Your body is an intelligent living machine, and often when it's stressed or malfunctioning, it gives you signals to pick up on so, you can pay closer attention. One example of this indication is neck pain, a symptom that often stems from external stress due to bad habits or a severe health condition prompting the need for medical attention. Fortunately for people with chronic neck pain, there is now a wide range of natural neck pain relief in Bend that might be just what you need. Even lessening the use of your smartphone can ease the pain you feel. Who knew?

Nowadays, people of any age can regularly experience neck pain. It can be due to minor physical trauma or severe incidents like:

Usually, neck pain due to these incidents wears off after a few days, but there are instances where it can cause other health problems in the coming years if not properly checked. Ensure you see a doctor for neck pain relief in Bend, especially if the pain does not go away immediately or feels off in the rest of your body.

Sometimes people opt for medications or over-the-counter drugs to manage neck pain. Others may find massage therapists helpful in easing the pain. If you're not a big fan of taking pain meds regularly or want to reduce your intake, below are some natural care tips to help you beat that annoying neck pain.

Regulate Your Screen Time

Yes, you read that right. Regulating your screen time can mean less neck pain. You are probably one of the many people who regularly spend a big chunk of hours using your phones or sitting in front of computer screens or television screens. Most often than not, being glued to our screens prompts poor posture and leaves you at risk of suffering from tech neck.

We suggest setting up your workstation to match your eye level to work around this situation. When you do this, you will avoid forcing your neck to stay in unnatural and uncomfortable positions for a long time. It will also help to have an ergonomic chair because it can support your back and neck properly.

When using your tablets and smartphones, prop the device on a stand instead of tilting your neck down. This will prevent your neck from being angled downwards for long. Make sure you use them in moderation, especially when you are on the move, to avoid slipping or falling, which can cause unwanted injuries.

Heat or Ice Therapy

What works for some may not work for everyone. Still, a general rule worth remembering is this: use ice or cold packs for pain or injuries that cause inflammation or swelling, and heat or warm compress to relieve stiff, aching muscles, injuries, and chronic pain older than a few days. 

So, suppose you recently had an incident causing neck pain. In that case, you should start with ice for 2-3 days and follow up with heat to heal your body faster.

Stretch Regularly

When you suddenly feel pain or stiffness in your neck, you can benefit from gentle stretching by moving your neck side to side and up and down. If the pain permits, try to raise your shoulders to touch the tip of your earlobes. You can also try doing slow neck rotations to ease your muscle stiffness. Gentle stretching helps loosen the muscles and joints to move your neck normally again. 

We have to remind you not to force anything when gentle neck stretches. You can also do these stretches even without the stiffness and pain. Engaging your neck muscles in soft and healthy movements can make them stronger and less prone to superficial injuries.

Watch Your Sleeping Position

If you suffer from chronic neck pain when waking up in the morning, you might want to check your sleeping position. Those who sleep on their stomachs always turn their heads to one side while asleep. This position puts excessive strain and pressure on your neck. Instead of sleeping on your stomach, switch to your side or back. 

You can also check the best pillow options to support your preferred sleeping poses. Back sleepers will benefit more from thinner pillows with neck support features. For side-sleepers, they can enjoy having taller yet firmer cushions. The key is to let your spine stay neutral as much as possible when sleeping.

  

Consult With An Upper Cervical Chiropractor 

If you have tried the first four items we mentioned, yet you still get neck pain, it's time to pay a visit to an upper cervical chiropractor. Upper cervical chiropractic is a unique method that focuses on the uppermost vertebrae in the upper cervical spine or neck. This area is responsible for most of the movement of the head and is the most vulnerable to being misaligned. Upper cervical care adjustments require individualized, precise, and very gentle methods. These adjustments hold in place for the longest time possible, giving your body the time to heal appropriately and naturally.

  

Call True Spine Chiropractic for Neck Pain Relief in Bend

Dr. Kevin Hallmeyer of True Spine Chiropractic specializes in the NUCCA technique to help with neck pain relief in Bend. First, he will assess your situation based on your medical history and thorough physical and imaging tests. Then, he will tell you about the care regimen he will recommend to ensure your neck pain source becomes targeted.

By using only the most precise and gentle methods, your neck pain will be gone in no time and with less chance of recurrence. You can book a free consultation by calling our office directly at 541-240-8820 or submitting your queries via our online form.

  

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hallmeyer, call our Bend office at 541-848-6834. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

Pain in the neck is common, and various activities and factors can cause it. Here’s an infographic sharing everything you need to know about neck pain and how to eliminate it. Our Bend upper cervical chiropractor can assist you in getting natural and gentle care for your neck pain.

Visit our Bend upper cervical chiropractor to know more about how to make your neck pain symptoms disappear. You can reach our office at 541-848-6834 or consult us through the button below.

driving, neck pain in Bend

Bend is the largest city in Central Oregon. It’s the perfect spot to spend quality time with friends and family. If you’re a person who loves biking, fishing, and camping, then you would absolutely love this place. However, since the city is so large, others would need to drive long miles to arrive at their desired destination for an adventure.

While you enjoy the view outside the car, sitting behind the steering wheel for extended periods can lead to neck pain. So, if you want to spend your getaways without suffering from neck pain in Bend while driving, then this blog is for you. Read on to know the clever ways to prevent neck pain while you are on the road.

  

Effective Tips to Prevent Neck Pain While Driving

Neck pain in Bend, Oregon, is not uncommon for a vast portion of its population. Unfortunately, this is also true for the rest of the American people. There are a lot of possible causes for neck pain, such as trauma and other medical conditions.

Driving a car is also one of the leading causes of neck pain. The way you hold your head while your hand and upper body are in an extended position can strain your neck.

For a while, you soothe yourself with a bunch of relaxing driving music to distract yourself from the discomfort. This is just temporary. I will enjoy the view. Neck pain is normal. These positive thoughts are all reasonably necessary to tell your body to ease itself from the pain. However, not taking immediate action to relieve or prevent the pain will just make your situation worse.

Most of us go to work, school, or the store by car. So, we made a checklist about what you should do to prevent neck pain while driving. 

1. Drive with a good and proper posture. 

Your posture determines whether you will go home with neck pain or not. So, it is vital to stick to a correct posture when behind the wheel. Here’s how you can sit properly while driving.

2. Avoid driving with poor vision. 

Driving with poor eyesight can strain your eye and cause you to lean your neck forward to see the road. Also, this awkward position puts pressure on your neck muscles. If your vision is too bad for driving, then you need to get your eyes checked.

3. Adjust your mirrors. 

To adjust your mirror to a proper height or angle, you must first settle yourself in a proper driving position by following our tip number one. Once you’re already settled, begin adjusting your car’s side mirrors. Adjust them in a way that will allow you to see a part of your car and the traffic on the side. Ensure that the positions of the mirrors do not need you to crane your neck.

4. Take breaks in between long drives. 

A long drive is all fun until fatigue starts to kick in. Fatigue is one of the leading causes of neck pain as it puts pressure and tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. Be sure you permit yourself to rest. If you start to feel neck pain in Bend while driving, you can pull over and park safely. Do some stretching during your break to release the pressure and tension in your neck.

 

Easy Remedies to Relieve Neck Pain in Bend

If you ever experience neck pain after driving or doing other activities, try these simple home remedies. 

●  Apply heat or ice to your neck. You can use the cold compress for the first 2 to 3 days and then apply the hot compress after that. Aside from a hot compress, you can also try using heating pads or go for a warm shower. 

●  Don’t rest your body for too long. Make sure to keep your body moving but avoid vigorous activities. 

●  You can also purchase a special neck pillow to ease the pain while you sleep. 

●  Sleep on your side or back. These sleeping positions are suitable for those who have neck pain.

