUR |
| which permit your backbone free movement and also | | | | SHOULDER OR INTO YOUR ARM |
| serve as a shock absorber during our daily activities. | | | | A herniated cervical disc may be the problem. Pain is |
| Running the entire length of the back is a contiguous, | | | | the result when part of the disc presses against a |
| hollow space known as the spinal canal. Passing | | | | nerve. However, it may also be from muscle spasm. |
| through this fluid-enriched area are the spinal cord and | | | | The best course is to see your doctor. Use of |
| nerves, which are protected by 3 layers the dura, | | | | over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen or |
| arachnoid, and pia mater. On either side of each | | | | ibuprofen, to relieve pain, as well as the application of |
| vertebral level, two spinal nerves exit via the | | | | moist heat to the problem area is usually |
| foramina (small openings). The purpose of these | | | | recommended. If your symptoms appeared suddenly |
| nerves is to allow the skin, tissues, and muscles to | | | | or do not subside, see your physician immediately. |
| provide feeling and movement throughout your body. | | | | STIFF NECK OR TROUBLE MOVING YOUR NECK |
| Although delicate, the spinal cord and nerves receive | | | | WITHOUT PAIN |
| additional support from powerful muscles and | | | | The pain is probably from muscle spasm, but also |
| ligaments which adhere to the vertebrae. | | | | may be from rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory |
| Sometimes neck pain is the result of arthritis, disc | | | | joint disease, or fibromyalgia, a chronic condition |
| degeneration, a narrowing of the spinal canal, and | | | | affecting muscles and tendons. |
| (although rarely) cancer or meningitis. When a neck | | | | Consider the use of anti-inflammatory medicines, such |
| problem is of a serious nature, your primary doctor | | | | as ibuprofen or aspirin, and apply moist heat to the |
| or a specialist, such as a chiropractor, neurologist, | | | | problem area. If the pain persists or the stiffness |
| neurosurgeon, or orthopedic surgeon, must be | | | | gets worse, contact your physician. |
| consulted as soon as possible. | | | | PREVIOUS WHIPLASH-TYPE INJURY, OR DAILY |
| In order to get a better understanding of some of | | | | PAIN AND/OR STIFFNESS IN YOUR KNEES, HIPS, |
| the causes of neck pain and the actions a sufferer | | | | HANDS, NECK OR OTHER CONNECTIVE AREAS |
| should take, the following reviews the most common | | | | The source of your pain may be degenerative disc |
| symptoms, diagnoses, and suggested care. | | | | disease, an arthritic-type disorder that affects the |
| PAIN, NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS DOWN YOUR | | | | bones and cartilage in the neck. |
| SHOULDER, ARMS OR LEGS | | | | Use of anti-inflammatory medicines, such as ibuprofen |
| This may be a muscle spasm or burner, but it may | | | | or aspirin, should help relieve the pain. See your |
| also be an injury to the spinal cord. This is an | | | | physician if the pain or stiffness gets worse or fails |
| URGENT matter, so see your doctor or go to the | | | | to improve. |
| emergency room immediately. | | | | REMEMBER: |
| If your physician determines that you have a muscle | | | | Your physician is the best source for more |
| spasm or burner issue, you should use over-the | | | | information, proper diagnosis, and treatment. If you |
| counter medicine (e.g., acetaminophen or ibuprofen), | | | | believe your problem is serious in nature, you must |
| to relieve the pain, if recommended by your doctor. | | | | contact your doctor immediately. |
| Applying moist heat is also usually recommended. | | | | For over 21 years, Dr. M. Scott White has been a |
| AFTER AN ACCIDENT, THE PAIN COMES ON | | | | practicing Chiropractic Physician. Since becoming |
| SLOWLY (OVER A FEW HOURS) | | | | certified to perform IDD Therapy in 2001, Dr. Whites |
| It is very common for muscle aches and spasms to | | | | pioneering efforts and unprecedented success in |
| take some time to develop after an injury (from | | | | relieving the neck and low back pain of thousands of |
| minutes to hours). Medicines, including aspirin, | | | | patients have brought him recognition as one of the |
| ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory agents, are | | | | foremost authorities and leading practitioners of IDD |
| designed to relieve this type of pain and discomfort. | | | | Therapy in the United States. |
| The application of moist heat is also usually | | | | DoctorForBacks. |