In our years of experience being an upper cervical chiropractor in CA, we have realized that patients don’t pay much attention to their neck pain causes until it gets worse. The neck is actually a vital part of the body that does a remarkable job. It supports the head and houses arteries that supply blood to the brain.
An adult head weighs around 12 pounds, which is a little heavy considering that it sits above a vertebra that weighs a few ounces. No wonder nearly everyone experiences neck pain. Some of the culprits behind neck pain are predictable, while others can occur unexpectedly to anyone. Learn the possible causes of neck pain and a method that can help you get rid of it naturally.
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Table of Contents
Ten Possible Neck Pain Causes
- Carrying a heavy bag over one shoulder – Inappropriately carrying your bag can result in neck pain. The good news is, it can be corrected quickly. Do not carry a heavy bag over one shoulder. If you continue doing so, your neck and spine compensate for the uneven weight. This can cause tightness or neck pain, as well as back pain. Lighten the load of your bag or switch to a backpack that will allow you to carry the weight evenly. Wear your backpack over both shoulders.
- Repetitive motion – Your job or even your hobbies may require doing the same movements again and again. It can result in wear and tear or degeneration of the joints and discs in the neck if not addressed.
- Poor sleep habits – Do you frequently sleep in an awkward position? It can wreak havoc in your neck. Stomach sleepers are at higher risk of getting neck pain since their heads are turned maximally to one side throughout the night. The ideal position is sleeping on your back or side with enough pillows to keep your neck in a neutral position. This can reduce your chance of having a stiff neck.
- Bad posture – Those who work for extended hours in front of a computer are prone to bad posture. Bad posture is the result of having an improperly set up workstation where you are forced to stretch your neck to stare at your monitor. Optimize your workstation setup to avoid neck pain. Keep your computer monitor at eye-level.
- Pinched nerves – When spinal deterioration or misalignment in your neck occurs, it can irritate your nerve roots. Not only will it lead to pain, but it can also cause tingling, numbness, and weakness in the shoulders, hands, and arms.
- Jaw problems – The jaw and neck are closely connected. Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on both sides of your face sits close to your atlas, the topmost vertebra in your neck. This explains why people who have TMJ disorders also experience neck pain. Likewise, people with neck pain also find themselves grinding their teeth or clenching their jaw.
- Sports injuries – In any sport, athletes or players may experience slips, falls, and collisions. These may lead to injury in the neck, further resulting in discomfort or pain that can have debilitating effects.
- Whiplash injuries –Whiplash is often thought to be a result of a car accident, but your neck can feel pain from other causes too, such as a slip and fall, or sports injury. Whiplash may lead to damage of the joints, tissues, muscles, ligaments, and nerve roots of the neck. Some of the symptoms of whiplash are stiffness, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, numbness in the arm or hand, and memory issues.
- Arthritis – Osteoarthritis happens when the protective cartilage that cushions the tip of your bones wears down over time. Making certain movements can lead to neck pain, tenderness, or a loss of the neck’s normal range of motion. Arthritis can also give a grating sensation that you can either feel or hear in your neck.
- Atlas misalignment – The atlas is the topmost vertebra in your neck and is also the most moveable. Because it enables you to turn our head in many directions, it can also be prone to misaligning. When this happens, the weight of the head becomes heavier because it is at an unbalanced angle. The body is forced to compensate, which can stress the rest of the cervical spine. Realigning the atlas can alleviate the pressure that was put on the rest of the neck.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic Gives Natural Solution to Neck Pain
Upper cervical chiropractors are highly skilled professionals that address neck discomfort and pain. Even a small misalignment of the upper neck can create disparity throughout the rest of the spine, which can result in neck pain, and even back pain.
Our method is unique as we take detailed images of the neck and head to make an adjustment that is specific to each patient. Our adjustments are very focused, require very little pressure, and are meant to hold in place for a long time. This is why many of our patients see their neck pain go away after a couple of visits to our clinic. If you seek an upper cervical chiropractor in CA, consult with us at Upper Cervical Chiropractic San Diego, where you can achieve natural and lasting relief from neck pain.
To schedule a consultation with Upper Cervical Chiropractic San Diego, call 858-434-5926 or just click the button below.
If you are outside of the local area you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.
