Got Pain? How To Know When To Call For Help!

A “Pain in the Neck” is a common term and an even more common ailment. Most often it is a result of poor posture or overuse, other times it is a direct result of an accident or injury.

The pain may not be very severe and a person can feel relief after a few days. But in some cases, it can continue to be felt up to a week even after home remedies have been tried and may need to be relieved by a professional, such as a chiropractor.

Common Symptoms:

• Stiff Neck (soreness and difficulty in moving the neck)
• Sharp stabbing or stinging pain that is usually felt in one area of the neck, occurring in the lower regions of the neck
• General soreness which can be tender or achy that’s felt mostly in one spot
• Pain that radiates along a nerve from your neck into the shoulders and arms. It can be very intense,as though your body is on fire
• Headaches
• Tingling or Numbness
• Trouble lifting or gripping onto something

5 Tips on Finding Relief

• Be mindful of how you use your phone while talking, use a blue-tooth device or hands-free set while making calls and take breaks in between to stretch your neck
• Go for a swim in the pool up to neck level and move around. Some people have found relief through gentle water therapy exercises.
• Cold and heat application therapy. Ice can help reduce swelling to an area that is inflamed and heat will help blood circulation to tightened muscles. Place an ice bag or frozen bag of vegetables that’s wrapped in a towel on the neck for 20 minutes then remove, next apply a heating pad or hot towel for 20 minutes as well. Repeat three times a day.
• Light neck stretches can come in handy and also help to loosen stiff muscles. Start by gently tensing your neck muscles as you look up and down, then side to side.
• Check your pillow to make sure that it’s firm enough. A pillow that is too flat will force your neck to bend in an unnatural position.

When To See A Chiropractor

Although there may be a few things you can do at home to relieve neck pain, sometimes it may severe enough where a chiropractor can help.

A chiropractor will conduct a physical exam and x-rays to determine the best care plan.

Signs That You Need to See A Chiropractor

• Neck pain or stiffness continues to persist for more than a week
• You feel pain while simply turning your head to the left or right
• Depending on over-the-counter pain medications to relieve pain daily
• Concern that the pain may be something more serious
• Pain started in the neck area but has since progressed to feelings of numbness or tingling in the hands or wrists
• Started shortly after a car accident (resulting in whiplash)
• The pain is severe first thing in the morning but feels better as the day goes on

Neck pain, whether it is severe or not, can make a person’s daily movement painful and cause discomfort.

We at Stanford Chiropractic Center want to help ease your pain and continue to lead an active and less pain lifestyle. Call us today at (650) 326-7000 and set up a Free Consultation. We are here for you!