What is Causing Your Neck Pain?

Pinched nerves is the root cause of most cases of neck pain. The location of the nerve being pinched may not be obvious. While a pinched nerve in neck is a very common source of a neck disorder, symptoms in the neck can be coming from other disruption in the adjoining muscles, joints and nerves.

Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of the skull and contains seven small vertebrae. Incredibly, the cervical spine supports the full weight of your head, which is on average about 12 pounds. While your neck (or cervical spine) can move your head in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes the neck very susceptible to pain and injury.

The neck’s susceptibility to injury is due in part to biomechanics (the way your body works together). Activities and events that affect cervical biomechanics include extended sitting, repetitive movement, accidents, falls and blows to the body or head, normal aging, and everyday wear and tear.

Common Causes of Neck Pain We Treat Everyday

Muscle Stiffness and Stress

A stiff and achy neck results from poor posture, static posture, muscle tightness and stress. This is what typically occurs when working at a computer for long periods of time. Vertebrae in your neck get pulled out of place by tightened muscles and create misalignments (which just means the parts that make up the neck are no longer lined up how they are suppose to). These misalignments cause pinched nerves. If left untreated, they develop into symptoms like tension headache, neck muscle pain, stiff neck pain, and possibly degeneration of the joints.

Accidents and Injuries

Sports injuries and whiplash from even a minor car accident are common causes of neck pain we see in our office. Often left untreated for many years, scar tissue and disc disorders are very common in patients with chronic neck pain. The ligaments that hold your head up can be stretched or torn causing your head to feel “loose” and generate pain. If not treated, considerable problems will occur in the way your neck works and feels, including the formation of scar tissue and disc problems -- issues we see in our office daily.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative disc disease occurs in response to long-term joint problems. Over time, the compression of the disc causes them to lose their elasticity and risk developing bone spurs, herniated discs or ruptured discs. Degenerative disc disease can cause significant irritation to tender nerves causing neck, arm, and head pain. Left untreated, this condition gradually causes more stress to the nerves with increasing dysfunction. If left too long, it may become irreversible.

Diseases

Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis and cancer can cause neck pain.

Bone Spurs

When joints are not aligned as designed, over time this can create bone spurs (sharp boney growths) that then irritate the nerves and other tissues surrounding the misaligned joint. Realignment of the joint with gentle chiropractic treatment will relieve the area and allow the bone matter to reabsorb.

Only the Best Laser Therapy for Our Patients

Because it provides the fastest relief, and you deserve it.

You have probably heard the buzz in Orange County about Cold Laser Therapy for pain relief. But did you know that not all cold lasers are the same? In fact, they are all very different in their energy wavelengths and power to heal. True of everything we do, our choice of laser is not only the most expensive on the market, but it is the best. And for our patients, we only want the best. Our cold laser technology is made by the leading manufacturer who pioneered cold laser technology and holds the first-ever patent for laser pain relief. Erchonia Cold Laser Therapy has been featured on TV shows like Dr. Oz, Nightline, Good Morning American, Rachel Ray, and The Doctors. Athletes from professional teams like NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL seek Erchonia Cold Laser Therapy, as well as celebrities like Jon Bon Jovi, Randy Travis, and Celine Dion. During the peak of his career, Tiger Woods relies on Erchonia Cold Laser Therapy to speed up tissue recovery and decrease healing time.