Neck Pain

Cervical disc bulge occurs when the spinal discs and associated ligaments are intact but may form a bulge that will press on the spinal nerves. This condition causes pain in the neck, shoulder and the arms due to pressure on nerves surrounding the disc.

Usually, the symptoms include a dull, aching, or sharp pain in the neck or the shoulder blades. Sometimes, if the disc is herniated the pain may radiate down the arms to the hands and fingers. Tingling sensation, weakness and numbness may be felt with this injury. 

The most common symptom of all headaches is characterized by pain. Different types of headaches cause pain in different regions of the head and have unique pain sensations. Migraines often feature symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or sensitivity to lights. Some other causes of headaches include allergies, stress, poor posture, and diet and exercise habits.

The most common reason of a headache is called a tension headache, or cervicogenic headache, which develops in the cervical spine (neck). When nerves are entrapped, or joints don’t move properly in the neck there is often a referral of pain to the base of the skull or to the front of the forehead like a tight band. Patients often describe the pain as nagging or dull. They may also notice tension on either side of the neck.

It is a condition involving changes to the bones, discs, and joints of the neck. These changes are caused by the normal wear and tear of aging. With age, the discs of the cervical spine gradually break down, lose fluid, and become stiffer.

Cervical arthritis usually occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients. Symptoms include neck stiffness and pain, headaches that originate in the neck, pain into the shoulder, or inability to fully turn the head or bend the neck.

Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. Whiplash is commonly caused by rear-end car accidents, but whiplash can also result from sports accidents, or other types of traumas, such as a fall. Whiplash may be called a neck sprain or strain.

Symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, loss of range of motion, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

The temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. When this joint is injured or damaged, it can lead to a localized pain disorder called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome or temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Signs and symptoms of TMJ are jaw pain, jaw clicking and popping, ear pain and or earache, and stuffiness or sore jaw muscle. Chiropractors are trained to treat the jaw with specific adjustments and stretching of surrounding muscles to reduce tension and pain.

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of disorders that occur when blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) are compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.

Common causes of thoracic outlet syndrome include physical trauma from a car accident, repetitive injuries from job- or sports-related activities, certain anatomical defects (such as having an extra rib), and pregnancy. Some symptoms include numbness or tingling in your arms or fingers, pain or aches in your neck, shoulder or hand, and weakening grip. This ailment is often worsened by working overhead or sleeping with an arm curled up or above the head at night. Chiropractors are trained to treat the joints of the neck and surrounding muscles to decrease nerve and vessel compression.

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that usually happens after a blow to the head. It can also occur with violent shaking and movement of the head or body. You don't have to lose consciousness to get a concussion or post-concussion syndrome. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, loss of memory, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Chiropractors are able to help treat the whiplash portion of a concussion. This meaning the neck joints inevitably will have been injured due to a blow to the head and restricted neck joints can cause headaches and pain secondary to the concussion. Adjustments to the neck will allow for proper mobility and reduce nerve pressure to allow for quicker recovery.