Denver Neck Pain Health Center

My neck pain has gotten to be unbearable. Should I consider surgery?

Neck pain can be a debilitating condition that may seem like it will never go away. There are many causes of neck pain and it is a good idea to know what is causing it before you treat it invasively. Before you consider surgery for your neck pain, consider this; a recent research article titled “Treatment of Neck Pain: Injections and Surgical Interventions” published in SPINE medical journal in 2008 concluded that “there is currently no justification for surgery in patients suffering from neck pain without other serious symptoms and pathologies.”

All of your symptoms should be evaluated by your chiropractor or medical doctor so that you both have more information to base your decision on. If you and your doctor decide that surgery is your best option, consider it, but get all of your facts before you go under the knife. …Continue Reading

As a doctor, I sometimes wonder why people live with neck pain. The techniques I use are so effective, it makes all their suffering seem pointless. Read this testimonial by one of our many enthusiastic patients.

“Before adjustments by Dr. Visentin I was constantly bothered by problems in my upper neck. Eventually I could not stand perfectly straight and was in constant pain. After just one adjustment by Dr. V. I was instantly transformed into a 100% pain free human!! I stand straight up now, pain free, comfortable, and I enjoy doing all the things I used to do! I can’t thank Dr. V. and his great staff enough! Thanks, thanks, thanks. -Ted P.
To see if you qualify for my special neck pain relief program, call (303) 394-CARE (2273). I don’t accept every patient I examine, but I help nearly everyone I accept.

Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
Denver, CO

Dr. Visentin specializes in the non-surgical treatment of the neck. The causes of neck pain are usually either mechanical (the way a spine moves and interacts with the rest of the body) or neurological (nerve-related). Chiropractic care has been safely utilized by millions and millions of patients and can make a tremendous difference in your life.

Dr. Visentin has been through extensive training in order to diagnose the various neck conditions and recommend proper care. He takes an active, hands-on approach that can restore motion to the spine and relieve significant pain due to:
· “whiplash”,
· cervical sprain,
· cervical disc,
· spinal joint restriction, and
· various types of chronic neck pain.

When a patient visits our center with a complaint of neck pain, the entire spine is evaluated. Dr. Visentin checks all three areas of the spine, neck (cervical spine), mid-back (thoracic spine), and low back (lumbar spine). It’s imperative that the entire spine be examined, because problems in the neck may also affect other areas of the body.

Dr. Visentin can diagnose disc injuries, muscle spasms, restricted joint motion, and ligament injuries. He does this by using techniques unique to chiropractic called motion and static palpation. He searches for tightness, tenderness, and how well each spinal joint moves by using his hands. He also studies posture and the way patients walk. These little details can help him evaluate overall body mechanics. This exam assists him in creating a proper approach for care.
The exact care plan depends on the diagnosis. He uses a combination of instrumental, manual techniques, therapeutic exercises, and ice therapy. Here are examples of spinal adjustment techniques that may be used:
· specific spinal adjustments: Joints that are restricted or show abnormal motion are identified (these are also known as subluxations). Motion is returned to the joint by a gentle thrusting technique. This rapidly stretches the soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to return to normal in the spine. This works well for neck joint restrictions and movement abnormalities.
· instrument-assisted adjusting: Another technique features a virtually painless, hand-held instrument that is used to apply corrective force to the spine.

A manual therapy that might be used is:

· trigger point therapy: Tight points on a muscle are carefully identified and direct pressure is applied to them to relieve tension.

Dr. Visentin is a true neck pain specialist. He can help you return to normal activities in a quick, non-invasive way so that you can go back to enjoying your daily life pain free. If you are suffering neck pain and live in the Denver, CO area, or if you have any questions about this topic, contact Dr. Visentin D.C., at (303) 394- CARE (2273) the Denver Neck Pain Health Center.

Written For Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
Denver, Colorado
©2010

Is there something in your life that is literally being a “pain in your neck”?  For many of  the patients we see at our Denver Neck Pain Health Center neck pain can be as simple as being from tight muscles, or as severe as a herniated disc, but all can be debilitating. A lot of people hold stress in their upper traps at the base of their neck, causing tight muscle spasms, which can lead to neck pain and headaches. There are three different sources of stress that could be causing your neck pain.

1. Physical stress – Improper posture can lead to increased stress on your joints, muscles, and most importantly your nervous system. When you sit at a desk all day or walk around with your shoulders and head slumped forward, you are drastically increasing the force on your neck ligaments and spinal discs. Just think, your head weighs roughly ten pounds. Imagine holding a ten pound bowling ball out in front of you with an outstretched arm. Most people probably wouldn’t last very long! When you develop this posture over time, which is called forward head posture, your ligaments deform and become stretched out, thereby inducing muscle spasms to try to stabilize your neck. In addition, there can be bone degeneration in your spinal vertebra and disc damage in your neck. All of these things can cause pain and dysfunction in your neck.

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How Does This Happen?

Most frequently neck pain is brought on by injuries old and new. The neck is very complicated. Accidents, slips, jerks, and jolts can have an accumulative effect resulting in subluxation of the various vertebrae that hold the head up and allow it to move. Subluxation means bones out of place interfering with the nervous system.

What Can I do To Help Myself?

Using ice is usually a good idea when neck pain is severe, or the origin is recent. Never apply ice directly to the neck. Use a wet towel between the ice and the skin. Use ice up to twenty minutes, three times daily.

Later on, hot moist heat can be helpful, particularly in cases of old injuries or stiffness deep in the neck joints. Gentle movements of the neck may also be advised. Frequent breaks from computer work to stretch can also be helpful.

It’s Still Bothering Me, Now What?

Our care of the neck is very, very safe. Gentle alignments of the various neck bones offer great relief of many neck problems. Proper alignment can be obtained through the use of instruments that help re-align the vertebrae or neck bones. This adjustment can be made by hand as well.

Call Dr. Visentin now, for a free consultation without obligation (303)394-CARE (2273)

Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
c2010

I recently got into a car accident and my neck is killing me!

Motor vehicle accidents, no matter the speed or the perceived severity can be very damaging to your neck. It has been documented that being rear ended at speeds of even 5 miles per hour can give you a whiplash injury. The damage to your car does not measure the damage to your spine and muscles around it.

When you are hit, your body is projected forward because there is more mass there than your head. However, your head does catch up and is projected forward in a whip-like momentum. This happens so fast that a lot of times, people who are in car accidents do not realize they have a whiplash injury at the time of the accident. However a few hours to a couple days later, they start feeling the effects in their neck.

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Over the years I’ve noticed that patients who’s spinal surgeries failed, do very well under my care. In some cases, I’ve told them, “You have nowhere to go but up.” I let them know my care is, “very safe” compared to surgery. Even though their surgery may have failed, their chances of getting well at my center were good.

Science is starting to catch up with what chiropractors have known for years. We help people even when medicine and surgery have failed miserably. The article below is proof of how our methods can help patients even after surgery.

Chiropractic treatment of post surgical neck syndrome with mechanical force, manually assisted short-lever spinal adjustments. Polkinghorn, BS, Colloca, CJ J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24:589-95
A 35-year old woman had two surgeries on her neck for chronic pain: a diskectomy at C3/4 and a fusion at C5/6. Surgeries were performed 6 months apart. Neither surgery was effective. Five years after the second surgery, a third surgery was recommended but instead the patient sought chiropractic care.
Within 30 days of her first chiropractic adjustment, all of her chronic symptoms had resolved. Two year follow-up revealed, no more neck problems.
Even if you’ve undergone a painful surgery with no relief, don’t give up hope. Give our center a call and see if you qualify for our advanced post surgical rehabilitation services. Call (303) 394-CARE (2273) In most instances, insurance pays.

Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
Denver, CO ©2010

Why would a cervical collar be harmful, don’t they help neck pain? Aren’t people supposed to wear them after accidents? What can happen if we wear them too much?

Neck supports offer comfort after injuries but can cause a great deal of damage, especially if they are worn excessively. Neck braces lead to bone loss or osteoporosis. They cause muscle wasting or weakness, and even lead to psychological dependency.

The human body is an amazing machine, and even knows when we use supports. The body senses less mechanical stress in areas that are being supported. When it does, it removes calcium from the bones because it assumes less is needed to hold the head up. The muscles around the spine become weaker as they are used less. Finally, people get habituated to the false sense of comfort collars offer. They sometimes wear them longer than they should and become dependant on them physically and mentally.

Cervical collars are beneficial when prescribed and used correctly. Wearing a neck brace for a few days immediately after an accident can be helpful in reducing pain and allowing for healing. As the tissues become stronger and heal, it’s important that they are used less frequently.

They should never be worn to sleep, as a high quality cervical pillow (a pillow with a special curve for the neck), is much more beneficial while resting.

Hard cervical collars are useful in cases of neck fractures (broken bones). As the neck heals or, when they’ve served their purpose, even hard collars should be used less and less. Eventually, they too should be discarded.

If you see someone wearing a cervical collar, ask them about it. Often times they can get great relief with gentle chiropractic care. Gentle movement to the joints of the neck after accidents in particular, facilitate complete healing. Chiropractic is a safe effective way to create movements that let the body mend itself with little or no painful scar tissue. Without chiropractic, the spine heals poorly and is subject to pain and arthritis.

Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
Denver Chiropractor
Denver, CO
c2010

Many times people come to us after they’ve been everywhere else. They’re surprised how gentle our care is. Often times we see some real miracles with the most resistant cases, read this testimonial carefully;

Twenty years ago I visited a chiropractor and he left me in so much pain that I cried for days. So, when I developed the neck and shoulder pain with migraines a year and a half ago, chiropractic care was not even an option. I had tried everything short of opioids. A friend of mine referred me to Dr. V. and by this time I was desperate. By the first adjustment I felt better and I finally had hope. My son always rubs my back for me and he said he could feel the difference in my back. He said it was smooth and not all knotted up anymore. I’m not completely healed yet and I know it will take time, but I know I am finally on my way to a full recovery!
G. Rivera

Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
Denver, CO ©2010

For neck pain that feels sharp, shooting, hot, piercing, electric or severe, try using ice. Use ice 5-20 minutes three times a day. Never place ice directly on the skin. Use a wet towel between the ice and the skin, especially with sensitive skin.

Dr. Visentin, D.C.
Care Chiropractic
Denver, CO c2010