Neck pain 

Can range anywhere from a chronic, long-standing, low-grade complaint to debilitating, sudden-onset, and life-altering pain. Sometimes the condition switches from one to the other with no known reason while at other times there’s an obvious event that led to the concern. Because if its varied presentations, it can affect all ages. However, we’re noticing an increase in the the condition with the rise in desk-oriented office work that keeps employees tied to their work stations and computers for hours at end.

According to the National Institute of Health report from 2012 at any one time, 15% of the population has some type of neck pain. Of that 15%, over half seek care for their neck pain from a non-medical, or complementary sources of treatment. Patients at large are gravitating towards non-pharmaceutical methods of relief and at the American Back Center we can manage these conditions with a variety of treatment methods with great success.

Below is a short list of common neck pain presentations and causes:

Mechanical Neck Pain

This is the most common cause of neck pain and it while it’s often considered one singular condition, studies are now revealing that what was once considered a simple ‘bout of neck pain’ often can be further distinguished into various sub-groups of pain, each with its own specific treatment protocol. By performing an MDT assessment (commonly known as the McKenzie approach), we can classify the neck pain and assign specific home-based exercises that literally correct the problem. Not all exercises programs are alike and usually the neck needs only one, targeted exercise to correct the problem. If you’ve already been to someone for your neck and you’ve been given a multitude of exercises but you’re still not getting better, consider the American Back Center.

Whiplash and accident-related neck pain

This is the most common neck complaint after accidents. When the neck is thrown around in a car accident or sport injury, the ligaments that hold the spine together can get overstretched and damaged. Similar to a sprained ankle, swelling occurs and movement makes the pain worse. Usually patients have strong morning pain a day or two after the initial injury. Unfortunately, many patients wait to have their spine examined, believing that the pain will resolve on its own and when it doesn’t – often weeks or even months later – only then do they seek treatment. Don’t delay! Early intervention leads to quicker and better outcomes.

Cervical radiculopathy

Patients can sometimes come to the office with hand, arm or shoulder pain, numbness, tingling or weakness and often this is actually a neck problem. When the sensitive nerves of the spine get pressed on by disc or squeezed by tight muscles these nerves send pain signals down their length, causing pain away from the spine. By treating the spine itself we can resolve the arm pain. However, it’s first important to determine if in fact the arm complaint is coming from the neck or whether it’s an actual arm complaint.

Visit us at the American Back Center for the best and the most holistic treatment for back pain in Chicago. Call (855) 962-3621 or click here to book an appointment with Dr. Chris Edginton DC, the leading chiropractor in Chicago and his team of highly skilled specialists.

There are a number of misconceptions about neck pain, which is why getting the right information from credible sources is so important. The American Back Center is the best chiropractic clinic in Chicago. We wish to clarify 6 common misconceptions about neck pain that a lot of people have.

Myth #1: Neck pain is ONLY caused by neck muscles

No. You should understand that what we call “the neck” only consists of 7 vertebrae out of the 24 that form the spinal column. Muscle tightness in the neck has to do with the much bigger pattern of muscle contraction close to the body’s center. The paravertebral muscles of the spine run from the tailbone till the base of the skull.

If the muscles on the back of the body, from the neck right down to the pelvis are tight, then this has a direct bearing on the neck. The posture plays an important part and when the body is hunched or slumped most of the time, neck pain is never too far away. So to prevent neck pain, you must take care of the entire body, the back and the front.

Myth #2: Neck problems are a result of old age

It does seem to be an obvious thing to connect neck problems to old age, but there is no real evidence to prove the correlation. Neck problem occurs when muscular dysfunction is allowed to remain unchecked. This is more a result of lack of movement and lack of exercise than because of aging. An physically in-active 30-year old who spends most of his time hunched on a laptop, is more likely to have neck problems than a fit 70-year old who goes walking every morning and keeps herself busy in the garden.

Myth #3: Neck pain occurs because of weak neck muscles

No, painful muscles are rarely weak. In fact muscle pain occurs because the muscles are so tight that they do not release fully and cannot move efficiently. That’s because they lack oxygen and the blood circulation is not as it should be. The muscles need to be relaxed, not strengthened; the tension within them must be removed. Learn to relax not just the neck, but also the back, shoulders and the hips, use the right posture while walking or sitting, and be efficient with your body movements. The neck pain will be gone soon.

Myth #4: Rest is the best relief for neck pain

While it is true that a short period of bed rest does help to relieve severe neck pain, you shouldn’t take more a day or two of bed rest, as inactivity would only cause more pain. This is because inactivity leads to muscle wasting, which has unintended effects. That is why most physicians recommend active physical therapy and exercise to those with neck problems.

Myth #5: The spine is very fragile

No, not really. The spine is actually a very strong structure which is given adequate support by the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons. However, the spine requires proper conditioning such as stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular exercise. Poor posture and body mechanics can cause more problems to the spine leading to neck and back problems, as does lack of sleep and physical exhaustion.

