A pain in the neck – acute neck pain and what to do.
Neck pain affects three out of every four people at one stage in their lives.
Acute neck pain is neck pain that has existed from 0-4 weeks.
Neck pain is a significant problem – it ranks 4th highest in terms of disability, and 21st in terms of overall health burden.
Neck pain can be located:
- At the base of the skull
- At the base of the spine near the shoulders
Neck pain can be associated with other important symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Referral of pain down the arms
- Numbness, tingling or other sensory changes in the arms
- Postural changes
- Sleep and mood changes
- Balance issues and dizziness
Neck pain can affect a person’s ability to function in their daily activities, can restrict neck movements, cause fatigue/concentration difficulties, affect thinking and mood, social participation, and work ability.
Treatment options include massage, exercise, stretches, and medications, lifestyle changes, and Chiropractic.
Typical medical management includes either NSAID medications or muscle relaxation medications.
The Chiropractic approach is to detect and correct subluxations. This is not a direct treatment for neck pain – it is an approach to getting healthy.
The benefits of the Chiropractic approach is that treatment is directed at the cause of issues – not simply at the symptoms, and avoids medication side effects.
References
Available on request
