Neck Pain Specialists in Omaha, NE
Neck pain is one of the most common reasons why Americans require chiropractic treatment and physiotherapy, with neck pain being the second most common form of chronic pain after back pain. Busy lives and the demands of certain jobs mean that neck pain can very quickly occur with little to no warning. Long stints of driving, falls, and prolonged time spent in awkward positions can all result in neck pain, from minor cases, to those that are much more severe.
Suffering from neck pain can be bad at the best of times, but when the problem persists, it can drastically change your everyday life. Persistent neck pain can cause you to miss work, avoid the activities that you love, and even struggle to do everyday tasks that before you could complete with ease. Sadly, this is a problem that is faced by an extraordinary amount of people every day.
If you are suffering from neck pain, then one of the most effective steps you can take is to book a consultation with a neck pain specialist. An Omaha Nebraska neck pain specialist can help to diagnose and treat the underlying cause of neck pain. With efficient professional treatment, not only can the pain be treated, but so can the reason why the pain occurred in the first place. This means that you can move forward with a peace of mind that the pain is not going to quickly return.
To understand more about your neck pain and help identify where the cause for the pain lies, it can be highly beneficial to learn a little more about the types of neck pain, and how these are caused. By knowing why neck pain occurs, you can help prevent common problems, both by working with a specialist neck pain chiropractor, and by making a few adjustments to your lifestyle.
The Different Types of Neck Pain
Not all instances of neck pain are the same. Very often, neck pain will occur and very quickly subside, with no further consequences. However, there are cases were persistent pain can last days, weeks, and even months. One of the worst ways that you can approach neck pain is to rely on plain relief, or simply ignore the problem. This will lower your quality of life and mean that you can’t fully enjoy those pastimes that you love the most. To move past your neck pain, it is important to identify what kind of neck pain you have and seek professional neck pain treatment to stop the pain at its source.
Neck pain comes in all shapes and forms, with one of the most common being mechanical neck pain. If you are suffering from mechanical neck pain then it can be relatively simple to treat but will allow your quality of life to greatly increase. Generally, with mechanical neck pain, it is a problem with either the ligaments, muscles or joints. With the right chiropractic care, and regular treatment to prevent problems, you could be fighting fit in no time.
More severe neck pain can translate into much bigger problems which may require a more regular course of treatment to relieve the neck pain and prevent it in the future. The severe types of neck pain can occur when there has been some damage to the nerves; such as becoming irritated or trapped. General wear and tear over the years can be the reason behind this, along with many problems that require the help of an Omaha Nebraska neck pain specialist.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
Just as there are multiple types of neck pain, there are also a vast number of reasons that can cause the neck pain to occur. Sudden trauma, the stresses and pressures of everyday life, and bad habits with posture and sleeping can all lead to short-term and long-term problems that require neck pain treatments. This can also further cause pain and damage to other areas of the body, like the back and shoulder. Some of the most common causes of neck pain include:
- Poor Posture
- Trauma (such as whiplash)
- Wear and Tear
- Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Sports Injuries
- Awkward Positions (such as when sleeping)
- Overuse or Repetitive Use
Common Symptoms of Neck Pain
Neck pain doesn’t always develop in the same way and can change significantly even in cases where the causes where very similar. The symptoms can develop very slowly, getting worse until they are difficult to ignore. The reverse is also possible, with multiple symptoms appearing at the same time with severity.
In the case of trauma or injury, the symptoms can be delayed, or appear immediately. There are a number of common symptoms that are associated with neck pain, but not all symptoms will occur in every case. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Headaches or head pain
- Soreness in the neck
- Sharp or radiating pain
- Weakness or numbness that is not isolated to the neck
- Difficultly lifting or gripping
- Stiffness in the neck
The Treatments for Neck Pain
If you are suffering from one or more of the symptoms of neck pain, then it is very important to seek the help of an Omaha Nebraska neck pain specialist, as well as starting treatment at home. There are a number of ways that you can help to reduce the symptoms of neck pain in your own home. When combined with specialist neck pain treatment from a professional, the underlying problems and pain can be quickly and efficiently addressed.
By addressing what the cause of the neck pain is, instead of just the pain itself, the treatment can be long-lasting. This is a big contrast to medication, where only the pain is addressed and the reason for the pain is not considered. Investing in a long-term solution is both beneficial to your current health, and your well-being going forwards.
Treatment at Home
If your neck pain was the result of trauma, then it is essential to seek professional help as quickly as possible. However, for standard neck pain that has developed over time or even appeared quickly, neck pain treatments at home can be a lot more beneficial than many people think. This is especially the case when the alternative is standard pain medication. Home treatments can stop the pain getting worse, and in many situations, address part of the cause behind the pain.