  

See an Upper Cervical Chiropractor for Neck Pain in Bend, Oregon

True Spine Chiropractic, led by Kevin Hallmayer D.C., can help you regain your comfort from severe neck pain in Bend, Oregon. Using the NUCCA technique, our chiropractor will adjust the misalignment between your head and neck caused by whiplash, improper driving posture, or stress. This misalignment causes an interference in the function of the nervous system, which has a direct impact on your neck and other parts of your body.

Our team here at True Spine Chiropractic ensures gentle, precise, and effective neck adjustments that are backed by state-of-the-art technology and reliable research. 

Learn more about us by visiting our blog. And if you’re ready to make a significant change in your life by keeping your neck pain at bay, then connect with us here. You can also reach our office at 541-240-8820.

  

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hallmeyer, call our Bend office at 541-848-6834. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

Migraine usually brings severe headaches and nausea, among other symptoms. For many migraine sufferers, neck pain can accompany the headache or even come before it. But why is this? Below is everything you need to know about the link between neck pain and migraine and how a neck pain chiropractor in Bend can help through upper cervical chiropractic adjustments.

Everything You Need to Know About Neck Pain as a Migraine Symptom

Upper cervical misalignment occurs when there is a misalignment in the topmost part of your spine. When the bones in this part are out of alignment, several problems can occur, including migraine and neck pain.

To get your upper cervical spine checked for misalignment, call us at 541-848-6834 or schedule your appointment online. Our team is willing to help you find lasting relief from both conditions using gentle yet effective chiropractic adjustments.

Neck cracking might be something you experience sitting at your desk every day. You might even bend your neck and rotate it to encourage it to pop and grind. Some people crack their necks in the same way that others crack their knuckles. It’s difficult to determine whether the reason is to relieve pressure or it’s just a habit. But sometimes the sounds that emit from your neck aren’t deliberate and it’s often accompanied by pain.

The sounds of neck cracking and grinding are called “neck crepitus” and they aren’t always well understood. Some commonly known causes include:

- Pressure changes within the facet joints

- Ligaments or tendons moving around the bone or near bony attachments

- Bones in close proximity grinding together

A joint is the area where two or more bones meet. They allow motion such as in the knee or wrist. The spine is made up of a special kind of joint that supports the body while also allowing some movement.

The spine extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It is divided into sections, starting with the lumbar spine at the lower back. The middle section is the thoracic spine while the cervical spine is the section along the neck. Each section of the spine contains a certain number of vertebrae. Each vertebra has two sets of facet joints, one facing upward and one facing down.

The facet joints are synovial joints, meaning each is surrounded by connective tissue and synovial fluid that lubricates the joint. These joints have a coating of cartilage that allows them to move easily against each other. During movement, adjacent bones rub together causing changes in the pressure in the joint. Sometimes this causes tiny gas bubbles to form and collapse. Some experts believe these gas bubbles sometimes play a role in neck cracking.

Research on Knuckle Cracking

Significant research exists on what causes the popping sound when you crack your knuckles. Knuckles are also synovial joints like those in the spine. The problem is that the results don’t always turn out exactly the same. Some suggest that the sound occurs when the bubble forms. Others suggest it is when the bubble collapses. Still, the idea of the cracking noise coming from the gas bubbles is generally accepted.

Ligament and Tendon Movement

Ligaments and tendons are types of soft tissue that work with the bones to help them move or to keep them stable. Both types of tissue attach to bones and they are elastic, allowing them to “snap back” into place like a rubber band. Some reasons they might cause crepitus include:

- Aging

- Swelling or stiffness

- Sudden or awkward movement

- Injury to the soft tissue

- Over-extending the ligaments or tendons

- Changes caused by surgery

These causes of neck cracking are only theoretical. No studies have proven that they are the reason you hear noise from your neck.

cracking neck

Bone-on-Bone Grinding

The human body has built-in safety features to prevent damage from occurring to joints. The cartilage in facet joints acts as a cushion between the joints. As you age, the cartilage may wear down, allowing the bones to come into contact. When you move, one bone grinds against the other.

