If you’ve ever fallen asleep with your neck at an odd angle 一 a particularly troublesome problem for those who travel frequently 一 you know that neck pain is nothing short of frustrating. And unfortunately, 80% of people will deal with neck pain at some point.
Mild muscle strains may subside after a few days with rest and warm compresses, but what if neck pain lingers? Chronic neck pain can take a toll on your quality of life; but thankfully, there are many treatment options for it. Steven Levingston, DC and Brittany Anz, DC encourage you to seek medical care for neck pain if it persists for more than a few days.
Here are four reasons you shouldn’t ignore chronic neck pain.
Ignoring neck pain prolongs your pain relief
Perhaps the most important reason you shouldn’t ignore neck pain: the longer you wait to seek treatment, the longer your neck will hurt. You don’t need to power through neck pain. There are many treatment options available 一 all of which can help you feel better.
The team at Premier Chiropractic may recommend any of the following to help you find relief from your chronic neck pain: chiropractic treatment, soft tissue work, acupuncture, and rehabilitation.
Neck pain might be the result of anatomical structures that require treatment
If your neck pain doesn’t resolve within a few days, there’s likely an underlying condition that’s contributing to your pain.
Neck pain can be the result of:
- Severe muscle strains
- Herniated discs
- Whiplash
- Intersegmental joint dysfunction
- Cervical facet syndrome
- Ligament sprain
- Spinal stenosis
- Arthritis
In addition to neck pain, some of these conditions can cause other symptoms, such as tingling in your arms and hands. The only way to resolve all of these symptoms is to pinpoint the source of your neck pain and treat it accordingly.
Ignoring pain can lead to complications
Even a mild, nagging pain can escalate into a bigger problem if it’s not treated in a timely manner. For instance, untreated whiplash can become a chronic condition that persists for years. Untreated neck pain can also lead to headaches and muscle tension 一 both of which can impact your performance at work and your ability to enjoy social activities with friends and family.
Untreated neck pain makes your life harder
Untreated neck pain can reduce the range of motion in your neck, which poses both functional and safety issues. For instance, pain and reduced mobility can make it hard to safely check your blindspot while driving, and on a practical level, reduced neck mobility makes it harder to get dressed each morning.
Say Goodbye to Neck Pain
If at-home treatments for neck pain 一 such as heat therapy, rest, and self-massage 一 don’t even begin to touch your pain, we can help. Saying goodbye to neck pain starts with a comprehensive exam, a review of your symptoms, and an accurate diagnosis, and that’s where our team excels.
Our chiropractic team offers comprehensive medical and chiropractic care so you can find relief from neck pain and other related symptoms (such as headaches) that have developed as a result of your neck pain.
To get started with your neck pain treatments, call our Pearland, Texas, office at 281-223-1172. You can also use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment