We spend many hours doom scrolling our phones while we're in an awkward position, or we've had an injury that never feels right, and it's been there for years. Mild to severe pain may develop to become so uncomfortable that even turning the head feels difficult. Whether it's stiffness, tension, or that irritating pain getting in your way. Our neck pain treatment in Fountain Valley can provide you with long and lasting relief.

What Are the Common Causes of Neck Pain?

Your neck is literally holding up the weight of your head for a really long day. Therefore, it pays the price of overexertion easily. Here are the common reasons that we see:

• Looking at screens for hours, causing “Tech Neck.”
• Pain in muscles from repetitive tasks, stress, or poor posture while sleeping.
• A herniated disc might be pushing the nerves.
• Degeneration of the disc and arthritis due to old age.
• Past injuries that were not addressed properly, like whiplash.

When should you see a chiropractor for neck pain?

Occasional soreness may recover on its own. But you may book a neck pain evaluation appointment if:

• It is persistent for more than a couple of days or returns after diminishing.
• Radiates to the shoulders, arms, or hands
• With stiff neck and headache as well
• Limits how far you can rotate or lean your head

These are signs that the problem is not simple muscle tightness. It requires more than just stretching to avoid a long and costly recovery process.

Does neck pain lead to headaches and dizziness?

Yes, the nerves that run up into your head are irritated by tight or misaligned joints and muscles at the top of your neck. This is called a "cervicogenic headache," pain that originates in the neck and is referred to the head.

Some of the signs that your headaches are from your neck are:

• Pain that begins in the base of the skull and extends towards the forehead or back of one eye
• Occurring after extended periods of sitting at a computer or using your phone.
• Sudden dizziness or weakness of the head which may come and go with neck stiffness
• Limited range of motion, meaning that some head positions cause the pain to occur.

Fortunately, if the pain in the neck is the cause of the headache, treating the neck without using pain medication is also a way to treat the headache. If you've been looking for headache relief that you aren't finding, you may have been missing the neck.

How To Relieve Neck Pain

You may apply heat to the sore spot or pop a painkiller, but it will only mask the pain for the time being. True relief will come from addressing the root cause of the problem. After doing an extensive examination, we form a treatment plan, which may involve:

• Degenerative disc therapy to improve the movement of the joints around afflicted areas
• Acupuncture to calm the excited nerves and to release the body's natural painkillers.
• Electrical Stimulation Therapy. This therapy reduces muscle spasms and blocks pain signals to the brain.
• Massage therapy to release the stress in your neck and shoulders
• Therapeutic exercises and posture correction so that the pain will not return

Simple Habits to Prevent Neck Injuries Between Appointments

Treatment does its job best when your daily routine supports it. Just including a few changes helps a long way:

• Lift your screens to eye level. Every inch of head drop forward increases the weight on your neck. A mobile held at the neck’s length triples the load on neck muscles.
• 30–45 Minutes in a quiet, calm space with no movement. Mild neck rolls and shoulder shrugs prevent the muscles from tightening to one area.
• Check your pillow. Your head support should be parallel to your spine, not too high, not too low.
• Stay hydrated. Your spine discs rely on water for cushioning and health.

Neck Pain Relief in Fountain Valley

We expect patients who are tired of band-aids. Whether your neck pain began yesterday or twenty years ago, we'll get to the bottom of its cause. Schedule your appointment at Neck & Back Pain Specialists or contact us at (714) 968-4446. If you are in Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, or anywhere in Orange County, your neck will feel brand new again.