Neck Pain Treatment In Portland, OR

Dr. Phil McCary DC and Dr. Danielle McCary DC Doctor of Chiropractic in Portland OR

Neck Pain Specialist

Our smartphones have made our lives easy but have gotten us hooked to them 24×7. It is a common sight to see people hunched over the screens. The flip side of this posture is the effect it is having on our spine. Neck pain has become a common phenomenon. In most cases, our bad posture is responsible for neck pain, but it can be caused by injury or a fall. It usually is not a severe condition and heals by itself within a few days. But often, neck pain can be a sign of some severe injury or illness that needs to be addressed by neck pain specialists in Portland.

When you work with your chiropractor in Portland, OR, you may be able to reduce your pain and improve your mobility. At Laurelhurst Chiropractic, our team provides holistic, comprehensive care for patients experiencing neck pain for a number of reasons.

What is neck pain?

Neck pain is defined as the sensation of pain or feelings of discomfort in the neck region. This sensation varies in intensity; sometimes, it might be a mildly uncomfortable feeling. At other times, it may be a pain radiating into the arms.

Symptoms of neck pain

Despite being a common problem, this can have varying manifestations. Usually, neck pain and minor stiffness disappear by itself but if it persists for more than a week, consult with your doctor. You should consult a specialist if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Numbness and tingling sensation in arms or legs
  • Sudden severe pain after an injury or fall 
  • Fever, headache, swollen glands
  • Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Weakness or pain radiating down to the arms or legs
  • Lost control of bladder or bowel

Types of neck pain

Depending on the duration of the pain in your neck, neck pain can be of the following types:

  • Acute: Neck pain remains for less than four weeks or a month.
  • Subacute: Neck pain that persists from 4 to 12 weeks.
  • Chronic: Neck pain that lasts for over three months or more.

Causes of neck pain

There can be different causes of neck pain

  • Bad posture
  • A car accident or whiplash
  • Extensive use of electronic devices
  • Bad sleeping posture
  • Trauma to the neck

Long-term problems due to Untreated neck pain

It is estimated that about 15% of adults in the USA suffer from neck pain. Neck pain can begin suddenly after a fall, accident, or injury or develop gradually over time due to poor posture. Usually, neck pain resolves within a week with self-care. If it remains for a longer duration, it could be a sign of a serious underlying condition such as infection, tumor, fracture, or inflammation as in ankylosing spondylitis or meningitis.

Temporary pain relief

Ice-packs or heating pads can help reduce inflammation and relieve muscle stiffness. Over-the-counter pain medications can bring temporary relief to the pain in the neck. Stretching, regular exercises, gentle neck massages, and physical therapy can be beneficial in neck pain. Exercising your neck by slowly moving your neck from side-to-side can be helpful.

Cervical Neck Pain

The neck, also known as the cervical spine, contains seven vertebrae responsible for holding the full weight of your head in place. The flexibility of the spine and neck muscles allow your head to turn and flex, creating the movement you need. When you experience cervical neck pain, this indicates that the alignment of the vertebrae is not proper or that there is inflammation in the muscles there. Overextending, repetitive motion falls, forceful impacts to the head and extended sitting can create this type of tension and pressure.

Neck Pain Chiropractic Treatment

You can get chiropractic neck pain treatment in Portland, OR, that’s tailored to your individual needs. When you come in to see our Portland chiropractors, we’ll conduct a full examination to determine the underlying cause of your pain. We’ll then recommend a treatment right for you. This may include manual adjustments of the spinal column to reduce pressure on the nerves and discs. Spinal adjustments are not painful, but the chiropractor will use gentle force to properly position the vertebrae.

We may also recommend additional treatment including massage therapy and acupuncture. These are treatments that can help improve your body’s ability to heal while also helping to soothe muscles in the neck area. Many people can benefit from our customized whiplash treatments that incorporation a range of services all with the goal of creating whole-body healing.

Neck pain treatment In Portland

Neck pain occurs when the muscles in your neck are sore due to bad posture or injury. It generally heals on practicing good posture and with rest to the neck muscles. 

Self-care: Application of cold compress for the first few days, followed by heating pads on the painful region can be beneficial. This usually helps to relieve the pain. Mild exercises, stretching, and physical therapy help faster recovery.

Medications: Generally, over-the-counter pain medications are enough to relieve neck pains. Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants to release muscle spasms and ease the stiffness. When this isn’t enough to reduce the pain, corticosteroid injections may be recommended by your neck pain specialist.

The neck collar and traction: can be given by your doctor too. These special neck collars help to support your neck.

Alternative therapies:  Your neck pain problem can be addressed by Physiotherapists, chiropractors, or osteopaths, who are trained to treat it. Physiotherapy, along with home exercises, maybe all you need. Chiropractic manipulation is immensely beneficial by many patients in reducing neck pain. Chiropractors massage the neck muscles to ease the neck stiffness and pain.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
TENS therapy uses low voltage electrical stimulation to block the pain sensation from reaching the brain. They are applied using small pads placed over the painful areas. They can be beneficial in reducing pain.