Rest and relaxation, while not a cure-all, can go a long way to relieving the pressure and easing your neck pain. All that many simple sprains need is time, and the ability to heal without excessive exertion. Applying ice to your neck can also bring pain relief, but also help any swelling to subside, and the area to heal properly. Combined with regular massage to any areas of stiffness or tension, the symptoms can quickly be reduced.
Chiropractic Neck Pain Treatment
If your neck pain is persistent, and simple home treatments aren’t reducing the pain, a visit to an Omaha Nebraska neck pain specialist is the next step. This is especially important if the pain has been consistent for a few days, it is very painful to move your neck, or you’re concerned that there may be a serious underlying cause to the pain.
The first step of neck pain treatment is a specialist neck pain diagnosis. This will enable the chiropractor to understand what the cause of the pain is and suggest the best treatments for reducing the pain and stopping the problems from resurfacing later. Generally, this will include a full examination and consultation before a treatment plan is designed specifically for your needs.
Many of the possible neck pain treatments are very technical and should only ever be performed by a trained professional chiropractor. One of the most common among these treatments is neck adjustment, which involves the careful manipulation of the neck. Spinal manipulation and instrument-assisted manipulation are also common specialist techniques that may be required.
The type of neck pain and length of time the pain has been present can both influence which technique will be the most effective. In some cases, further manual therapy treatments may also be used, such as trigger point therapy, to relive tight muscles, and therapeutic massage therapy. Whichever treatment is decided upon, your chiropractor will ensure your comfort and well-being are the highest priority throughout, so you’ll only ever need to focus on your recovery.
Preventing Neck Pain
After treatment with an Omaha Nebraska neck pain specialist, it is essential to focus on rehabilitation and prevention methods to stop similar problems occurring in the future. Rehabilitation after neck pain treatment focuses on aftercare, and the necessary requirements to return your body to a healthy state.
Your specialist neck pain treatment will likely involve a tailored plan for rehabilitation, which will include the practice of many prevention methods that should be continued in the future. A significant aspect of this rehabilitation is neck exercise. Tailored neck exercises can help you to restore the correct motion in your neck slowly, to prevent any further neck pain from occurring soon after treatment.
Further rehabilitation could come in the form of minor lifestyle changes, that whilst seemingly insignificant, can help to eliminate the main causes behind your neck pain. This could include changes to your posture whilst sitting or standing, which can help with other areas of your body as well. It may also be advised that you avoid activities that are prone to damaging the neck.
Changing sleeping positions and investing in an orthopedic pillow can also stop the onset of neck problems associated with awkward positioning. During your consultation with your specialist neck pain chiropractor, your individual needs will be discussed, so a thorough and effective ongoing treatment plan can be established.
How Quickly Will the Neck Pain Subside?
Due to the vast differences between neck pain causes, and types, it can be very difficult to put an exact time frame on how long it will take for the pain to fade completely. In some instances, after a professional treatment, the pain could immediately begin to lessen, making it much easier to for you to resume normal activities after taking the time to allow you neck to recover.
Generally, the overall effectiveness of the specialist neck pain treatment will largely depend on how well the rehabilitation goes, what treatment was undertaken, and how long the neck pain was originally present for. For a quicker recovery, it is vital to follow the recommendations provided by your neck pain specialist in Omaha Nebraska.
Why Choose Omaha Central Chiropractic?
When suffering from neck pain, it can be difficult to see past the pain and focus on a long-term solution. It is because of this that so many Americans rely on courses of pain relief whenever their neck symptoms get so bad that they can’t function as they need to. While pain relief is an effective immediate solution, it does not address the reason that the pain is likely to keep coming back again and again.
At Omaha Central Chiropractic, we believe that the only solution to neck pain is one that is going to last. Instead of focusing solely on the result of the neck problem, we look at the reasons, and create a tailored treatment plan that addresses the real cause of severe, persistent, or reoccurring neck pain.
Our specialist neck pain chiropractor team will work with you to find the right treatment and help you to return to a good quality of life, where you no longer need to worry about missing out on the things you enjoy because of neck pain.
No matter the cause of your neck pain, or the symptoms, our passionate and dedicated approach to helping patients means that you will always get the very best care. With a friendly face, and expertise that you can trust, we can help you turn neck pain into a thing of the past.
For more information about the treatments for neck pain, or our Omaha Nebraska neck pain specialists, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Omaha Central Chiropractic today.