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Neck pain, although felt in the neck, can be caused by numerous other spinal problems. Neck pain may arise due to muscular tightness in both the neck and upper back, or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae. Joint disruption in the neck creates pain, as does joint disruption in the upper back. Two-thirds of the population will suffer from neck pain at some point in their lives.

The most common causes of neck pain include:

• Stress 
• Prolonged postures
• Minor injuries and falls 
• Referred pain
• Over-use 
• Whiplash
• Herniated disc
• Pinched nerve

When a patient visits their chiropractor due to a work injury, the chiropractor routinely looks beyond the actual injury and addresses concerns towards their station setup, whether they use the ergonomically correct equipment, and whether they utilize proper work techniques. The goal is both to help relieve your pain and determine how to avoid what caused it in the first place. Work injuries can occur in various work environments including construction sites, offices, warehouses, and retail stores. Much of the time, the causes of pain in the workplace include:

• Falls caused by Overexertion
• Improper lifting
• Repetitive strain
• Blunt force trauma
• Exposure to Chemicals
• Burns

Most workplace injuries are the result of soft tissue and joint damage. Improper lifting techniques are one of the most common reasons for the occurrences of pain in the workplace. You may consider visiting a chiropractor if you are experiencing any of the following pains due to your workplace injuries or otherwise:

• Back injuries (sprains, strains, disc problems)
• Neck injuries (sprains, strains, joint dysfunction)
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Headache (caused by muscle tension, joint dysfunction, or poor posture)
• Numbness and tingling of extremities. 

It is common for a doctor to take an X-ray of their patients so that they may get an inside look to see with is going on with their patient’s bone structure, including the spine and its surrounding skeletal structure. Using the information provided from an X-ray, the doctor can see any current irregularities with the spine that may need to be addressed and will also let them know if any further insight needs to be taken, such as through the use of an MRI. 

A subluxation occurs when a vertebra becomes misaligned and moves out of its normal position. When this occurs, the vertebrae can put unwanted pressure on the nerves, blood vessels, and all of its other surroundings. This pressure can cause pain and which will only get worse if left untreated. It also keeps the brain from being able to properly send messages to other parts of the body, greatly affecting your body’s ability to heal itself.

If left untreated, a subluxation can eventually cause the spine and its surroundings to begin a degenerative process that becomes more difficult to reverse as the body begins to adjust itself to the misaligned shape. This causes pain and keeps the body from being able to treat itself. For these reasons, it is very important to get a subluxation treated and the spine realigned as early in the phase of misalignment as possible.

Heel pain is commonly a result of plantar fasciitis. It occurs when the thick band that connects the toes to the heel bone, called the plantar fascia, becomes inflamed across the bottom of the foot. It is a common symptom in runners, overweight people, pregnant women, and people who wear shoes with inadequate support. It is most common in people aged 40-70.

Chiropractors help treat plantar fasciitis through physical therapy and shock wave therapy.

Stretching the plantar fasciitis and applying ice three to four times a day for 15-20 minutes are ways to relieve pain and speed recovery at home. Placing supportive arches in your shoes to absorb shock is another suggested remedy.

A woman’s center of gravity is shifted to the front of her pelvis during pregnancy. This causes stress on the pelvic joints and the lower back. As the baby grows inside, this added weight causes curvature to the lower back and places stress on fragile facet joints. This also brings out or worsens any pain that could be attributed to any preexisting problems in the woman’s spine. All of this lead to pain and difficulty in the performance of everyday activities.

According to studies, around half of all expectant mothers experience low back pain during their pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Receiving chiropractic care throughout pregnancy prevents much pain and discomfort as well as allows for a much safer delivery. many women have been able to avoid the use of any pain medications during their pregnancy when receiving regular chiropractic care.

Sleeping on the side with a pillow between the legs is a good way for pregnant women to take pressure off their lower back. It is also recommended to eat many small meals throughout the day as opposed to the normal three large meals. Taking prenatal vitamins with anywhere from 400-800 micrograms of folic acid a day has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of the development of neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure any vitamin or supplement you take with be safe for your baby and yourself.

Cold Laser Therapy is used to help accelerate the healing process in the body by the use of specific wavelengths of light that interact with body tissue. The laser is held over the injured area for anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes depending on the size of the area needing treatment.

During the treatment, the laser emits non-thermal photons of light that pass through layers of skin (dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous tissue) as deep as 2 to 5 centimeters underneath. Once the light energy hits the target area, it is absorbed by the cells and initiates the normalization of damaged tissue and a reduction in pain.

Cold laser therapy is an excellent option for people seeking pain relief without the use of surgery or drugs. As a relatively new treatment option, it is widely considered a viable treatment option for people who seek an alternative to invasive treatment.

Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, decrease muscle reflex activity, inhibit motor-neuron excitability, promote relaxation and well-being, and as a recreational activity.

Evidence strongly suggests early mobilization and range of motion exercises greatly improve recovery from nearly any injury or surgery. 

Therapeutic Massage is used to:

• Reduce headache-related symptoms including migraines
• Reduce blood pressure
• Reduce stress 
• Reduce depression
• Reduce Anxiety
• Reduce Allergies
• Relaxation
• Improve circulation
• Increase muscle elasticity
• Treat sport injuries 
• Increase muscle tone, and flexibility
• Allergies

Nearly 15% of people who make chiropractic visits do so because they suffer from migraines and chronic headaches. During a given year, 90% of people suffer from headaches. Only 1% of headaches seen in the ER have any serious underlying problem. Most reported headaches are caused by tension. Pain can range from a mild throbbing pain to unrelenting agony. There are many different sources for headaches, some of which include: stress, overexposure to bright lights, fluctuation in blood sugar, and overexertion in exercise.

Recent studies show that long-term chiropractic care can provide benefits to patients suffering from headaches and migraines greater than that of just using drug therapy. Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be especially effective in providing relief to patients suffering from headaches that originate in the neck or cervical area. According to a study conducted by Duke University in 2001, spinal manipulation provided by chiropractic treatment had great results providing patients with immense relief and leaving them less likely to experience side effects than if they had used medication.

Back injuries can develop due to a numerous amount of different factors and circumstances. Some people are more likely to develop back pain than others. Something as simple as twisting the wrong way in bed can cause misalignment of the vertebrae while others may sustain back injuries while working, at home, or from an automotive accident or another traumatic event. Relief from back pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek chiropractic care.

While lower back injuries are the most common, pain in the thoracic pain (middle of the spine) and cervical pain (neck region) of the spinal cord also often occurs. These injuries affect the vertebrae, discs, soft tissues, muscles, and joints of your body. Other parts of your entire body can be affected due to these injuries.

Muscle strain often contributes to lower back pain. The erector spinae, which helps keep the spine erect, can become inflamed and spasm. Discs that are not in their proper place due to malformation can cause damage to surrounding discs, joints, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Herniated or degenerative discs are often a cause of upper back pain. Typically rest, ice/heat packs, over-the-counter inflammatory medicine, and pain medicine such as aspirin treat back pain until the muscles are able to return to their lower positions. However, if the pain persists after more than a couple of weeks, the back may begin to atrophy and become significantly weak. This can leave you open to further injury.

Most cases of back pain are mechanical, meaning they are typically not caused by any serious conditions.

Back pain is experienced by 31 million Americans at any given time and is the single leading cause of disability worldwide. According to the US Department of Labor, workers in the healthcare industry sustain back injuries more than any other profession. The number one reported injury in health care is patient handling. 40 to 50 percent of nurses sustain back injuries. Workplace injuries cost a total of nearly $50,000 per injury on average for medical treatment and indemnity costs.