Approximately 280 million chiropractic visits occur each year, many of these for lower neck pain.
While you might think that pain in the lower neck is an obvious sign that it’s time for a chiropractor visit, some people get so used to it that they don’t realize they need treatment. This article will help you identify the signs so you don’t have to deal with ongoing pain.
- Chronic Symptoms
Chronic symptoms of lower neck pain are not only an inconvenience, but they’re also a sign that you need a chiropractor visit. Pain is not normal, even if you’ve had to deal with it for a long time.
When you live with pain in the lower neck for a long time, you learn what your pain triggers are. However, instead of avoiding these triggers, you should seek treatment for them.
Dull Ache
A chronic lower neck pain sometimes manifests as a dull ache. This can happen if you have certain behavioral tendencies such as slouching or sitting at odd angles.
For older adults, this can be a sign of developing osteoarthritis. We recommend scheduling a chiropractor visit to discuss treatment recommendations. In some cases, chiropractic therapy may not be the best treatment.
Stiffness
Stiffness is a common chronic symptom related to lower neck pain. You may notice stiffness when you first wake up in the morning or if you’ve spent hours sitting idle.
This can be especially problematic for those who work at a desk all day or whose job requires repetitive tasks. This is both uncomfortable and can make completing routine work tasks difficult.
Movement Hurts
If you have intermittent or ongoing pain when performing certain movements, consider scheduling a series of chiropractor visits. This can be a sign of misalignment that only a chiropractor can fully relieve.
You might experience this kind of pain from turning your head, getting into the vehicle, or reaching for something above your head. The nerves in your neck are attached to nerves in other areas of the body, so multiple movements may be painful.
- Sudden Onset of Symptoms
While the sudden onset of low neck pain is one of the best chiropractic marketing services, it’s understandably worrisome to those experiencing it. Since neck pain results from different causes, it’s important to make a note of what the pain feels like.
Sharp or Shooting Pain
Sharp or shooting pain is not always a sign of an injury. This experience, known as cervicalgia, can occur if you sleep in an atypical position, you’re under a lot of pressure at work or in your personal life, or you strained a muscle.
For this reason, it’s ok to give yourself a day or two to see if your symptoms improve with rest and a warm or cool compress. If your symptoms don’t resolve during this time, we recommend seeing a chiropractor.
Numbness or Tingling
Numbness or tingling in the neck or shoulders can be caused by several conditions including a pinched nerve, a herniated disc, or an injury. It’s frequently an issue relating to the spinal cord and/or the nerves surrounding it.
It can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as weakness or tingling in other parts of the body. You may also experience other kinds of lower neck pain such as sharp, shooting pains.
- Difficulty Sleeping
If pain in the lower neck is affecting your daily routine, such as your sleeping habits, seeing a chiropractor should be at the top of your to-do list. While lower neck pain is uncomfortable to deal with on its own, difficulty sleeping can impact your quality of life even more so.
You may start experiencing performance issues in other areas of your life as a result of a lack of sleep. Even if the problem is only intermittent, consider scheduling a series of chiropractor visits to get the problem diagnosed and resolved.
- Headaches or Migraines
Headaches or migraines often accompany lower neck pain. This can be caused by a pinched nerve but it can also be caused by tension. If your neck pain is causing you stress (which is likely), then other parts of your body may be tense as a result.
Trouble Focusing
A combination of pain in the lower neck and headaches can make it difficult to focus on otherwise simple tasks. Examples include your job, social events, and routine chores.
If these symptoms are constant or recurring, you should schedule a chiropractor visit. An adjustment or other treatment may help relieve pressure on your nerves, joints, or other parts of your body.
- Other Treatments Aren’t Helping
While chiropractor visits are the first choice for many people, others may prefer to see their primary care physician first. For some people, their doctor isn’t able to correct the problem and only mask the symptoms.
Primary care medicine often attempts to treat a patient’s symptoms instead of correcting the patient’s problems. In many cases, these require the same approach but not always.
No Obvious Cause
If your primary care physician can’t pinpoint the cause of your pain, they may recommend medications. Even if this helps relieve the pain, it’s not a permanent solution.
If you don’t want to be taking medication for the rest of your life, then consider seeing a chiropractor.
Over-Medicating
Relying on pain medication is a dangerous situation. This can lead to substance abuse and other health-related problems.
For many, their regular dose of medication isn’t as effective as they’d like it to be, so they’re taking it more frequently or in higher doses to take the edge off the pain. Instead of doing this, see your chiropractor for a custom adjustment plan.
Overcome Lower Neck Pain
Don’t let lower neck pain affect your quality of life. Pay attention to the signs of pain in the lower neck so you know when to schedule a chiropractor visit. Delaying care is only going to perpetuate your pain instead of solving it.
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