There are multiple types of neck pain, and chiropractic care is a common solution for many patients. At Healing Hands Chiropractic, treatment plans are customized for each patient, but focus on re-aligning the spine and helping improve the patient’s overall wellness. Here are some of the aspects that go into treating neck pain through chiropractic care from Healing Hands Chiropractic.
Types of Neck Pain
Here are some of the types of neck pain that chiropractic care can help to relieve:
- Cervical spinal injuries
- Cervical intervertebral disc injuries that do not require surgery
- Facet join sprain
- Degenerative join syndrome of the neck
- Whiplash
These types of neck pain can all be treated through chiropractic care, without surgery or medications. These two aspects are what make chiropractic care one of the most popular options when patients suffer any type of pain. It’s a drug-free, hands-on approach that often leads to timely results and lasting relief—if the patient follows the treatment plan.
The Treatment Plan & Patient-Driven Care
Part of most every treatment plan is patient-driven care, which includes nutritional and dietary recommendations by Dr. Dee at Healing Hands Chiropractic, along with lifestyle counseling. While manipulation will be a part of the treatment plan to help physically re-align the patient’s body, the patient-driven portion significantly contributes to the patient’s quick and lasting recovery and pain relief.
The treatment plan will be customized to each patient, depending on their type of neck pain and medical history. Before the treatment plan is created, the chiropractor will examine the patient and diagnose them. When a patient goes to a chiropractor with neck pain, other regions will be examined as well, such as the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar (parts of the spine) because they may also be affected if the patient is suffering pain in their neck area.
Dr. Dee will examine range of motion and the primary areas of pain to help facilitate treatment. Once she has determined the causes and sources of the pain, she will draw up the treatment plan and discuss with the patient about what needs to be done on their end.
Most importantly, before Dr. Dee makes a treatment plan or does any manipulation, she will use the patient’s medical history and their examination to rule out any possible neck injuries that would require surgery to remedy.
Types of Manipulation
Healing Hands Chiropractic uses multiple hands-on techniques to relieve patients of pain.
Manual manipulation involves high-velocity movements that help re-align joints and increase range of motion while lowering nerve irritability. On the other hand, mobilization is a low-velocity movement that works to stretch out muscles and joints to increase range of motion and movement.
Dr. Dee will likely use a combination of methods to treat neck pain, such as spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and nutritional counseling. Here are some examples of manipulations that might be used in the treatment of a patient’s neck pain:
- Instrument-assisted manipulation: Using a hand-held instrument, the chiropractor will apply force without thrusting into the spine.
- Flexion-distraction technique: This is a gentle spinal manipulation using the chiropractor’s hands in a pumping motion focused on the intervertebral disc.
- Specific spinal manipulation: This method helps restore the movement of joints using gentle thrusts to the region.
Manual therapies may also be used to help relieve neck pain, such as therapeutic massage, trigger point therapy, manual joint stretching, resistance techniques, and instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy. Ultrasound and inferential electrical stimulation may also be used to help assist in reliving neck pain.
Treatment Expectation
At Healing Hands Chiropractic, Dr. Dee will draw up a custom treatment plan for each patient, which likely involves a combination of manipulation techniques, lifestyle counseling, and nutritional recommendations. The treatment plan will also take into account the patient’s current health status, previous medical history, and mobility goals. This information will be used to set goals for the treatment plan, giving both the patient and chiropractor end goals and milestones to focus on and work towards during treatment.
Depending on the type and severity of neck pain, it can take anywhere from one or two manipulations to on-going care for a patient to receive relief. However, even if one or two manipulations give the patient relief, it may not be lasting if the underlying cause remains. That is why Dr. Dee offers counseling in other aspects which, if followed by the patient, will lead to overall wellness and lasting health.
If a patient leaves out the patient-driven portion of their treatment plan—such as exercise, improving nutrition, etc.—treatment will take significantly longer and will likely not give complete relief. Since chiropractic care focuses on helping the patient’s whole body health and not just relieving one particular ailment, the treatment plan will involve various aspects of the patient’s life, from their daily activities to on-going nutrition and exercise goals. Following this advice, and all other advice given by the chiropractor, is the only way a patient can expect to achieve on-going relief and other benefits.
Healing Hands Chiropractic Can Help
If you are experiencing neck pain, contact Healing Hands Chiropractic today! There is no need to live with your pain any longer. Trust Dr. Dee and contact her today at 615.203.3505!
