Neck Pain in Elizabethtown
Without a doubt, neck pain is one of the most common complaints we see at our practice. Considering how much time people spend at their workstations, or on their digital devices at home, it’s no surprise many suffer from neck discomfort.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of neck pain include:
- Muscle tightness and spasms
- A decreased ability to move your head
- Headaches
Common Causes
Because your neck is flexible and supports the weight of your head, it may be susceptible to injuries and conditions that result in pain and restricted motion. Some of the most common causes of neck discomfort are
Muscle strains - Things like sitting for many hours hunched over your computer often trigger muscle strains. Even reading in bed—especially if you don’t have proper neck support—can strain neck muscles.
Worn joints - As you age, your neck joints tend to wear down. Osteoarthritis causes the cushions (cartilage) between your bones (vertebrae) to deteriorate. Your body then develops bone spurs, affecting joint motion and resulting in pain.
Nerve compression - Herniated disks or bone spurs in the vertebrae of your neck may put pressure on the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord.
Injuries – A rear-end auto collision often results in a whiplash injury. This type of injury occurs when the head is jerked backward and then forward, resulting in the soft tissues of the neck being strained.
How We Can Help
At our practice, we gladly welcome patients of all walks of life who may be experiencing chronic or acute neck pain. We take pride in diving deep to uncover exactly what’s going on in your body to determine a root cause. From there, we can address the problem at its source. Depending on your unique issue, we may recommend a variety of adjustment techniques, including:
- Gonstead - Often referred to as the ‘gold standard’ in chiropractic care, Gonstead technique is scientifically backed and proven, beginning with an assessment of your nervous system and how it’s functioning.
- Diversified – One of the most common forms of manual adjustment, Diversified technique is designed to gently move spinal bones back into place through a precise hands on adjustment.
- Activator - A gentle, handheld instrument that taps the spinal bones back into place-this is ideal for young or elderly patients, and even those who may be nervous about their first adjustment.
What to Expect
Dr. Eriksen will conduct a thorough examination, including X-rays, to locate the underlying cause of your chronic pain. He will then design a care plan specifically for your condition. Most patients see marked improvement within a few sessions. In most cases, Dr. Eriksen will do an adjustment and therapies at this visit. In some cases, he’ll want to wait to review the X-rays before performing any adjustments. Our primary techniques are Gonstead and Diversified. For patients who require or request a low-force adjustment, we do instrument adjusting with the Activator tool. Instrument adjusting is also useful for patients who are nervous about having their neck adjusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my neck have to be manually adjusted?
What other things can I do to address neck discomfort?
Book an Appointment
If you have neck pain, we want to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
