Chiropractor In Marietta Ga | What To Do About Neck Pain

Neck pain is a relatively common complaint and usually isn't serious enough to merit involving a doctor-even though I am a proponent of chiropractic care and think that everyone should see that type of doctor as much for prevention as for treatment.

With any luck, if you see a chiropractor on a regular basis-for example, I see mine once every other week, for what is known as a maintenance plan-you won't need to worry about other types of doctors as much, since chiropractic care helps to prevent joint and disc deterioration in addition to strengthening the immune system.

At-Home Treatments -

For the type of neck pain caused by muscle strain, you can alternate heat and cold; my chiropractor recommends icing, twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off, but you can also take a warm shower or alternate the ice pack with a heating pad on a low setting.

You want to be careful with the heat, though, as heat, while it relaxes sore muscles, can also aggravate inflammation. Don't use heat immediately following an injury, but rather once inflammation has subsided and never for longer than twenty minutes at a time, two or three times a day.

Everyone always jumps on the over-the-counter pain relievers, but I'm not going to recommend those, because they're no good for you. Sure, they might provide some temporary relief, but you definitely don't want to be taking them on any kind of habitual basis. Instead, let's talk about herbs.

Boswellia is an Ayurvedic herb that's good for the reduction of inflammation-more or less the same thing ibuprofen does, without so much risk to your liver. Feverfew and ginger work well for pain and soreness; additionally, ginger is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea and nettle leaf are also anti-inflammatories.

Juices made from fresh raw vegetables such as beets, garlic, and radishes are helpful. Suggested homeopathic remedies include Aconitum napellus, Arnica montana, Hypericum, Rhus toxicodendron, Ruta graveolens, and Symphytum officinalis.

Rest, gentle stretching, and muscle and joint creams are also helpful.

When it Doesn't Get Better at Home -

For pain that won't go away with home treatments, physical therapy may be needed. A physical therapist can guide you through neck exercises and stretching that you can then continue to do at home on your own. Exercises decrease pain by helping to restore muscle function and build the strength and endurance of your neck muscles. I'm a fan of physical therapy in conjunction with chiropractic care.

Traction therapy is a form of physical therapy that can provide significant relief. I actually did traction therapy as part of my chiropractic care. Traction uses weights and pulleys to gently stretch your neck while keeping it immobilized. A physical therapist can work with you on this and might also be able to provide you with a home traction kit.

Emergency Situations -

Always go to your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms accompanying your neck pain: shooting pains, loss of strength (weakness in an arm or leg, walking with a stiff leg, or shuffling feet), or sudden changes in bladder or bowel habits (particularly an unprecedented onset of incontinence), which could indicate neurological disorders.