You Don't Have to Live With Neck Pain

• A grinding sensation when moving the neck
• Feeling or hearing pops when moving the neck
• Headaches that feel as if they started in the neck
• Muscle spasms in the neck
• Numbness and weakness in the arms, hands, and fingers
• Muscle weakness
• Pain is worse after moving

Follow-up care after receiving treatment for arthritis is recommended since it is a condition that can get worse. We'll help guide you through a minimally invasive treatment plan for chronic neck pain. Then we'll follow up by teaching you how to holistically support and protect your neck health.

Relief from arthritis pain is possible.

A whiplash injury is a common condition that occurs when the neck is forcefully jerked back and forth, causing strain on the muscles and ligaments. Many people mistakenly believe that whiplash only happens as a result of a car accident. However, there are other ways one may sustain whiplash. Falls, sports, and other physical activities where there's a chance for the neck to be jerked unnaturally can also cause whiplash.

Symptoms of whiplash include:

• Neck Pain
• Stiffness
• Headaches
• Dizziness

A neck strain can lead to other chronic pain conditions, making it important to treat it as soon as you notice it is beginning to affect your daily life. The strain on your neck and additional tension can throw your whole back out of alignment and jeopardize the stability of your spine. When your spine is out of alignment, it can cause even more problems, such as compressed nerves and reduced mobility. This is why seeking help for persistent neck pain before it worsens is important.

Symptoms of neck strain include:

• Limited range of motion/ Stiffness
• Pain when moving the neck
• Headaches
• Muscle spasms
• Weakness in the legs, arms, hands, or fingers
• Dull, throbbing pain in the neck

Recover from neck strain and avoid additional harm with the help of our Temecula, CA, neck pain specialists.

The symptoms of myofascial pain include:

• Localized pain
• Aching, burning, stinging, or stabbing sensations
• Tenderness to the touch
• Limited range of motion

However, we want you to keep in mind that myofascial pain syndrome shares symptoms with several other neck conditions. Going to a neck pain specialist with experience diagnosing neck conditions is important for successful treatment and avoiding unnecessary procedures.

Symptoms may mimic other neck conditions, such as:

• Radiculopathy
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Muscle spasm
• Spondylosis
• Cervical disk disease
• Cervical muscle strain
• Fibromyalgia

Resources:
https://www.columbiadoctors.org/health-library/condition/chronic-myofascial-pain/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507825/#:~:text=Cervical%20myofascial%20pain%20is%20a,effective%20treatment%20for%20the%20patient.

Patients can be referred for neck surgery even when their condition doesn't need it. This can happen due to misdiagnosis or overzealous surgeons pushing for surgery as a quick solution. But with all the risks in mind and the invasive nature of the procedure, we believe surgery should always be a last resort. Nonetheless, we will recommend a surgeon who can assist you if our consultation reveals that your condition is too advanced.

However, what we usually find is that most patients go under the knife prematurely. They may come to us after surgery, and they're still in pain. Why? Well, many doctors will recommend two conventional treatments for chronic neck pain: physical therapy or medication. If those two can't manage a condition, they then suggest surgery and skip over a half-dozen options surgery recipients still have left.

It’s also completely possible in any rush for treatment, there lies an opportunity for misdiagnosis and improper treatment, potentially resulting in worsening chronic pain following the surgery.

The Risk of Neck Surgery

With any spinal surgery, patients may walk away with additional damage to the spinal cord or nerves. Surgery is never guaranteed to be risk-free. In one study, 21 percent of patients aged 65 or older ended up regretting their surgery, and most of them probably shouldn't have been recommended surgery in the first place.

Other risks for neck surgery include:

• Spinal cord compression (which can be more easily caused by a surgeon who lacks experience.)
• Nerve damage, which can result in weakness, numbness, or even paralysis.
• A risk of infection at the surgical site, which can lead to complications and a prolonged recovery.
• A broken neck can be sustained during surgery because of the delicate nature of the neck and the potential for accidental fractures.
• A risk of complications related to anesthesia, such as allergic reactions or harmful effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
• Lastly, post-surgical complications such as blood clots or deep vein thrombosis may arise, further prolonging the recovery process.
• Postoperative pneumonia is also a common complication of surgery.

Before you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of these risks and the surgery, we advise you to think about all of your treatment options.

Integrative Medicine Takes a Deeper Look

Integrative medicine takes a more holistic approach to both diagnosis and treatment plans. It isn't just neck pain to us; it's the entire health of your spine and back, the interconnectedness of your muscles, ligaments, bones, and nerves. We'll want to know what injuries or medical conditions could be contributing to your pain. We'll consider what lifestyle habits have impacted the health of your neck.

We then factor in all of this and put together a treatment plan that addresses even the most innocuous of causes, like chronic stress. Perhaps most importantly, we will continue to help you strengthen your spine after treatment. This is the power of integrative medicine. For us, neither surgery, painkillers, nor physical therapy are ever the first choices. Instead, we focus on giving you the right diagnosis the first time and developing an integrative treatment plan that targets your pain at its root.

With all of this said, we find it noteworthy to see integrative medicine frequently overlooked, despite the numerous benefits it has to offer. For example, since regenerative medicine is still a developing field in the United States and is frequently not covered by routine insurance, doctors might be reluctant or unable to recommend it. However, the benefits of integrative medicine therapies like regenerative medicine are highly effective at restoring mobility and reducing pain without invasive surgery.

The benefit of being a clinic made up of integrative neck pain specialists in Temecula, CA, is that we prioritize innovative and tested treatment methods over conventional treatments standardized by the partnerships hospitals have with pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies.

