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Neck pain is such a common condition, why is there so much misinformation out there? Rather than spending time discussing how false information gets spread, let’s take a few minutes to correct some of the things we have read around the Internet. We will conclude by providing you with a safe and effective way to get rid of chronic neck pain without breaking the piggy bank.
Misconceptions About Neck Pain
Here are some of the tallest stories we have found regarding chronic neck pain:
Myth: All you can do is rest
Rest is certainly important when you suffer from neck pain, but it is not the only thing that can help. In fact, being sedentary can actually contribute to the pain, so you want to be sure to keep your neck mobile (unless there is actual structural damage that requires a cervical collar). Also, if your neck pain is due to your pillow or sleep position, you will need to adjust these things before rest will help.
Myth: You inherited your neck pain
Even if your parents also have neck pain, don’t assume that yours is some inherited condition that you just have to learn to live with. Very few neck pain causes are actually hereditary, and assuming genetics is the main problem may stop you from seeking necessary care.
Myth: It’s part of the aging process
Again, this is another misconception that leads people to avoid seeking care. If you think your pain is just because of your age, then you just have to learn to live with it, right? However, the fact is that neck pain becomes more likely as we age because more time has passed for discs to wear and misalignments to cause changes in the spine and the surrounding soft tissue. You may be able to reverse the damage or at least keep it from progressing if you take steps to care for your neck pain now.
Myth: You won’t get neck pain working in an office
Many people think that neck pain comes from heavy lifting all day long. While you can strain your spine doing manual labor, what is even worse is inactivity or poor posture. Therefore, office workers are more likely to have neck problems. Even if your monitor is just a little below eye level, you may adopt a forward head position that puts extra pressure on the neck all day long. Just a 15-degree incline of the head causes the pressure of holding up the head to more than double. It gets even worse at a 60-degree angle which many of us assume while checking our phones over and over throughout the day. And don’t even think about holding a phone between your ear and shoulder!
Myth: The pain is all in your head
This is a common problem when people are dealing with pain that you can’t see. You get criticism from others that is undeserved, simply because they don’t understand what you are going through. Don’t let this hold you back from seeking the relief that you need. Keep in mind that even a doctor may at times be skeptical about your pain if he doesn’t find anything immediately wrong. However, misalignments of the C1 (atlas) that are just fractions of a millimeter can lead to pain. A general practitioner isn’t going to notice these misalignments on an x-ray or during a physical examination.
Myth: You just need to suck it up
This a common way that people decide to deal with pain. They just pretend like it isn’t happening and move on. We’re not saying that you should wallow in your pain. We just want you to know that it is important to seek the proper care. In fact, it could be important to your longevity. One Australian study showed that chronic neck pain was associated with a higher mortality rate and that the longer a person was in pain the greater the risk became. This shows the importance of addressing neck pain rather than allowing it to continue.
Myth: If pain relievers work, then you don’t need a doctor
Pain relievers don’t address the underlying cause of neck pain. If you need some ibuprofen to make it through your workday occasionally while you seek care, that’s fine. But pain pills are not a substitute for seeing a medical professional, nor are they safe to take on a daily basis.
Natural Neck Pain Relief in Draper, Utah
At Source Chiropractic and Wellness in Draper, we focus on the atlas to keep the neck healthy. Gentle adjustments are safe for the whole family and are long-lasting to allow the body the time it needs to heal. As misalignments are corrected and the surrounding soft tissue heals, even chronic neck pain can be relieved naturally.
Upper cervical specific chiropractic has been just what many patients have needed in order to get rid of neck pain and improve overall health in general. Read our reviews to see what people are saying about us and to read success stories that are both inspiring and confidence building that real relief is available.
If you have been suffering from chronic neck pain, don’t let anyone tell you the pain isn’t real or that there is nothing you can do about it. Contact Source Chiropractic and Wellness today by calling 385-237-3110, or you can schedule an appointment online.
To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Cheney, call our Draper office at 385-331-7035. You can also click one of the buttons below.
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