QuestionHi, I have had this stiff neck pain for about 2 weeks. I hurts to move my head particularly when I am sleeping. I don't remember injuring it in any way, but I seem to be aggravating something during movement at night when I often wake up with more pain in my neck. I have tried heat packs, massage, ibuprofen and this does not seem to be getting any better. My previous stiff necks got better after a few days, but this one is linguring. Is there anything I can do to get relief and improve my condition? Thank you.
Answerstiff neck, staten island stiff neck, staten island chiropractic:
Hello Sanjay,
I am sorry to hear about your stiff neck and pain.
Stiff Neck ???
Quick and easy--- see your local Doctor of Chiropractic!!!
I see a lot of Staten Island Stiff Necks in my practice. These patients, of course, get an examination, perhaps Xrays, and then treated or referred to an appropriate specialist. I give out information sheets to my patients- here is some info for you that may be helpful:
P.R.I.C.E. =
P protection. R rest. I ice. C compression. E elevation.
Hurt yourself ?? injury/ trauma/ bruise/ not even sure - - a broken bone ??
You should certainly get to the Doctor or trained health professional to be examined if you think it is bad enough. BUT in the meantime, some simple steps may help.
PRICE.
The PRICE protocol will usually help just about any musculoskeletal injury.
P = Protection; protect the area from further injury- stop what you are doing, can you
pad or bandage the area ? Tape the area? Do something to protect the area !
R = Rest; rest the area as much as possible, if a part is damaged, give the body time to
repair the area
I = Ice; ice is a potent anti-inflammatory; it will slow swelling, help with pain control
(ice is analgesic), place ice over cloth over the injured area for 5, 10 minutes, off the
injured area for 30 minutes; then back on again
C = Compression; to help prevent swelling compression may be helpful- for example
if it is an ankle, wrap the ankle with an ace bandage and ice the area. Many body
parts may not be applicable to compression.
E = Elevation; again to fight swelling and pain, raising the injured body part above the
heart may be helpful- ie raise an ankle or knee, you lay down, raise the injured part
PRICE may help : Sprains, Strains, musculo-skeletal injury, bruise, contusion
Sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, athletic injury, or a motor vehicle accident can cause a bump or bruise, sprain or strain. Sometimes also involved with the injury is a vertebral subluxation (or other joint subluxation) (subluxation is a mechanical problem- of any joint- and requires a mechanical correction). In the spine, a sprain/strain is a misalignment, a 慿ink?in the joint, a stretch of the muscles, tendons and/ or ligaments:- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Sometimes symptoms can come immediately, sometimes days, weeks or even months later!- Well after the actual trauma !!!
Spinal = Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation? ; ( subluxation COULD be any joint )
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms. Sprain/ strain/ bump/ bruise?= may result in subluxation of the nearby joint. CORRECT the subluxation !!!!
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
By using heat,,, the heat may temporarily help you feel better, BUT the heat could add to the inflammation of the area. Ice, particularly in the winter may not sound as nice a recommendation, but ice is anti-inflammatory and analgesic. I prefer ice; 10- 15 minutes on / 30- 45 minutes off; over the painful area, over a layer of clothe, never over bare skin.
IF the ice regimen does not help,,,, then perhaps, maybe I would alternate the warm/ cold; but while painful-- I would be careful of heat application, this can add to inflammation, and thus- pain.
There is probably a cervical vertebral subluxation complex involved, perhaps even a 'pinched nerve' (cervical brachial neuritis). -- I recommend your local Doctor of Chiropractic. There are many specialties in Chiropractic, perhaps one of your local doctors has additional credentials-- see: http://www.acatoday.org/pdf/ApprovedChiropracticSpecialtyPrograms.pdf
Any Doctor of Chiropractic is familiar with your type of complaint and very capable of evaluating/ treating/ or referral as needed; but I am biased towards us DACBSPs -- specialists in chiropractic treatment of sports injury!
Handout information on the neck:
揝tiff Neck?
( Also Known As- wryneck, torticollis, neck muscle spasm )
-can be caused by big bad things: cancers, tumors, fractures, even heart attacks- only history/ examination/ evaluation by an appropriate health professional can differentiate these problems/ conditions.
USUALLY these complaints are neuro-musculo-skeletal.
For example: sometimes we can wake up with a 憇tiff neck? or a muscle spasm.... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause a 憇tiff neck? Sometimes we just slept wrong ! Often- the true c a u s e of the neck stiffness and pain; the underlying c a u s e of the complaint - is a misalignment, a 慿ink? in the neck - more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation. Treat the c a u s e, not just the symptoms - for true improvement.