Myth #6: If the doctor hasn’t found anything wrong, the pain does not exist

Sometime physicians are unable to find the source of the pain, but that doesn’t mean that it does not exist. Chronic neck pain can be caused by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety and depression. It can be caused by lack of sleep. It is important to treat the pain proactively. Chiropractic care is a highly effective alternative treatment when modern medicine does not offer a solution to the chronic pain.

Dealing with ongoing neck pain requires a long-term solution. At the Chicago-based American Back Center, we provide you with the most up-to-date, in-depth and reliable information for your neck pain. We also provide the most appropriate treatment for your pain. Our goal is to help you get healthy and stay healthy ASAP. So if you’re suffering from neck pain, call us at 312-939-4121, e-mail info@americanbackcenter.org or fill up this contact form to book an appointment TODAY!

If you have neck pain

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What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck Pain is very common, and can affect any adult person. Your age, weight, genetics and particularly lifestyle have a big role to play and decide the intensity of the pain. The bones, ligaments, and muscles of your neck support your head and allow for motion. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness

Neck Pain and what you can do to Help Yourself

You can reduce the intensity of the pain by performing a few chosen stretching routines and simple neck exercises recommended by our chiropractor. Chiropractic adjustments and spinal manipulations can help reduce chronic neck pain as well.

A Simple Treatment for Neck Pain

A common treatment for neck pain is the application of ice followed by rest. Ice therapy reduces the inflammation of the muscle tissues and lowers the severity of the pain to a considerable extent. However, it’s important to perform some simple neck exercises and to put the neck through a range of motions, as would be suggested by our physical therapist.

Sometimes Surgery is the Answer

When the neck pain is very serious and has been ongoing for an extended period of time, a surgical procedure can be performed as an option of last resort. Before recommending therapy we would usually try other non invasive options such as VAX-D or Pain Injections.

Visit American Back Center for Neck Pain Relief

Our Chiropractors and physical therapists provide a safe and natural treatment for neck pain. They use a combination of chiropractic adjustments, simple neck exercises and physiotherapy to restore motion to stiff joints and relieve the chronic neck pain.

At the American Back Center, we offer a very comprehensive and holistic treatment for neck pain. We have some of the best pain management specialists in Chicago working for us. Read our reviews

Contact us at the American Back Center for management of your pain.

Call: 312-939-4121 to book an appoinment

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We Treat your whole Body, not just Back Pain

American Back Center is dedicated to creating a healing environment in which patients have access to a variety of complementary and alternative therapies to promote healing and wellness. You won’t find cookie-cutter treatments here, we commit to top quality care, tailored to fit each patient’s needs.

Chronic Shoulder Pain | American Back Center

If Shoulder pain is left untreated, it can lead to something serious, and become a chronic problem. When your shoulder pain becomes chronic, it would be difficult for you to carry out your daily activities, such as carrying the groceries or lifting weights at the gym. You need help!

Chiropractic care is generally sought out by people who are looking for treatment for back pain or neck pain. What you probably didn’t know is that chiropractors, such as those at the Midwest Chiropractic Care Center, are also trained to adjust and treat extremities such as the knees, joints and the shoulders.

Visiting a chiropractor is very important and it is certainly a far better option than trying to treat yourself by resting or taking painkillers. That won’t heal the pain, and while it may give you temporary relief, it actually may make the pain worse in the long run. Also, painkillers are addictive and can lead to dangerous side effects.

Shoulder pain is generally caused by irritation in the joints. On other occasions, it is caused by tissue irritation. One of our pain management specialists can diagnose the problem accurately to start a proper treatment.

An MRI scan of the shoulder can be taken to identify the pain points. Our chiropractor would use techniques such as manipulation of the spine to offer relief for the shoulder pain. The treatment depends on the cause of the shoulder pain.

Our chiropractic then uses adjustments and other related treatments to restore the shoulder mobility and reduce the pain. They look at your overall health, and focus on your lifestyle and work habits rather than just on the shoulder. Chiropractic care involves taking a more holistic approach to pain medication.

They identify the cause of the shoulder pain and discuss your symptoms with you. In particular, our chiropractor will want to know about your prior injuries and health history, as well as your leisure activities.

Rest is in important part of the treatment. Rest allows the inflammation to subside to an extent. However, prolonged immobilization of the shoulder can lead to other complications such as frozen shoulder.

Application of ice and heat can help. Our pain management specialists usually recommend along side treatmet the use of ice packs and heat pads to offer relief for the shoulder pain.

Our pain management therapist can put you through a series of stretching exercises to stretch the certain muscles and tendons that surround the joint. This has to be done carefully, because if the right form is not followed for the exercises, it can make things worse for you.

At the American Back Center we have been providing quality treatment for neck, shoulder and back pain for over a decade. Please contact us today to book an appointment one of our experienced team of pain management specialists.

American Back Center

• 122 South Michigan, #1265
• Call us: 312-939-4121