When bone grinding causes noises, it usually includes pain and a limit in your ability to move your neck. If you hear the sounds every time you make the same movement, it’s probably due to bone grinding.

When patients complain to their doctors about neck crepitus, finding the mechanism isn’t usually an issue. Instead, the doctor finds the cause of pain and treats it. Those who don’t experience pain with the sounds don’t usually seek treatment at all. Like cracking in the knuckles, many people think it is harmless, even if they find the sounds annoying. Most of the time, they’re right.

Still, there are some instances where neck crepitus calls for medical attention. Any time there is pain or swelling, there’s inflammation in the joints. It might be a symptom of osteoarthritis or some other condition.

Tech Neck” is the modern condition that causes neck pain. It develops when you repeatedly use your devices and strain the muscles and connective tissues around your neck. If you constantly look at your cell phone, laptop, or other devices, it could be the cause of your neck pain.

Posture also plays a role in developing this condition. Maintaining poor posture at your desk for hours each day puts a strain on your neck. The type and severity of pain vary from person to person. It can also change for you during different times of the day.

Also, if you’ve experienced an accident or injury and the sounds are new, it might signal a change to the structure of the neck. The same is true following recent surgeries to the cervical spine. It’s especially important to have the sounds checked out if they’re accompanied by pain.

Most of us experience neck cracking and popping from time to time. But when it occurs frequently or all the time, it might be a problem in the joint. If the sounds are persistent enough to cause concern, get them checked out. You might never know the cause of your neck sounds, but the doctor can rule out underlying conditions that might need to be addressed.

Neck Cracking and Arthritis

If your mother ever told you to stop cracking your knuckles or you’d get arthritis, you might wonder if cracking your neck will have the same effect. Although there aren’t a lot of studies to support or disprove that theory, significant data on knuckle cracking is available. Research shows that frequent, deliberate knuckle cracking doesn’t increase the risk of developing arthritis. That means neck cracking probably doesn’t increase the risk of developing arthritis in the neck. But the fact that you do it repeatedly to get short-term relief proves that it isn’t a long-term solution either.

Getting Long-Term Relief for Neck Crepitus

Self-chiropractic is a short-term solution that you are doomed to repeat over and over. Still, many people compulsively need to crack their neck to keep getting relief. Most believe the immediate relief comes from the popping sound, or cavitation, that occurs when you realign the joint. But it’s the improvement in the function of your joints that make you feel better. The reason that the relief isn’t long-term is that you’re more likely to elicit a pop from a different joint.

One reason experts advise people against self-chiropractic is the risk of damaging other tissues. Nerves and blood vessels run throughout the neck. If you don’t know the correct way to crack your neck, you could cause damage and more problems.

Why Choose Chiropractic Treatment?

Doctors often refer patients with neck cracking and popping to chiropractors. The chiropractor then examines the person and tries to determine the cause of the noises and pain if it is present.

Chiropractors offer non-surgical treatment for a range of neck conditions that cause pain and/or cracking. Instead of providing a short-term solution for the noises, they treat the cause of the sounds. Some of the neck conditions that chiropractic treatment works for include:

- Facet Joint Sprain

- Whiplash

- Cervical Intervertebral Disc Injuries

- Degenerative Joint Syndrome

- Cervical Sprain Injuries

The chiropractor diagnoses neck pain by examining the spine, taking X-rays of the head and neck, and performing other diagnostic tests. If your spine is out of alignment, it can affect more than your neck. The pain and other conditions can extend to other areas of the body.

You should provide the chiropractor with your past medical history and information on diseases and conditions in your family. They will use all this information to diagnose the source of your pain. Once they make a diagnosis, they will create a treatment plan that is right for you.

Chiropractors use a range of treatments for various neck conditions. Spinal manipulation and manual therapy are often included. Sometimes patients seek chiropractic care after medical treatments fail. Spinal manipulation can help restore movement, alleviate pain, and make you feel normal again.

adjusting back and neck

Chiropractic Treatment: Not a One-Time Cure

Most of us have heard people claim that chiropractic treatment didn’t work for them. Sometimes it isn’t effective for treating certain conditions. But often the person expects total, long-term relief after a single treatment.