Vertebral Subluxation Complex (a.k.a. 憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems. A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
This is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
Spinal Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.
Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.
Pathophysiology:
Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment. For good health- Treat the Cause, not just the Symptoms.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomat, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomat, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine
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Be CAREFUL of pain medications!!!- here is additional information I hand out in my Staten Island Chiropractic office:
Pain Killing medication??? = 16,000 deaths ( probably under-reported )
DEATH ! ? ! ? better watch out on those medications!!!
PAIN Pain is a 憆ed light on the dashboard?
Pain is your body telling you that something is wrong. Think you should listen??
That RED LIGHT on the dashboard of your car- -- do you ignore it until the car breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, pain in your body- -- do you ignore it until your body breaks down, or do you get it checked and correct the problem? Pain, do you cover up the pain by taking a painkiller? Take a painkiller, mask the pain, and allow a problem to progress in your body?
NOTICE ON PAIN RELIEVERS:
Label changes ORDERED by FDA; the FDA announced proposed label changes for OTC over-the-counter pain relievers to include the potential for stomach bleeding and liver damage (FDA news 206- 207; 12-9-06) ;
SIXTEEN THOUSAND DEATHS: "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective medications for the treatment of many chronically painful medical conditions. However, it is estimated that 25% of all serious adverse drug reactions involve NSAIDs, with more than 100,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths occurring annually due to NSAID-induced gastrointestinal (GI) events."----- http://hhc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/13/6/468 Home Health Care Management & Practice, Vol. 13, No. 6, 468-475 (2001) Motrin, Advil = NSAIDS
The American Heart Association issued a scientific statement recommending medical doctors change the way they prescribe OTC pain relievers from a first choice to an alternate of recommending non-pharmacologic treatment (AHA statement 2-26-07).
NSAID Acceleration of ARTHRITIS; an important side effect of Aspirin and other NSAIDS is that it will inhibit cartilage repair and accelerate cartilage destruction ( Journal of Rheumatology, 1982; 9: 3- 5 ). Many times people take NSAIDS for the pain of Arthritis, not realizing these drugs may make the underlying condition worse. These medications cover up the pain, and cause the problem to worsen.
Pain can often be the result of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Vertebral Subluxation ( 慥SC?, 憇ubluxation? )
Vertebral Subluxation is actually a quite common condition. Doctors of Chiropractic look for pathological conditions which may require referral to other specialties, and also look for 慡ubluxation? Other disciplines look for pathology, but overlook the importance of alignment and movement in the spine which affects our nervous system (the master control system- ALL health disciplines learn this). VSC- 慡ubluxation??can be the cause of many symptoms and conditions.
Only a Doctor of Chiropractic will evaluate and treat for VSC, as well as other pathology.
The course of VSC is highly variable. Some patients with VSC literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar test findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights. Some patients immediately develop symptoms related to the VSC, some patients take years to develop symptoms. Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Some people recover in days, some take months or years, depending upon severity of the condition.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position. When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition. Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, or aggravate such conditions.
Vertebral Subluxation cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone. Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction- - - a manipulation, best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.
Dr. Victor E. Dolan, Doctor of Chiropractic; Diplomate, American Chiropractic Board of Sport Physicians; Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management; Certified Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN); FIRST Chief of Chiropractic in a Hospital in New York State (DHSI); As Seen in PREVENTION Magazine , Invited to Colorado Springs (Olympic Training Center) to Care for USA Olympic Athletes 2010
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"Hi, I have had this stiff neck pain for about 2 weeks....."- long time to have neck pain, see your local chiropractic doctor.
"I hurts to move my head particularly when I am sleeping...."- perhaps you could use a cervical orthopedic support pillow--- again see the local DC.
"I don't remember injuring it in any way, but I seem to be aggravating something during movement at night when I often wake up with more pain in my neck....." what is your sleep posture?- SEE THAT CHIROPRACTOR!!
"I have tried heat packs, massage, ibuprofen and this does not seem to be getting any better...."
You are not getting to the CAUSE of the problem- see above, see the DC.
"My previous stiff necks got better after a few days, but this one is linguring...."- the normal progression of things. Until you see a chiropractor and address the CAUSE of the problem, the problem, over time, will continue to degenerate, slowly progressing- getting more intense, more frequent in occurrence, and longer in duration.
"Is there anything I can do to get relief and improve my condition?...."- see above. see the chiropractor.
I hope this information helps. Do not hesitate to RE-contact me here at
allexperts if more info is needed.
Thank You for the Question.
Dr. Victor Dolan, DC
Email newsletter: . . . . . .drvictordolan.chiroweb.com
