When it comes to neck pain treatment sometimes the number of choices available to patients can be overwhelming. Adding to this confusion is that no one treatment has been found to be effective in all cases. Furthermore, no treatment is without risks and many of the common treatments carry additional risks that most people do not fully comprehend.
Another factor which adds difficulty in choosing the best neck pain treatment option is that neck pain is different for each person. Some people wake up with neck pain or neck stiffness, others have neck pain related to an injury, and still others are unsure of the exact cause of their neck pain. In many of these cases patients turn to pharmaceuticals such as anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Aspirin) or muscle relaxers. These drugs only provide temporary benefits and still leave those suffering from neck pain with no real permanent solution.
Chiropractic is a great option for people who do not want to have to rely on taking medication every day. Unlike medication or surgery, chiropractic has very little serious or adverse side effects. In fact, chiropractic is one of the safest options for reducing neck pain especially when compared to these other treatment options. Studies have shown that chiropractic care “side effects tend to be benign” and that severe complications are “extremely rare.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716373/).
If you are looking for a chiropractor in New York, Dr. Alex Kaminsky is a licensed and experienced professional and an expert in neck pain treatment. https://www.craniosacraltherapyny.com/craniosacral-therapy-new-york-contact/
Chiropractic for Neck Pain Treatment
Chiropractic may be one of the best choices for people who experience neck pain. Why? Well, not only will patients see immediate benefits (most times even after their first visit) but chiropractic is also a great long-term solution to reducing neck pain. Chiropractic specialists use gentle treatments which are designed to not only reduce neck pain but also to fix problems throughout the entire body.
Often times people suffering from neck pain will have problems which occur in other areas of the spine. A chiropractic specialist will make adjustments to ensure each joint of the spine is where it should be positioned. This will not only help a patient’s current neck pain but also prevent neck pain from occurring in the future.
Furthermore, a chiropractor will not leave patients on their own. Chiropractic neck specialists will educate their patients on the best techniques that can be performed at home by the patient themselves. Such techniques include various neck stretches, craniosacral Therapy, self-massage or neck exercises.
An experienced chiropractor, such as Dr. Alex Kaminsky, a chiropractor in Midtown, NYC, understand that in order to treat a patient’s neck pain or neck stiffness it is important to treat the underlying cause as well.
Chiropractors are Experts
Most people are not aware of the education required to become a chiropractor. Chiropractors are doctors and must have at least 7 years of education before obtaining their Doctor of Chiropractic degree. During this time, chiropractors also receive at least two years of clinical experience. Chiropractors are required to pass a national board exam as well as undergo continuing education after finishing school.
The knowledge of a chiropractor is extensive. A chiropractor must understand not only the structure of the spine and muscular anatomy but also the function of these areas. This includes knowledge of the nervous system and its relation to the other systems of the body. As holistic practitioners, focusing on the whole body and not just its individual parts, many chiropractors even choose additional study to understand how nutrition, diet, exercise and sleep all impact the body.
Dr. Alex Kaminsky is a Doctor of Chiropractic with nearly 20 years of experience. Dr. Kaminsky also has additional training in craniosacral therapy, pranic healing and other methods. If You are seeking chiropractic care or are looking for craniosacral therapy in NYC, contact Dr. Alex Kaminsky: https://www.craniosacraltherapyny.com/craniosacral-therapy-new-york-contact/
When to See a Chiropractic Specialist for Neck Pain
Many times patients visit a chiropractor long after their neck pain first started to occur. This is a mistake that most patients make. Neck pain often occurs as a result of some underlying issues, such as a dislocated joint, that lead to the neck pain in the first place. Since neck pain can occur at any point during this process, the issue can become more serious by the time a patient decides to get treatment. Now instead of treating just once minor issue, the chiropractor has to treat a whole mixture of problems that are leading to a patient’s neck pain.
If you are waking up with neck pain, be sure to visit a chiropractor as soon as possible before your condition starts to worsen. Patients seeking chiropractic treatment in NYC should consult with Dr. Alex Kaminsky, a chiropractor in midtown NYC, for help with their neck pain: https://www.craniosacraltherapyny.com/craniosacral-therapy-new-york-contact/
How to Choose a Chiropractic Specialist for Neck Pain
Once you decide that chiropractic care is the best option for your neck pain, you are left to decide on which chiropractor to visit. This can be just as overwhelming as deciding which treatment option to choose in the first place. It is important to follow some guidelines when choosing a chiropractor that treats neck pain.
Here are some simple guidelines to follow when choosing a chiropractor:
- Check state licensure and credentials
- Ensure no history of malpractice
- Research how long the chiropractor has been in practice
- Check reviews from various websites (Google, Yelp, etc.)
- Ask around and obtain referrals from other patients
- Select a chiropractor who clearly communicates and educates their patients
Dr. Alex Kaminsky is a licensed chiropractor in midtown NYC and has been practicing for nearly 20 years. See what patients have to say about Dr. Kaminsky: https://www.craniosacraltherapyny.com/craniosacral-therapy-new-york-patient-testimonials/
How A Chiropractor Treats Neck Pain
Chiropractors mainly use manual methods for treating neck pain such as using their hands for examination as well as manipulation or adjustment. In fact, the word chiropractic comes from the Greek language which means “done by hand.” Some common manual techniques that chiropractors use is mobilization, manipulation (adjustment), stretching and massage.
What is Cervical Adjustment?
