Neck Pain

Our necks are powerful, holding the entire weight of our head (on average 12 pounds) with its seven vertebrae and offering an impressive range of motion and flexibility. That’s notable work but can also lead to a lot of neck discomfort.

The neck, also called the cervical spine, is almost constantly working, so its susceptibility to injury isn’t a big surprise. Receiving chiropractic care for your neck issues and discomfort is both safe and reliable. Dr. Donahue is well-versed in neck care because many of our patients suffer from this problem.

Patients who visit us for their neck pain, usually complain of one or more of the following:

- Loss of range of motion
- Can’t comfortably check blind spots
- Sleepless nights
- Discomfort when working at their desks and looking at their computer screen

Neck pain can be caused by any number of events, including:

- Repetitive activity
- Poor posture
- Sitting at a desk all day
- An accident
- A surgery
- Sports or athletics
- Text neck
- Daily life wear and tear
- And, many more

Why see a chiropractor for neck pain?

Because your neck is vital to a functioning body, it’s important that it receives the proper care when it’s in pain. Proper body balance entails that the joint, ligaments, tendons, and muscles throughout your body are working together as they should. When specific areas can’t pull their weight, problems will arise.

Seeing a chiropractor is a smart first step when experiencing neck discomfort. A chiropractor will be able to quickly evaluate the issues and mitigate the pain almost immediately, depending on the source of the problem.

When your neck is in pain, it’s telling you to seek help, so don’t delay. Dr. Donahue will offer neck adjustments, stretching practices, and therapeutic exercises to reduce the pain and get to the heart of the problem.

If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should make an appointment to see us:

- Chronic or intense neck pain
- Swelling in your neck
- Weakness, tingling, or numbness in your neck
- Carpal tunnel syndrome

If your neck pain has lasted for over six weeks, we recommend you come to see us as soon as you can. Providing a comprehensive strategy to get you relief while ensuring the cause of your neck pain is regulated is Dr. Donahue’s primary goal.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and neck pain

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be directly related to a neck injury. When muscle stiffness in your neck and shoulders results in muscle tension, nerve compression, poor posture, and pain you may find that your arm and hand are also negatively affected.

If you’re experiencing discomfort and believe it may be carpal tunnel syndrome, a chiropractor should be your next stop. Our St. Louis chiropractic office can quickly diagnose your injury and determine how to best proceed in repairing the problem.

Treatments for neck pain

ActiveSTL Chiropractic and Sports Rehab offers a variety of specialized treatments to ensure your neck pain gets proper care. Our techniques are safe and noninvasive, and we never use medications to mask the pain but deliver real, natural, hands-on procedures that get results.

Electrical muscle stimulation to treat neck pain

This safe and pain-free therapy, sometimes called e-stim or electric stim, works by applying a very mild electrical current to the muscles through electrodes placed on and around the neck. In most cases, symptoms are alleviated immediately.

Ultrasound to treat neck pain

Chiropractors use ultrasound to generate high-frequency sound waves that provide heat to the area of the neck that’s in distress. The tissues and muscles of the neck use the deep heat to heal itself in a natural way. Therapeutic ultrasound offers an array of effects including pain management and improved range of motion and flexibility.

Traction table to treat neck pain

Using a traction table is an effective way to stretch ligaments and muscles while the spinal column is mobilized. Doing this allows for an increase in oxygen and blood flow to the spinal discs, ligaments, and muscles, which is excellent for healing a misaligned spine and improving a patient’s balance, strength, and mobility.

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) to treat neck pain

In order to break down scar tissue, Dr. Donahue uses an instrument that expedites soft tissue mobilization. Scar tissue is often a cause of neck pain and when it is minimized, your pain will follow suit.

Adjustments to treat neck pain

A neck adjustment sometimes referred to as spinal manipulation, can considerably reduce neck pain effectively and efficiently. Chiropractors use this method to improve upon the patient’s joint mobility which offers a better range of motion, flexibility, reduces spasms, and all of those things relieve neck tension and pressure.

Exercises to treat neck pain

When done correctly, exercises and stretches are a remarkable, effective way to reduce neck discomfort. St. Louis’s ActiveSTL Chiropractic and Sports Rehab educates their patients on the proper exercises to relieve pain, as well as how to perform the exercises. Dr. Donahue believes strongly that the healing process is a team effort and provides advice and guidance throughout the patient’s recovery.

Getting help for your neck pain

Neck pain can seriously affect a person’s body, daily life, exercise routines, and overall health. Seeking chiropractic care will enable a safe, noninvasive, drug-free road to recovery. Not only will your neck pain subside, but you’ll learn how to improve your posture, how to stretch and exercise appropriately, and how to achieve balance from within.

ActiveSTL Chiropractic and Sports Rehab’s St. Louis chiropractic team understands the importance of personal, individualized chiropractic care. Every new patient that comes to our office for neck pain will be asked a series of detailed questions about their current neck pain, past injuries, and medical history.

After questions and paperwork are completed and analyzed, Dr. Donahue will give the patient a physical examination. Tests such as blood pressure and gait analysis will be administered, as well as specialized tests to determine the neck’s current state of mobility and discomfort.

If necessary, an X-ray will be taken during the initial visit, but this is not usually necessary. Once the patient’s condition is finalized, Dr. Donahue will talk the patient through a wellness plan that will minimize neck pain and help to fix the cause of the pain.

We never let our patients leave our office with unanswered questions or any doubts about the plan we’ve devised. It’s important that our patients feel confident in their treatment plan and wellness goals and how they are going to achieve them. We always invite an open dialogue with our patients.

If you’re wondering if chiropractic care will help you end your neck pain once and for all and improve your quality of life, contact us for an appointment and let’s get started.