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Neck pain can be caused by a number of things. Sometimes, it is as simple as a knot in a muscle of the neck and may be alleviated by putting ice on it. However, there can be more serious reasons for neck pain.
Causes of Neck Pain
- Degenerative disc disease: If an injury occurs to a disc (a soft, gel-like substance located between the vertebrae) and no blood flow gets to it, it can take much longer to heal. If it does not heal, degeneration occurs.
- Cervical spondylosis or osteoarthritis: This refers to arthritis of the neck and is due to facet joint degeneration in the cervical spine.
- Whiplash: This is overextending of the muscles of the neck and can occur quite easily.
- Slipped disc or herniated disc: If a disc slips out of position, the vertebrae then grind against each other.
Addressing the Underlying Cause of Neck Pain
Often, the reason for neck pain is due to a misalignment of one of the top two bones of the neck. It only takes a ¼ of a millimeter misalignment to wreak havoc on the entire body. This is because the brainstem meets with the spinal cord at this location. A problem with these bones can put undue pressure on the brainstem leading to miscommunications between the brain and body. The body also has to compensate for any misalignment by twisting the spine in order to keep the head level. This sets up a perfect environment for neck pain to occur.
Special tests and x-rays can determine if there is actually a misalignment and where it is located. Then a specific method of scientific measurements and techniques along with a gentle adjustment can move the bones back into proper position. Once this is done, many patients report a decrease in symptoms and sometimes neck pain goes away completely.
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