Neck pain affects over 203 million people worldwide, with projections estimating an increase to 269 million by 2050, a 32.5% rise primarily due to population growth and aging.
Here at home, neck pain is one of the top reasons adults in Colorado seek medical care each year. Denver chiropractor Dr. Al Simeone, along with our team at The Disc Chiropractic in Wheat Ridge, CO, is dedicated to natural and effective treatments that address the true cause of your neck pain without relying on aggressive procedures.
Our chiropractic care plans are designed not just to relieve your neck pain, but also to improve your posture and help protect you from future neck injuries.
Common Causes of Neck Pain
At The Disc Chiropractic in Wheat Ridge, we know that neck pain rarely appears out of nowhere. Often, it’s the result of ongoing strain, injury, or natural changes in the spine. Here’s a closer look at the most common causes we help patients overcome:
Poor Posture
Poor posture is one of the leading hidden causes of neck pain. When your head leans forward even slightly, it shifts your center of gravity, forcing your neck muscles, like the levator scapulae and trapezius, to work harder.
Over months or years and if left unaddressed this bad habit can cause the cervical joints to stiffen, the discs to flatten, and muscle tension to build. Long-term it might even change the curve of your spine, a condition called cervical kyphosis.
TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull and is closely linked to the muscles and nerves in your neck. When the TMJ becomes misaligned or inflamed, it can create a cascade of issues that affect the surrounding muscles, such as the sternocleidomastoid, masseter, and upper trapezius.
These muscles, which play a key role in jaw movement and neck support, can become overactive, leading to tension and neck pain.
Stress and Tension
Physical and emotional stress can lead to chronic tightening of the muscles around the neck, and when they do, your blood flow decreases, limiting oxygen and nutrient delivery. This also prevents waste products like lactic acid and carbon dioxide from being cleared out, thus creating painful trigger points, these are small, painful knots in the muscles.
Tech Neck
Tech Neck, also called “text neck” by some, is a type of repetitive strain injury that happens from prolonged forward head posture while using phones, tablets, or computers. A study found that tilting your head forward by just 15 degrees adds about 27 pounds of pressure to your neck and a 60-degree tilt puts nearly 60 pounds of stress on your cervical spine.
This unnatural pressure especially affects the deep cervical flexors (muscles that stabilize your neck), upper trapezius, and the intervertebral discs. Over time, Tech Neck can trigger early disc degeneration, muscle fatigue, and nerve irritation.
Cervicogenic Headaches
Headaches don’t always start in the head. Cervicogenic headaches actually originate in the neck, specifically in the upper cervical spine (the C1-C3 vertebrae). When these vertebrae become misaligned, they can affect the nerves and muscles that connect the neck to the skull.
Triggering headaches that feel like they’re coming from the back of the head. These headaches are often accompanied by a stiff neck.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the neck is suddenly snapped backward and forward, often due to accidents or sports injuries. This sudden motion can strain or tear the muscles and ligaments in the neck, like the sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles.
While the pain might not be immediate, inflammation and instability can set in within hours, leading to chronic neck pain, headaches, and stiffness.
Degenerative Conditions
As we age, the spine naturally experiences wear and tear. Conditions like degenerative disc disease and cervical spondylosis (neck arthritis) become more common. The discs in the spine lose moisture and can no longer cushion the vertebrae as effectively.
Meanwhile, the facet joints in the neck may form bone spurs, which can limit movement and cause discomfort. This degeneration can lead to cervical stenosis, where the spaces around the nerves narrow, resulting in neck pain and even weakness that radiates down the arms.
Treatment Options for Neck Pain at The Disc Chiropractic
Denver Chiropractor Dr. Al Simeone will thoroughly evaluate your neck condition to identify the root cause of your pain using a combination of advanced diagnostic methods. Based on this comprehensive evaluation, he will then develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression therapy is a non-invasive, highly effective treatment for disc-related neck pain we use the Triton DTS Spinal Decompression Table, to apply targeted decompression to the affected area, creating negative pressure that helps draw nutrients, oxygen, and water back into the discs, aiding in their healing process.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured soft tissues by breaking down scar tissue and tight muscle trigger points to improve blood circulation, thus accelerating your body’s natural healing processes. We use the Intelect® RPW 2 at our Wheat Ridge office.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Chiropractic adjustments focus on restoring proper alignment to the spine, especially the cervical vertebrae. Manual adjustments, either through precise thrusts to the bones in your neck or with the assistance of an instrument, help relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Dr. Al Simeone may recommend Soft Tissue Therapy when the pain is primarily caused by simpler muscle tensions. We use the Rapid Release™ Pro 3+ and manual massages to address tight or damaged tissues.
Posture Correction
Our Wheat Ridge Chiropractor will thoroughly assess your posture and daily habits to identify imbalances or areas of tension. Based on this evaluation, a personalized posture correction plan will be created, which may include exercises to strengthen weak muscles and ergonomic adjustments for your workspace and daily activities.
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FAQs About Neck Pain
What Causes Neck Pain?
Neck pain is caused by a variety of factors such as poor posture, muscle strain, or a herniated disc. It can also be caused by stress, or nerve conditions like cervical radiculopathy. In many cases, neck pain may stem from a combination of these issues.
How Do I Know if My Neck Pain Is Serious?
If your neck pain is accompanied by numbness and radiating pain down the arms or difficulty moving your neck, it could be a sign of nerve compression or a disc-related issue. In such cases, you can seek the help of a chiropractor or a medical professional.
How Long Will It Take To See Results From Chiropractic Care?
The time it takes to see results from chiropractic care depends on the severity and cause of your neck pain. If the neck pain is caused by cervical spine misalignments, you can expect using methods such as spinal decompression therapy to be between 12 to 24 sessions, depending on the treatment plan.
Are There Any Home Remedies I Can Try for Neck Pain Relief?
There are several at-home remedies that may help alleviate neck pain, including applying heat or ice to reduce inflammation, doing gentle neck stretches, and practicing better posture. Additionally, using an ergonomic pillow for support while sleeping can help prevent further strain on your neck muscles.
Is Neck Pain Related to Stress?
Stress activates the body’s “fight or flight” response, causing muscles in the neck and shoulders to contract, which can lead to tension and pain. Prolonged muscle contraction from stress may result in muscle strains and trigger points, contributing to chronic neck pain.
Is Neck Pain Related to Stress?
Stress activates the body’s “fight or flight” response, causing muscles in the neck and shoulders to contract, which can lead to tension and pain. Prolonged muscle contraction from stress may result in muscle strains and trigger points, contributing to chronic neck pain.
Sick of chronic neck pain that won’t let you focus and enjoy life? It’s time for a solution that works. No more guessing. No more band-aid fixes. We’ll use proven, targeted treatments to get you back on track—without surgery.
Stop letting neck pain control you.
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Call: 720-573-4910