A St. Petersburg chiropractor often has to address neck pain. It is one of the commonest medical conditions. It can be caused by a strain, a degenerative disc, whiplash, a pinched nerve, or a herniated disc. Neck pain is often referred to as cervical pain. It is also caused by problems with the cervical muscles, for example fibromyalgia, or stiffness and pain in the shoulder.

The pain is usually characterized by a dull ache. It often becomes worse with neck movement. Other symptoms associated with cervical pain are tenderness, difficulty swallowing, numbness, shooting pain, dizziness, tingling, swishing noises in the head, pulsations, lightheadedness, and swollen glands.

Neck pain may also be allied to shoulder or facial pain, and headaches. These specific symptoms may be indicative of a trapped nerve in the cervical area. The neck portion of the spinal column consists of 7 fragile vertebrae which surround the spinal cord. In between each of them is a disc that acts as a shock-absorber.

A number of other delicate structures are housed in the neck. These are the esophagus, thyroid gland, larynx, arteries, parathyroid gland, trachea, veins, and muscles. Any dysfunction in these can cause cervical pain.

Chiropractors are able to assess all kinds of neck problems. These can be addressed with chiropractic therapies that are non-invasive, natural, and safe. For instance, spinal adjustments are done by hand to rectify many malfunctions in the musculoskeletal system. In numerous cases, the pain is caused by tense muscles, a trapped nerve, or a herniated disc.

When you see a St. Petersburg chiropractor, he or she will examine your entire spine, even though only your neck hurts. The purpose of this is to find out if some area of your skeletal system is causing the problem. The chiropractor will also check your spinal alignment, posture, and the way you walk. This information will reveal how your body's mechanical structures are working and how efficient your spine is.