Chronic Neck & Back Pain – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

1. There is no denying that most people will suffer from chronic pain at least once in their life, regardless of their age and gender, and no matter the situation, everybody is vulnerable to pain. Chronic pain is debilitating! It hampers work, personal relationships and the quality of life. Pain can take a toll on the body.

If you are suffering from chronic pain, then you are not alone! Read on, to know more-

Chronic pain which was once accepted as a part of the aging process has become a growing health concern in the youth as well.

Talking about neck pain, it ranks in the top 5 health disorders in the US.

Studies indicate that neck pain impacts your physical, social as well as mental well-being.

However, the lifetime prevalence of common lower back pain is estimated at 60% to 70% in industrialized countries.

Moving ahead, let us also advise you on the difference between chronic and acute pain.

An acute pain, which could be post-surgical, is severe pain that occurs for a short period but requires intensive care.

Unlike acute pain, which is temporary, chronic pain is persistent. Pain that exceeds 6 months is considered chronic pain. Chronic pain lasts for weeks, months and even years. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide suffer from chronic pain.

So, let us understand the two most common chronic pains i.e. neck and the back. While both neck pain and backache have a similar effect on life, they have different symptoms.

More than one-third of the American population suffers from neck pain. Neck pain can occur due to anything from sleeping wrong to bad posture. The neck performs a tough function. It holds the top of the spine, along with muscles and ligaments that support the head.

Following are the common causes for neck pain-

1. Injuries
2. Poor posture
3. Infections
4. Bad sleeping habits
5. Carrying a heavy bag
6. Tumors
7. Accidents like Whiplash
8. Arthritis

While the symptoms of neck pain include the following –

• Stiffness
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Soreness
• Headaches

However, these were the symptoms of neck pain and neck pain itself could also be a symptom of a serious illness. If the pain starts getting worst, it is best to contact a back and neck pain center.

Similarly, back pain can range from mild to intense, from the upper back to middle and lower back. The widespread causes of back pain could be accidents, muscle strains, bad habits, and sports injuries.

Symptoms of back pain

A persistent stiffness anywhere throughout the spine.
Experiencing a sharp pain in the neck, upper or lower back after lifting a heavy object or strenuous activity.
Extreme pain on activities like sitting and standing for a long period. Sometimes back pain can start from the lower back and radiate back into thighs, and toes.
Inability to sit straight for long is also a sign of back pain.

If not treated on time, chronic pain can get more severe and make life worse.

Pain Management Therapies by Physical Healthcare of Jacksonville

Experts at Physical Healthcare of Jacksonville are professionals from varied medical fields pertaining to pain management. Through their expertise, they help people to cope with pain in an effective manner. The cornerstone of pain management at Physical Healthcare of Jacksonville is to treat people in a natural way and without any intervention of drugs.

If you know someone who is suffering from severe pain, below are some non-invasive pain management techniques provided at our back and neck pain center –

1. Physical therapy – Physical therapy can provide you with long-term pain relief as the therapy is effective in not only treating the pain but also addressing its source. Physical therapy exercises give progressive but long-lasting pain relief. It can be soft tissue and joint work, taping or braces, ultrasound healing, electric stimulation, and so on.
2. Chiropractic – Chiropractic treatment is the most opted treatments in America. Chiropractic care involves a combination of spinal adjustment techniques using rapid and controlled force.

The goal of chiropractic care is to ease the pain by incorporating a proper alignment of the spine. These techniques result in pain relief without undergoing any surgery or medication.

Resulting in an increase in the range of motion in the affected area. Chiropractic care is primarily an alternative pain relief treatment for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissues.

Choosing chiropractic care as a treatment can help you manage chronic pain in the back or neck. It is also effective for headaches, foot and hand pain, bone as well as muscle pain in shoulders and the neck.

3. Hot and cold treatment – Heat and cold treatments are very simple and could be easily performed at the comfort of your home. Heat relaxes the muscles and cold therapy is effective in reducing swelling and soreness. You can use cold items like ice packs or frozen gel packs directly to the skin.
Surprisingly, ice packs can also help in controlling arthritis pain, overlying muscle soreness and herniated disc pain.

4.Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – TENS is the most common form of electrical stimulation for pain management. The therapy is used to relieve pain associated with various conditions such as back pain. It is a useful treatment option for people suffering from low back pain and intervertebral disc problems.

The therapy uses an electric current in the affected area to diminish the pain. It uses a battery-operated device that sends low-voltage electric currents through skin patches. This electric current feels like a slight muscle twitch or a soothing electric sensation.

5. Acupuncture – It is an ancient Chinese pain management technique that corrects the imbalance in the body. Under this process, healing needles are placed at the critical points of the body that work ti treat pain. It balances the energy flow in the key points, increases positive energy, wards off negative energy and boosts healing. Acupuncture stimulates tissues and nerves and releases chemicals which fight the pain and heal a number of disorders.

Besides, you might be wondering what are the steps or a measure of caution that can help to prevent neck pain and back pain.

Prevention of Neck and Back Pain

• A few changes made in the daily routine could lead to an erect and healthy spine.
• Maintain a proper posture as you sit, stand or sleep. Use correct posture at office workstations and never slouch over a computer or while talking on the phone.
• Staying in a proper posture every time strengthens the back and maintains its natural curve.
• When standing, ensure that your shoulders and hips are in a straight line and ears are directly over your shoulders.
• Take frequent breaks and avoid prolonged sitting periods. Stretch arms, neck, and shoulders.
• During computer work, adjust your desk, chair, and computer so that the monitor is at eye level.
• Never tuck your phone between ears and the shoulders.
• Smoking is dangerous to the health of the neck and back and so you must avoid it.
• Avoid carrying heavy bags. The weight of the bag can hurt your neck and create strain.
• Always sleep sideways. Adopt a posture that aligns your head and neck. Use a pillow to rest the spinal muscles.

Lastly, avoid stress. Any activity such as meditation and deep breathing that reduces stress are helpful for back pain. Practice them!

Evaluation of pain at Physical Healthcare of Jacksonville

Our pain management technology can help you manage pain caused by cancer treatments, arthritis, an old injury or fibromyalgia. We focus on improving the entire health of the patient. Our pain management therapies bring great relief to patients and transform their lives.

Before we employ a pain relief technique, we analyze the current state of the patient and determine which pain relief therapy at Physical Healthcare of Jacksonville will prove effective. Everybody reacts differently to the same treatment procedures. The capacity to bear pain, which is also known as pain threshold differs for each person. Hence, we undergo a critical evaluation of the patient’s health by observing their medical records and asking questions pertaining to the pain.

A critical evaluation guides our expert to chose the proper technique for each patient. Moreover, with every therapy the pain relief is gradual. The results are not instantaneous.

So, never avoid your pain problems. Contact us today and break free from pain permanently! Pain management services at Physical Healthcare of Jacksonville are designed to treat all kinds of pain including spinal pain disorders, neuropathic pain disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders.