Neck Pain & Surgery
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.
If surgery is not a good option for me, what can I do to reduce my neck pain?
In another study published in SPINE medical journal in 2008 titled “Treatment of Neck Pain: Noninvasive Interventions” it was found that “evidence suggests that therapies involving manual therapies (spinal manipulation) and exercise are more effective than other strategies for patients with neck pain.”
Other strategies studied were acupuncture, corticosteroid use, conventional medical care, cervical collars, and other physical therapy modalities. Spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments with exercise were the most effective in reducing neck pain both in the short and long term.
Chiropractic adjustments work to stimulate mechanoreceptors in your joints, which send messages to your brain telling it to increase motion, decrease pain sensitivity, and reset your motor programs within your muscles. All of these things act to rebalance your posture, decrease muscle spasm, and improve your overall function.
With a properly functioning neck, you are less likely to become injured from small movements you make every day. You have fewer muscle spasms and are less sensitive to pain. Your body starts to regain proper posture and this also puts less stress on your spinal cord and surrounding tissues. Chiropractic affects your body on a global scale with very specific, gentle adjustments.
Other things you can do to alleviate your neck pain is to practice good posture, exercise and build endurance in your neck muscles, get a massage, keep moving, and make sure that you have good support at night in your pillow and mattress. Talk to you chiropractor more about ways to reduce your neck pain so that you do not have to live with it anymore!
Legal Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is intended for your general knowledge. It is not to be used as a substitute for professional advice, or for treatment for a specific condition. Always seek the advice of a professional Chiropractor or other qualified health care provider with questions you may have regarding any condition.
