Neck Pain and Soft Tissue Injury

Neck pain can be caused in a variety of ways ranging from resting in an awkward position during sleep to sustaining a more serious neck injury as a result of being in an auto accident. Pain and stiffness in the neck area is hard to put up with and over time causes patients to lose sleep, experience a loss of appetite and suffer with persistent headaches that do not respond to over-the-counter remedies. Auto accidents Auto accidents where the driver and passengers are subjected to a sharp impact from the rear are the main cause of soft tissue injury in the neck. The unfortunate fact is that many doctors will X-ray patients with soft tissue injury and send them home as X-rays will not necessary reveal the injury immediately following the accident.

Neck Pain is Often Self-Treated

At home the patient will self-medicate with analgesics that slightly mask the symptoms but do nothing to eradicate the source of the pain. The headaches, stiffness and soreness will increase until the sufferer is forced to seek pain relief and hopefully end up in the chiropractor’s waiting room. A chiropractor will apply stimulation to the neck muscles and surrounding soft tissue area. Usually the chiropractor will achieve dramatic pain relief within the first week and sometimes immediately following the first visit. Other causes Sitting at a computer for extended periods can cause neck and spinal problems, especially if the wrong type of chair is used, perhaps at the wrong height for the desk or positioned badly so that the chair does not slide far enough under the desk. This can cause strain in the neck area and eventual pain. The stiffness in the neck area prompts the sufferer to try to manipulate the area, usually making matters worse and causing further inflammation. A chiropractor is likely to identify the problem and alleviate the pain. Worry can also produce neck pain. Constant nervous tension from stress causes muscular stress that might concentrate in the neck and shoulders and also lead to regular headaches. Stress often produces lethargy and lack of regular exercise can result in mild atrophy of the muscles. Loss of flexibility further aggravates the neck muscles. A chiropractor can provide immediate pain relief with manipulation. The cause of pain in the neck area might also be due to the patient suffering a slipped disc, the onset of osteoporosis, or even a tumor. The muscles feel hard and unyielding and the pain might extend down the arms and into the shoulders. Seeking early help is the best way forward when dealing with neck pain and the chiropractor should be the first port of call to treat neck pain and soft tissue injury.

Neck Pain - Get Treatment Sooner Rather than Later