However, it is critical to observe any uncommon symptoms and neck pain like numbness, tingling sensations in your arms, legs, weakness, bladder, and bowel dysfunction. These may be signs of a serious underlying problem. Seek a Portland, OR chiropractor immediately.

See a Portland Chiropractor immediately if you have a Neck Pain.

How Laurelhurst Chiropractic Can help in neck Pain treatment?

Laurelhurst Chiropractic is the top chiropractic clinic in Portland for neck pain treatments. Dr. Phil McCary and Dr. Danielle McCary are highly rated chiropractors in Portland and specializes in treating neck pain. They have been practicing for over 10 years in Portland. 

Laurelhurst Chiropractic serves the Oregon, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Clackamas, Tigard, Tualatin, Milwaukie cities.

Call us today if you are experiencing neck pain in Portland.

Awards & recognitions | laurelhurst chiropractic

America's Best Chiropractor - Dr. Phil McCary DC
FindATopDoc.com awarded Dr. Phil as a Top Chiropractor in Portland, OR
Expertise top chiropractor Dr. Phil McCary DC
Senior Contributor Award Dr. Phil McCary by Findatopdoc.com

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Request an appointment online by calling us on (503) 234-4288

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How do we treat neck pain?

Let Us Help to treat your Neck Pain

Do not ignore your Neck Pain, it can become worse overtime. It’s important to consult with the doctor and understand the root cause of Neck Pain.

Frequently asked questions

Are Portland Chiropractors safe for neck pain treatment?

Your neck pain problem can be addressed by chiropractors who are trained and skilled to treat it. Chiropractic manipulation is immensely beneficial by many patients in reducing neck pain. Portland  Chiropractors massage the neck muscles to ease the neck stiffness and pain.

Does medical insurance covers neck pain?

The good news is that Medicare covers costs for chiropractic treatment. You should consult your doctor about this.

What is the fastest way to relieve neck pain?

Ice-packs or heating pads can help reduce inflammation and relieve muscle stiffness. Over-the-counter pain medications can bring temporary relief to the pain in the neck. Exercising your neck by slowly moving your neck from side-to-side can be helpful. Chiropractic manipulation can be the fastest way to relieve your neck pain without complex treatments.

Can neck pain be a sign of infection?

Yes. A typical sign of meningitis, which is the brain’s meninges’ infection, is neck pain and stiffness. Other rare but serious infections causing stiff neck symptoms are meningococcal disease and vertebral osteomyelitis.

What can cause pain at the base of the neck?

Muscle tension and strain to the neck due to activities and behaviors such as prolonged use of mobile phones, working at a desk, sleeping in a wrong position, poor posture, or injury. Other serious causes of neck pain can be degenerative disc disease, meningitis, osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, spinal stenosis, etc.

Why does my neck hurt at the base of my skull?

Muscle tension and strain to the neck due to activities and behaviors such as prolonged use of mobile phones, working at a desk, sleeping in the wrong position, poor posture, or injury. Other serious causes of neck pain can be degenerative disc disease, meningitis, osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, spinal stenosis, etc.

How do you know if neck pain is serious?

It is crucial to observe any uncommon symptoms and neck pain like numbness, tingling sensations in your arms, legs, weakness, bladder, and bowel dysfunction. These may be signs of a serious underlying problem. Seek Portland  chiropractor immediately.

When should I be concerned about neck pain?

It is critical to observe any uncommon symptoms and neck pain like numbness, tingling sensations in your arms, legs, weakness, bladder, and bowel dysfunction. These may be signs of a serious underlying problem. Seek Portland  chiropractor immediately.

How should I sleep to avoid neck pain?

You must sleep in a proper position to avoid neck pain. The best positions recommended for the neck are sleeping on your back or your side, ensuring to use a pillow supporting the curvature of your neck, and another flat pillow to cushion the head.

Is neck pain a sign of high blood pressure?

Persistent, radiating pain from the neck that travels to other parts of the body like the shoulder and arms can be a sign of high blood pressure.

How Your Chiropractor in Portland Can Help with Neck Pain Causes?

When you work with your chiropractor at our office in Portland, OR, our team will determine the underlying cause of your pain. This way, we can apply the appropriate chiropractic neck pain treatment. Common causes of neck pain include:

  • Injuries or accidents to the head or neck, including whiplash. Whiplash occurs when the head moves suddenly in one direct and rebounds against it, causing the tissues in the neck and head to overextend. Car accidents are a common cause
  • Degenerative disc disease can cause changes in the discs in between the vertebrae, creating pressure on the nerves
  • Spinal stenosis can create compression and trapping of nerves, causing pain
  • Getting older can increase your chances of developing various conditions
  • Poor posture, obesity, and weak abdominal muscles can all create neck and back pain, due to the limited balance in the spine

If you have limited movement of your neck, pain or discomfort, inflammation, or other symptoms of neck pain, contact our team for chiropractic neck pain treatment in Portland, OR.

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