Because we take the time to assess your condition thoroughly, we can tailor our treatment plans to your specific needs, helping you avoid surgery and get back to living well sooner.

Resources:
https://spinalnewsinternational.com/one-in-five-older-adults-regret-undergoing-corrective-surgery-for-adult-spinal-deformity/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5412519/#:~:text=Postoperative%20pneumonia%20is%20a%20common,as%20a%20frequent%20postoperative%20complication.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK578202/

Injury, Accidents and Whiplash

A sudden, forced movement of the head or neck in any direction can cause whiplash. The quick movement and the resulting “rebound” in the opposite direction are said to mimic a whip cracking. Whiplash can cause serious pain as a result of muscle strain and possible damage to the spine's ligaments and nerves.

Several factors can cause whiplash:

• Sudden, forced movement of the head or neck
• Sports Injury
• Car accidents
• A bad fall

Other common causes of whiplash include physical abuse, such as shaken baby syndrome, and amusement park rides that involve sudden jerking motions.

Whiplash symptoms may include:

• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Stiffness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Low back pain
• Ringing in your ears
• Impaired vision
• Pain in your arm or hand
• Memory problems

At Vitality, we treat neck pain caused by injury and accidents using a combination of rehabilitative therapies such as chiropractic care, regenerative medicine, and functional integrative medicine. We may also offer spinal decompression to help realign the spine after whiplash and offer you much-needed pain relief after your injury or accident.

Growing Older

Growing older can, unfortunately, increase your chances of experiencing severe neck pain. As we age, the natural wear and tear on the body's joints and muscles frequently leads to the development of degenerative conditions like spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease. These conditions can cause chronic neck pain that may limit your range of motion and affect your quality of life.

But just because you're growing older doesn't mean you have to be in pain, and there's no way out. At Vitality, our team of experts specializes in providing comprehensive care for individuals experiencing neck pain related to aging. Through a combination of targeted exercises, physical therapy, and non-invasive treatments, we aim to alleviate pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall well-being. Our goal is to help you regain control of your life and enjoy a pain-free future, regardless of your age.

Daily Life

Severe neck pain is so common not because everyone's growing older (well, that is actually an increasingly important factor) and getting into accidents, but it can also be because of several lifestyle factors, such as:

• Poor posture disrupts spinal balance.
• Being overweight can also throw off spinal balance.
• Weak abdominal muscles can also cause your spine to be out of alignment.
• Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract.

When the spinal balance or alignment is off, it can cause the neck to bend forward and overcompensate, which can lead to tension and unnecessary pain. That is why, by maintaining a healthy weight, minding your posture, and strengthening your abdominal muscles, you can alleviate and prevent chronic neck pain that arises from everyday activities.

At Vitality, we find that integrative medicine is an effective approach for addressing neck pain, as it focuses on restoring balance to the body and mind through diet, exercise, and mindfulness practices. But we don't stop there; by combining integrative medicine with treatments such as regenerative medicine and spinal decompression, we can tackle the cause of your pain. Helping you become and remain pain-free is our main objective as our team of neck pain specialists puts together your custom rehabilitation plan for severe neck pain.

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK338120/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20about,chronic%20generally%20increases%20with%20age.

Our Neck Pain Treatments Include:

Spinal Decompression

With little to no recovery time or powerful pain medications, spinal decompression relieves the pain and pressure of herniated or bulging discs and increases blood circulation in the spine to facilitate healing. The release of tension and alleviation of pain from spinal decompression may also help with neck pain resulting from strain or unalignment resulting from mental stress or day-to-day activities.

Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy is sometimes known as “Class IIIb” laser therapy. It uses specific light wavelengths to penetrate damaged tissue and initiate the healing process. Our medical team can choose the exact depth that the laser will penetrate to target the root of your pain. When the laser comes in contact with the tissue, the body produces adenosine triphosphate- a compound our cells use for energy. This process stimulates the damaged cells, resulting in healing, reduced pain, and improved nerve function and vascular activity.

Regenerative Medicine

As a relatively new field in the US, regenerative medicine is frequently overlooked by doctors despite its promising effects. Regenerative medicine has the potential to help you get back on your feet quickly by treating the cause, not masking the pain. When combined with rehabilitation, regenerative therapies offer a powerful solution for neck pain.

We offer the best neck pain treatment in Temecula and can provide multiple forms of regenerative medicine to help people living with chronic neck pain experience long-lasting relief, including:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a procedure that injects the patient's blood platelets into the neck joint to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation.

Prolotherapy is a regenerative medicine that uses a solution of dextrose and other substances that are injected into the neck to help stimulate new tissue growth and reduce pain.

Tissue Allograft therapy is a procedure that involves injecting umbilical cord-derived Wharton’s Jelly into the needed area. The injection encourages tissue regeneration.

Ozone therapy is an innovative treatment that utilizes ozone gas to promote healing and alleviate pain. There are a few methods of administering O3, including injections to target specific areas of the body. Prolozone therapy is a liquid injection of procaine, vitamins, and minerals into painful areas of the body followed by an injection of ozone. The therapy has been used for more than 40 years as an injection technique used to stimulate the body’s natural healing response.

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care can help treat the cause and help a neck that is healing. Pressure on nerves can cause pain and inflammation in almost every joint in the body. Chiropractic care can safely reduce nerve pressure so the body can heal faster. This helps reduce the need for drugs or painful cortisone injections.

We Dig Deep to Find The Right Approach to Your Treatment

Treating neck pain requires more than an one-size-fits-all approach. With the help of your comprehensive intake consultation, we can determine which combination of these treatments will be most beneficial to you, to maximize the healing process while offering you a sustainable neck pain rehabilitation program.