Neck Injuries Impact Overall Health

Neck injuries can occur for any number of reasons, including a person’s involvement in sports or the fact that they sit so rigidly staring at a computer or phone screen for a dozen hours daily.

When there’s pain, it may feel like a “kink” or “stiffness.” Pain can cause a headache, as well as even more pain that spreads to the shoulders, arms and/or upper back. Usually, neck pain is more pronounced on one side.

The neck is made up of vertebrae, which include the bones and joints of the cervical spine. Then there are discs that separate the cervical vertebrae. They absorb shock as you move. Add in the muscles and ligaments in your neck– they hold the cervical spine together. If any of these parts are strained, you’ve got problems. For instance, neck muscles may spasm. Neck joints may experience inflammation. If so, you’ve got pain. Ugh.

Did you know that neck and shoulder pain so commonly overlap that there’s a name for it? It’s called “shneck pain.” Basically, your neck and shoulder are connected by multiple nerve pathways. Sometimes the brain can’t trace pain pathways back to the source so what you think is neck pain is really shoulder pain or vice versa. It’s a good idea to have a professional chiropractor examine you to determine what’s truly going on.

Now here’s where it gets even more interesting: neck problems can affect other parts of your body. You might also experience arm or leg weakness/numbness. Some people also experience loss of bladder/bowel control, and in some rare cases they lose the ability to walk. If you have an infection in your neck, you might also experience a headache, fever, skin redness, nausea, and vomiting.

Have you felt a tingling in your limbs? Do you have difficulty swallowing? What about problems with motor control? If so, your neck problem is turning out to be a whole body problem. It can become serious and immobilizing if left untreated.

In most cases, a visit to the chiropractor can help relieve the pain you have in your neck, which will then calm down the rest of your body. Therefore, please make an appointment to see Dr. Gerard at Lakewoods Chiropractic in Forest Lake, MN; call 651-464-0800.