Everyone is different, and so are their needs. Some patients are fine after a single treatment while others require repeated visits to get their body realigned. Although neck cracking and popping might seem like a simple matter, it’s the underlying condition that determines the type and extent of treatment that you need.

Sometimes patients only undergo one treatment and never return. Their reason might be that they feel so much better after one treatment, they falsely believe the problem is fixed. Even though the first treatment might correct the pain or the neck crepitus, the cause of their symptoms requires more treatment. Over time, the symptoms are likely to return.

Some patients give up after one treatment because they don’t feel as good as new. Chiropractic treatment is a process that sometimes requires taking short, measured steps.

Chiropractic treatment isn’t just about targeting the source of your pain. It is a comprehensive treatment that affects the health of your whole body. In addition to using manipulation techniques for realignment, the chiropractor might also suggest lifestyle changes. For example, if you have tech neck, he might recommend limiting the use of your devices or implementing ergonomic seating at your desk.

Nutrition also plays a vital role in keeping your entire body healthy. Getting the right nutrients supports your body’s ability to heal itself.

The chiropractor might also recommend conservative care for you to apply at home. They might suggest applying heat and/or cold therapy or taking over-the-counter NSAIDs for temporary pain relief. Following your chiropractor’s advice will help you get better results in the fastest time possible. It will also contribute to your overall health and well-being.

Getting Treatment for Your Neck Cracking and Grinding

If cracking your neck has become an addiction, the first step is to stop. Although the risk is very minor, the practice does increase your risk of having a stroke. It could also be what’s keeping you from getting the real help you need.

If you work on a computer or spend a lot of time using your devices (and who doesn’t these days?) take frequent brakes and look down from the screen regularly. Gently stretching your neck might give you some relief and it’s a safer alternative to popping.

Before visiting a medical doctor or orthopedic surgeon about your pain or neck noises, make an appointment with a chiropractor. While chiropractic isn’t used to treat some conditions, it is effective for many. Wouldn’t you rather have a drug-free, non-surgical treatment that works and is safe?

Sometimes neck cracking and popping is annoying. Other times it’s a sign of something more serious going on in your neck. If there’ damage to your cervical joints, failing to get treatment allows it to get worse. If you’ve had an injury during sports play, you might have more damage than you realized. Even if the cause of the noises and pain in your neck aren’t treatable with chiropractic care, a chiropractor can identify the source of your symptoms. Then, you’ll know what the next step is to get relief and restore your cervical spine.

Chiropractic treatment is one of the safest and most effective forms of treatment for neck pain. Many people prefer the non-surgical or drug-free approach to treatment. For others, those aren’t an option due to other medical conditions.

Of course, all chiropractors aren’t the same. Different treatment centers use different techniques to achieve the same goal. The key to getting expert care for your needs starts with a chiropractor who is a good fit for you.

If you’ve been bothered by neck cracking and grinding or popping, contact True Spine Chiropractic today. Our approach to correcting upper cervical spinal misalignments helps restore the body and facilitate healing. Our treatment helps alleviate neck symptoms that are affecting your entire body.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hallmeyer, call our Bend office at 541-848-6834. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

If you have pain or stiffness in your neck and spend a lot of time using mobile devices, it could be that you have what’s called “tech neck,” also sometimes known as “text neck.” Read on to learn what causes tech neck, how you can treat it, and how to avoid it in the first place.

What Is Tech Neck?

Tech neck is a term used to describe an injury that results from repetitive use or stress of the muscles and connective tissues around the neck. You won't find this term in official medical books, partly because it's so new and accompanies the advent of portable electronic devices, like laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.

People with certain habits or professions are more prone to tech neck than others. In addition to young people, who often spend hours each day using their devices, people who work on portable devices tend to develop tech neck more frequently. Tech neck is a common problem for people who work in technology and for those who work at home where the office setup may be less than ideal. Working at the dining room table or on the sofa may cause poor posture, which contributes to tech neck.