One of the most common treatments for neck pain is manual manipulation, also known as cervical adjustment. A chiropractor will first check with his hands to examine any areas of the neck that might be in need of adjustment. He will also look at any other related medical information such as MRIs and x-rays of the neck and spine in order to complete the assessment. After examination of the patient and a careful review of a patient’s medical history, a chiropractor will then perform a gentle neck adjustment (cervical manipulation).
During a neck adjustment the patient will often be lying flat on a table or seated with the chiropractor standing behind the patient. The chiropractor will then place his hands behind or to the sides of the neck and apply movement in a certain way. Different patients will experience different types of adjustments depending on the problem(s) present.
How Does Cervical Manipulation Benefit Patients?
Patients who have discs in the neck or spine that are out of place receive a may have reduced range of motion. Over a long enough timeline arthritis can also develop. A cervical adjustment or neck adjustment allows for a greater movement in the neck and spine in order to bring nutrients back to the affected area. This is commonly characterized by soreness after treatment. This means that an inflammatory response is possibly occurring in that region. Many patients interpret soreness as being bad but in this case the pain is actually a sign, it means that the affected region is being healed. Range of motion will return to the region as the area becomes healed. Also, once the vertebrae are properly aligned it allows to the muscles in the region to relax and so neck pain and neck stiffness are also alleviated.
Nerves may also be pinched or trapped between the discs. Pinched nerves may cause pain the region or the pain may radiate to another region completely. In this case the pain is abnormal and an indication of improper functioning. Neck adjustments can release the pinched nerve and bring back normal functioning to the nerve as well as reduce the associated neck pain.
Cervical manipulation may be done multiple times. A chiropractor will determine the correct number of times for a patient to return for treatment. Patients should continue chiropractic treatment until normal functioning of the neck is restored and the neck pain is alleviated.
Additional Benefits of Cervical Manipulation
Patients who are suffering from neck pain and go for adjustment may see benefits above and beyond the benefit of reduced neck pain. Some patients may experience improved cognitive function, an improvement in muscle strength, an improved system function, and better balance. These improvements can also lead to an overall feeling of well-being and optimism. In general, patients who feel better and are optimistic about their health ultimately will become better.
Neck Problems Can Lead to Headaches
A herniated disc in the neck or arthritis in the neck can lead to headaches. These conditions can all create a pinched nerve in the neck which then leads to headaches. Conditions associated with the upper nerve roots cause what are known as cervicogenic headaches, and possibly migraines but headaches are more commonly caused by lower nerves in the neck that are pinched. Patients with pinched nerves will also experience common symptoms such as muscle spasms, neck pains, shoulder pains, arm pains, as well as tingling or numbness.
A chiropractor will be able to relieve the affected discs by making sure they are in the correct position. If you are looking for a neck pain specialist in NYC contact Dr. Alex Kaminsky for chiropractic treatment to relieve your headache caused by neck issues: https://www.craniosacraltherapyny.com/craniosacral-therapy-new-york-patient-testimonials/
Myths About Neck Pain and Headache
Many people are also under the false belief that neck pain and the associated headache from the neck pain is just caused by stiff muscles in the neck. However, many patients never ask themselves the question of what is causing those muscles to tighten in the first place. If a patient has a stiff neck and tight neck muscles, it is most likely because that patient has some underlying condition such as a herniated disc. The herniated disc caused the muscle to tighten as a corrective response. This means that massage therapy alone is not enough to cure the problem. Massage will relax the muscle but the problem may actually intensify because the disc may slip further out of place. A chiropractic specialist is required to improve the dislocated joint and relieve the headache.
Neck Stretches
Following treatment, a chiropractor will provide various neck stretches for patients to perform on their own in order to ensure patients keep a proper range of motion in the neck area. These neck stretches are often simple but very effective. They can be performed almost anywhere so they are also extremely convenient. These neck stretches don’t require a lot of time.
A common technique involves standing upright and using the hand to bend the neck to the side. If a patient is bending the neck to the right he will use his right hand and visa versa. The patient will bend the head in alignment with the shoulder until the ear is positioned over top of the outermost side of the shoulder. Hold this stretch for approximately thirty seconds. Be careful not to pull on the neck or bend the neck too far to the side.
Another common stretch, very similar to the previous, involves sitting and stretching the nose towards the armpit. This stretch involves being seated upright, reaching just behind the head and pulling the head gently downwards to the right with the nose being moved towards the right armpit. This should be held for around thirty seconds. It can then be repeated on the left side.
If you are waking up with neck stiffness, neck stretches can be a great way to reduce muscle tightness and neck pain. However, be sure to consult with a neck specialist such as Dr. Alex Kaminsky before performing any of these neck stretches on your own.
Risks of Chiropractic Neck Treatment
Patients are often concerned about the risks associated with chiropractic. This is understandable but often times the risks are blown out of proportion by the media. One common story reported is this risk of stroke associated with neck adjustment. The actual risk of stroke is extremely rare and studies have estimated that “1 in 20,000 spinal manipulations results in a vertebral artery aneurysm/dissection.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4264725/). Another study showed that “the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low” for cervical manipulation.
Also, risks related to cervical manipulation need not be viewed in a vacuum. The risks need to be compared to other treatment options, such as surgery. In fact, surgery carries risks such as infection, graft displacement, damage to the blood vessels, spinal cord and nerves, as well as all the risks related to using anesthesia (https://www.depuysynthes.com/patients/aabp/explore/surgical-treatments/complications).
A patient needs to understand that risks are present during any form of treatment from any type of specialist. Patients seeking neck pain treatment should do their own research before receiving any type of care.
