Neck Pain & Spinal Misalignments

Neck pain can wreak havoc on your life.  Given the age of computers and cell phones, neck pain has become a serious problem for many people.  For most who come to my office with neck pain, I am usually their last resort. They have tried many other forms of treatment with minimal results or just temporary relief. 

Chronic neck pain can be annoying and finding relief, frustrating.  Even a little neck pain can go a long way in affecting one’s mood, daily routine and function.  

Pain in the neck can come from many sources. It is important to have it evaluated properly in order to find the true cause.  What I often see, and is often missed in the evaluation of neck pain, is the misalignment of the spine in the neck and poor posture. Posture is something we take for granted, but it is of major importance in our mainstream health.

How many people do you know that sit hunched over a computer all day, more than 6 to 8 hours a day?  If I asked you to hold a 10-pound bowling ball in your outstretched hand all day, do you think you would experience shoulder pain?  It is no different for those working all day with their outstretched head peering into a computer screen. 

Most people treat their pain with pain meds. If that doesn’t work, they may seek medical treatment for stronger pain reduction medications or some form of physical therapy.  Now that is all well and good - if you want only temporary relief from your pain.  If you fail to address the true cause of pain, your problem remains and will only worsen over time.

Alignment   

Let's talk about alignment.  Addressing structural health and alignment may be the answer to being free from pain and suffering.  One way we can evaluate alignment is by looking at and evaluating posture. Posture is a gateway to evaluating the structure and framework of the body. 

The importance of the structure of the human frame is largely overlooked in our healthcare system today.  The framework of your neck is made up of 7 spinal bones.  The purpose of the spinal bones is to protect your “life force,” the energy flowing from your brain into your spinal cord and body. This life force controls and regulates all functions of the body. 

The spinal bones in your neck must be in healthy balance and alignment in order for the joints, surrounding muscles, ligaments and nervous system to function normally. When the spinal bones in the neck are not in healthy balance, this can affect the surrounding and supporting structures.  I often hear people blame their neck and upper back pain on tight muscles.  Massage can help, but remember if the structures to which these muscles attach are not in healthy balance, the tight musculature will return. 

What can cause misalignments in your neck and how can you quick check yourself?  The most common causes of problems are accidents, injuries and poor posture.  If you have been in a car accident either minor or major, it is most likely that you have misalignments in your spine.  If you sit at a desk all day, you're almost assured of misalignments. Over time these problems worsen and, if not corrected, will continue to wreak havoc on your life. 

If you suffer with any type of neck pain, I would like you to join me at Panera Bread in Rocky River on Wednesday, May 11 at 7:15 p.m.  I will discuss the missing link in neck pain and how you can defeat the pain naturally. 

Bryan Ruocco

Dr. Bryan Ruocco is a local chiropractor and wellness advocate. He owns and operates the Power of LIFE Wellness Center located in Rocky River. Dr. Ruocco graduated from the Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. He graduated in the top of his class and received Magna Cum Laude Honors.

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Volume 3, Issue 10, Posted 4:06 PM, 04.06.2016