Tech neck is usually diagnosed by an assessment of symptoms, as discussed below. Often the patient's history of using tech devices, coupled with postural and ergonomic issues, leads to a definitive diagnosis of tech neck. Before we talk about how tech neck is diagnosed in more detail, let's look at the typical symptoms of tech neck.

girl with tech neck

What Are the Symptoms of Tech Neck?

The most noticeable and intrusive symptom of tech neck is pain in the neck. You may also experience pain in nearby areas, such as the upper back or shoulders. The intensity and location of the pain may differ from person to person, or even for one individual over the course of a day.

You might feel a stabbing pain in one specific spot, or you may just feel achy and sore in the entire neck and upper back region. Your pain may become worse when you look down at a device or hold your neck in a position that originally caused your tech neck.

As a result of tech neck, you may also experience headaches. The pain referred from the neck to the head when neck muscles spasm can trigger your headaches. If you are using tech devices for hours every day, you may additionally have some eye strain, which only serves to compound any headaches already bothering you.

You may also notice reduced mobility in your neck and upper back. Muscle tightness may be worse when you awaken in the morning after sleeping in one position for a long time. In addition, you may notice decreased mobility after a long day of working with the devices that cause tech neck to begin with.

The longer you suffer from tech neck, the more you may notice changes to your posture, both from continuing to contort your body to look at your electronic devices and from reduced mobility due to pain and stiffness. Your shoulders may become rounded forward and you may sit with your head thrust forward, out of alignment with your spine.

If tech neck goes on for weeks or months, your muscles can become deconditioned. It can become uncomfortable to exercise, which leads to further deconditioning and further distorted posture.

You can suffer from balance issues if you experience tech neck for a prolonged time. This is because your head becomes out of balance with the rest of your body and is usually further forward, outside the ideal center of gravity. When this happens, the weight of the head can pull muscles forward, affecting change in the posture of your upper torso.

Some people with tech neck also experience jaw pain resulting from misalignment of the cervical spine, which is the upper part of your spine where your neck is located, or from muscle imbalances. In extreme conditions, this jaw pain can even become or exacerbate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain.

While less common, tech neck can also cause cervical radiculopathy. You may have numbness or tingling in the arms or hands, like pins and needles when your hand falls asleep. Often this comes and goes, known as transient paresthesia.

Cervical radiculopathy is caused by irritation or compression of a nerve root in the neck area. Frequently people who experience cervical radiculopathy during bouts of tech neck also have preexisting spinal problems like degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis. Tech neck typically makes these types of spinal changes worse. Neck problems that have been manageable or under control may suddenly flare up due to overuse or improper positioning when using mobile devices.

How Is Tech Neck Diagnosed?

Tech neck is most often diagnosed with a good patient history and a physical exam. A medical doctor or chiropractor will inquire about device usage and work habits to try to match up symptoms with postural distortions that contribute to tech neck.

During the physical exam, your doctor will check your posture and examine the neck area for pain, muscle tightness, spasms, or point tenderness. You will be asked to move your head in different directions to see if your motion is restricted or if certain positions make your pain better or worse.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if neck pain is caused by tech neck or by other more serious conditions, such as a herniated disc, fracture, or other condition. In this case, practitioners will use medical imaging, like x-rays or an MRI, to make a definitive diagnosis. It is possible as well to have nerve root compression from other conditions in addition to tech neck. Your treatment for tech neck will depend on whether it's compounded by other conditions that may require different treatment.

What Are the Treatment Options for Tech Neck?

Fortunately, tech neck on its own is fairly straightforward to treat, and most people get good results and remission of their symptoms when they follow their doctor’s plan. Treatment typically consists of making changes to your posture when using electronic devices, coupled with stretches and exercises to improve range of motion and the strength in your neck.

