Coping with neck pain can make even minor tasks difficult. Pain levels can be so severe that it impacts sleep patterns, the ability to perform at work, and the completion of basic daily chores.
Optimum Health Rehab’s core philosophy is to treat the whole body, relieving underlying causes of pain through comprehensive solutions to health and wellness.
Our neck pain management plans are customized per patient to include a possible combination of physical therapy, chiropractic care, massages, wellness services, weight loss, and regenerative cell therapy.
The chiropractors at Optimum Health Rehab carry extensive experience that is beneficial in treating your neck pain. We also provide you with a comprehensive array of technologies and techniques to identify and treat pain at the source.
Stop neck pain from taking control of your life. Call us at (678)546-8044 to schedule your appointment, or complete our online form today.
Reasons to Seek Neck Pain Treatment
The human spine is made of a vertical stack of bones called vertebrae, with rubbery discs in between to cushion them while facilitating movement and flexibility. This hollow column of bones protects the sensitive nerves of the central nervous system..
Attached are the tendons, ligaments, and muscles that serve to support any movements. When issues like compressed discs or inflammation cause nerve endings in the spine or nearby regions to be compressed, issues like pain, soreness, tingling, and more can result.
Pain in the neck region can also be a result of issues with the cervical spine, as the neck is a continuation of that part of the skeletal structure that is supported by complicated muscle groups and tendons.
It can also occur from aging, trauma, bad posture, a pinched nerve, complex degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis, and more.
At Optimum Health Rehab, we understand that our Dacula patients face neck pain from different causes, which could stem from unique events or progressive health issues.
When pain becomes chronic, you may face significant impacts on your quality of life, from the ability to turn your head to the quality of sleep you receive. Relieving this pain gives back comfort, efficiency, and effectiveness when performing just about any activity.
Identifying the Symptoms of Neck Pain
While each patient’s pain can come from a unique source, the symptoms are relatively consistent. Patients encounter a combination of symptoms and discomfort that limits their ability to function as normal.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain while remaining in a particular position for an extensive period of time, like turning the head and holding or even keeping their heads up while driving
- Headaches
- Limited mobility, especially at certain angles and directions
- Muscle tightness or spasms in the neck and surrounding areas
Chronic neck pain often has an easily identifiable root cause, but in some rare cases, it can also be a symptom of more systemic problems with your health.
Patients who feel sharp pains shooting up and down their arms in addition to their neck should speak to a medical professional as soon as possible, as the root cause of their pain might not be related to an issue with their neck at all.
Rare Cases Leading to Serious Medical Concerns
Neck pain can also be a symptom of a serious underlying health problem, though this is far more uncommon. Patients should seek medical attention immediately if they feel numbness or loss of strength in their extremities, especially in their legs and toes.
Similarly, when a sudden pain shoots upwards or downwards in the arms, patients should seek medical attention as it can be a symptom of a more-complicated medical condition.
How Dacula Optimum Health Rehab Helps
Patients who experience prolonged neck pain might be able to find help from an experienced chiropractor.
At your local Dacula Optimum Health Rehab center, you can expect a personalized course of treatment to address the causes of your neck pain, adjusting and adding new treatments as needed.
Starting With a Full Health Assessment
Patients should collect all related medical history to assist with finding a diagnosis. These details can include identifying when symptoms began and if there was an event that triggered their neck pain, like a car accident.
The patient should also describe where their pain is focused and if it is radiating to other parts of their body.
If a patient has worked with other medical professionals or has received treatment, they can provide those details to tailor their personalized treatment plan better, as well as whether any of their treatments reduced their pain.
Working Towards Finding a Diagnosis for Your Neck Pain
It is not uncommon for a patient to have more than one root cause of their pain.
Imaging is often the best course of action when it comes to identifying the source of neck pain. Patients can expect a series of image testing depending on the severity of the pain.
These tests are completed through X-Ray scans, CT Scans, and MRIs. Each type of scan serves a unique purpose, whether it is to identify bone spurs or to provide more detailed images showing soft tissues.
- X-Ray Imaging — X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation. They have higher energy than light which passes through objects, including the human body. However, the images produced are contingent on the number of atomic numbers in that part of the body. Calcium is a mineral that contains elevated atomic numbers, which makes it super absorbent to X-rays. Human bones are high in calcium and absorb X-rays best to show a clear image of test results.
- Computed Tomography Scan (CT scans) — CT scans are imaging tests that combine X-rays with computer technology to produce detailed images of the inside of the human body. These images give a better understanding of connective ligaments and tendons, as well as the condition of surrounding muscular groups.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRIs) — MRIs are scans used to show detailed imaging of the organs and tissues of your body. These scans can determine many medical issues, including those that may be causing you pain. We use MRIs to identify the source of what is causing you pain.
Providing Chiropractic Care
The chiropractic therapy recommended by your Optimum Health Rehab doctor will likely depend on your neck injury, posture, and overall health. Neck pain treatment usually consists of manual adjustments to the cervical spine.
Our comprehensive services include things like trigger point injections and regenerative medicine, all of which can aid in minimizing your pain throughout your chiropractic and physical medicine treatments.
Additionally, your chiropractor might recommend particular stretches and toning exercises to strengthen the neck muscles and prevent the pain from progressing.
Physical Rehabilitation for Neck Pain
Physical therapy can be a solution to neck pain in some cases or a beneficial add-on in others.
Your physical rehabilitation experts will help you identify the muscle groups that can be exercised and stretched in order to strengthen the neck’s supporting system while relieving inflammation that exacerbates pain.
Choosing the Best Dacula Neck Pain Chiropractor for Your Needs
While searching for a healthcare provider, you want to consider their level of experience first. Patients typically do not want to look for the cheapest doctor but for one who has a positive reputation and past successes in handling similar medical cases to their own.
For example, you’ll want to avoid seeking primary treatment from a care provider who may have only been licensed for one month. By the same token, you’ll want to avoid one who may be experienced but has a record of reprimands by state boards and certification agencies.
Prospective patients can research their healthcare providers’ reputation with patients through reviews, Google searches, and confirmation that their licensing is in good standing.
Research is always a good idea. Learning about a chiropractor’s past patients, experience, and credentials will help you find the best neck pain chiropractor for your needs.
Once a healthcare provider is selected, make sure to ask questions like the following during your initial appointment:
- Do you participate in continuing education? — Chiropractors are never meant to stop learning and must keep up with the latest science and techniques to provide effective neck pain relief.
- What is your treatment philosophy? — Look for chiropractors who are willing to perform quality diagnostics and make evidence-based recommendations. They should understand that each case may require a different approach to treatment.
- Are you willing to develop a customized neck pain treatment plan for your particular circumstances? — Even given two people with the exact root cause of neck pain, each may need different treatments due to individual responses or other medical conditions.
- How do you respond when the plan of treatment does not work? — Your healthcare provider should have experience and flexibility in making alterations to your treatment plan in case it proves to be ineffective or cannot be completed fully by the patient.
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Treat Your Neck Pain with Optimum Health Rehab
Grappling with daily neck pain makes engaging routines and activities unpleasant — and sometimes nearly impossible. Don’t let neck pain stop you from doing the things you love!
The chiropractors and other care specialists at Optimum Health Rehab in Dacula are here to help you find relief. We are dedicated to helping every patient not only alleviate their symptoms but maximize their overall wellness.
Contact us to request your appointment online, or give us a call at (678)546-8044.