Chiropractic
manipulation for neck pain is much safer, up to 100-400 times safer, than
using pills to treat neck pain, according to a recent study.
Neck Pain
Chiropractic
manipulation for neck pain is much safer, up to 100-400 times safer, than
using pills to treat neck pain, according to a recent study.
A review of medical literature from 1966-1994 found some studies that demonstrate chiropractic treatment for neck pain using manipulation, but could not find even one study examining the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for neck pain. NSAIDs are commonly purchased over the counter or by prescription for the treatment of neck pain.
Even more astonishing is the fact that there was no evidence that NSAIDs are any more effective than manipulation for the treatment of neck pain. This study appeared in a recent issue of the "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics".
Just what causes neck pain and stiffness? It might be easier to list what doesn't cause neck pain. When you think about everything that your neck does all day as it supports the weight of your head (about 10 lbs.) on only 7 small cervical bones and a few dozen muscles that must flex and stretch with every movement of the head...it can be a real pain in the neck.
In addition to the normal daily work that our necks perform, we may have recently been in an auto collision, taken a fall, sneezed or lifted something that is too heavy. Occasionally, we fall asleep in an awkward position and wake up with a sore neck. Or we go to work and slump over a desk or stare at a computer screen that is not properly positioned. Add to this a little bit of stress or tension and let stand for 24 hours per day and presto....neck pain.
A doctor of chiropractic (DC) will ask questions about your neck pain, examine your neck and back and possibly x-ray your spine to determine what exactly is causing your neck pain and how it can be treated.
Treatment often consists of manipulation of restricted vertebral segments. Manipulation allows these "stuck" segments to move the way that they are supposed to. Because of this, there is less pressure on the joints, less stress on the muscles and therefore less neck pain.
Additional therapy to help the manipulation to be more effective may include muscle stimulation, ice, ultrasound, exercises and stretches. Your doctor of chiropractic chooses to use these methods instead of pills to treat your neck pain safely and effectively.