There are multiple things you can do to alleviate tech neck pain:

  1. Take frequent breaks from your electronic devices. Get up and walk around while changing the position of your head and neck. This is not the time to check your email or send text messages on your phone! You can, however, do some simple stretches during your breaks.
  2. Raise your phone, tablet, or laptop closer to the level of your eyes to avoid looking down all the time to read. You may need to hold your device differently or play with the setup of your office, whether you work at home or at a location outside the home. Consider trying a tablet stand that can hold your device for you at just the right height while you're sitting, even in bed or on the sofa.
  3. Pay attention to your posture. Try to keep your spine aligned by standing up straight, pulling your shoulders back, and keeping your chin tucked in. If necessary, get a new desk chair, find something to rest your feet on, or adjust the height of your work surface.
  4. Get plenty of exercise so your back and neck muscles help keep your posture aligned and can withstand the stress of holding devices. Yoga, Pilates, ballet, and Tai Chi are all excellent exercises to both keep you fit and improve your posture. If you enjoy walking, think about your posture while moving and standing, and try to resist slumping or replicating positions that cause or aggravate tech neck.
  5. Use stretches to alleviate neck pain and to correct muscle imbalances that develop with tech neck. Your doctor will suggest exercises for your particular neck strain. Generally, they will involve stretching with the head forward and the chin on the chest and then backward, looking up at the ceiling. It may also be recommended to stretch the neck by tilting your head gently from side to side.

You can do these exercises during work breaks, during your lunch hour, first thing in the morning when you wake up, and at the end of the day before you go to sleep. You can also combine them with exercises that you normally do when you work out. It may help to do some easy stretching before working out and again after to alleviate any residual neck pain and stiffness and to ward off worse symptoms.

Sometimes hot and/or cold therapy is helpful as well. You may be asked to apply a heating pad or hot towel to your neck and shoulders or to apply an ice pack, depending on your symptoms and whether or not these treatments provide relief. Usually, ice treatment (cryotherapy) is suggested when there is swelling, sharp pain, or point tenderness present, and heat is best for general muscle stiffness and overall achiness.

If you visit a chiropractor for tech neck, they have a range of other treatments at their disposal to help with your symptoms. Your chiropractor may recommend an adjustment to help with spinal misalignment that has either caused your tech neck or resulted from it.

Depending on the severity of your tech neck, your chiropractor may refer you to a physical therapist after a consultation. A physical therapist can not only suggest excellent exercises to reduce pain and increase mobility, but they can also watch to ensure that your exercises are being done properly and safely. Sometimes just one session with a physical therapist is sufficient, while other times you may need to attend multiple sessions during your course of treatment.

If you have another condition in addition to tech neck, your practitioner will likely recommend other treatment modalities or visits to a medical specialist who deals routinely with your condition, such as rheumatologists and neurologists.

prevent tech neck

How Do You Prevent Tech Neck?

Most of the same actions listed above to treat tech neck can be used to prevent it. It's important to note that taking breaks from your devices and using good posture aren't just temporary fixes for neck pain. They are lifestyle changes that can help prevent neck problems in general. As we become more dependent on electronic devices, these habits will become more and more helpful in staying healthy.

Other habits they can help prevent future bouts of tech neck include:

When Should You Consult a Professional?

Any time pain is affecting your quality of life or altering your mood, it’s time to consult a professional. Numbness or tingling in the hands, jaw pain, headaches, and other extreme symptoms of tech neck are also indicators that a trip to the chiropractor is in order.

Because tech neck can also be confused with or exacerbated by other even more serious conditions, it’s important to get a diagnosis from a professional. A chiropractor can determine whether or not your neck pain and stiffness are something they can treat or whether you need to see another practitioner. They can obtain the proper medical images to ensure you don’t have a degenerative disc problem, arthritis, or another issue that complicates tech neck. If you are suffering from neck pain or think you have tech neck, get in touch with True Spine Chiropractic today. We’ll help you figure out what’s going on and make sure your body can heal so tech neck becomes a problem of the past.

To schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Hallmeyer, call our Bend office at 541-848-6834. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.

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