Everyone has those days when they wake up with a stiff neck. It’s uncomfortable and unsettling that at times you’ll be irritable the whole day. Although getting annoyed is a normal reaction to a stiff neck, a stiff neck can be improved with the help of chiropractic adjustments.
Chiropractic adjustments deal with the length of the spinal cord to improve muscle and bone tension be it a stiff neck or an injury. If you feel that your injury is in a worse condition, then it’s time to book an appointment with a chiropractor.
Neck Pain Relief at Home
Before you book an appointment, you should know that there are some neck exercises and treatments you can do at home that will save you a trip to the doctor.
First of all, you can try to do neck exercises. One simple exercise would be to slowly move your neck from side to side and forward and back. Do this alternately and make sure that you don’t stretch your neck farther than its limits because you might damage it even more.
If there is a swollen spot, you can also try to apply ice for a few minutes. Ice can help lessen the swollen area and relieve the tension around your neck.
When Do You Need to See a Chiropractor?
After you’ve tried the home remedies above and the pain still stays, that is when you need to consult with a professional. There are also other indicators that will tell you when it’s time to take chiropractic consultations.
1.When your neck pain is caused by an accident
Compared to stiff necks that can be treated at home, there are injuries caused by accidents that require you to see a doctor immediately. Some injuries are dangerous especially if it’s along the neck because it is connected to the spinal cord and the brain. If you know that the pain you are feeling was caused by a sudden force or impact from something, then you should go see a professional right away.
2.When you are experiencing severe pain
Obviously, when you are already in pain, you have to get it checked. It is not enough that you buy over-the-counter medicine to reduce the pain you are feeling. It would still be best that you ask for a doctor’s prescription.
3.When the pain spreads to your body or when it numbs
If you’ve felt that the pain moved down your spine or it miraculously got numb, then you need to go to a doctor too. This is an indication that the pain has moved to other parts of the body.
How do chiropractic treatments relieve neck pain?
Because chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal part of the body, its treatment will focus on the muscles and spine in your neck area. When your neck hurts, you can be assured that this kind of treatment will immediately focus on improving the damaged area.
What happens when you go to a chiropractor is your neck will be checked through x-rays and a couple of exercises. Once your chiropractor has studied your case, they will be able to make a program for a few months’ therapy.
Apart from chiropractic care, you can also look into adding massage therapy. Massage therapy, specifically deep muscle therapy, focuses on relaxing the muscles so that the tension goes away and the spine is adjusted. It can be applied before or after the treatment so you can get optimum results.
Chiropractic adjustments help with neck pain relief because when chiropractors adjust your spinal cord, your body might not be used to the new posture. This might cause muscle tension. Although this tension is less painful than the tension you’ve experienced when before getting treated.
Most people find doing chiropractic care effective and less stressful. Because you no longer need to have a surgery, more people prefer doing this less evasive and expensive treatment. However, as compared to surgery, the healing process can be longer than the former. You can speed this up if you get a massage before or after so that your muscles will recover alongside your bones and your overall posture. Nonetheless, it is proven to be effective and with enough patience and regular visits to your doctor, you will be well in no time.