When you are in a car accident you neck is not protected. The neck is often injured in a car accident, due to the jerking motion that occurs because the body is being held in place by a seatbelt while the head is not.
So, why is alignment important and how will you know if it is out of alignment due to a car accident? Read on to learn!
When your body is properly aligned, including your neck, your body will maintain a straight line that runs from your head to your shoulders, down your back, and to your hips, knees, and feet.
Proper alignment does much more than keep you sitting straight in your chair.
It helps prevent long term pain and many other health conditions.
A misalignment in your neck can impair your range of motion, and severe misalignments will impact your quality of life.
Spinal misalignments, including a misaligned neck, can be responsible for everything from chronic headaches and depression to increasing your risk of catching a common cold.
Your cervical spine, the part of your spine that makes up your neck, is commonly misaligned and the most prone to causing problems.
If you can't twist your neck left or right or you feel pain when you turn your neck, there's a good chance your neck is out of alignment.
There are signs to look out for that typically indicate a misalignment. You can also do things, like stretch, to help combat the symptoms of a misaligned neck.
Severe misalignments will require medical attention, usually from a chiropractor.
In the article below, we will take a look at how to know if your neck is out of alignment and some things you can do to find relief.
Table of Contents
- Symptoms of Neck Misalignment
- What Are The Symptoms of Neck Pain?
- Combat Neck Pain At Home
- When to See a Doctor For A Misaligned Neck
- Improving Neck Pain With Chiropractic
- Visit Florida Spine and Injury
Symptoms of Neck Misalignment
Your spine is a column of bones, or vertebrae, the starts at the base of your skull and runs to your pelvic bone.
Your spine provides stability and support for your entire body, including your neck.
But your cervical spine does more than just support your neck. It can affect several other parts of your body as well.
A few signs that your neck may be out of alignment are:
- knee pain
- excessive fatigue
- neck pain
- lower back pain
- chronic headaches
- numbness or tingling
- frequent illnesses
- hip pain
What are the Symptoms of Neck Pain?
A misaligned neck is often the cause neck pain.
Here are a few symptoms of neck pain caused by a misalignment in the neck:
- You can't turn your head due to a stiff neck
- Sharp or stabbing pain in the neck
- Pain in the joints
- General soreness, tenderness, or stiffness in the neck
- Pain that radiates down into the shoulders, arms, or fingers, or up into the head
In some less common cases, these more problematic symptoms might occur:
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness radiating into the shoulder, arms, or fingers
- Trouble gripping or lifting objects
- Problems walking, balancing, or with coordination
- Loss of control of the bladder or bowels
Combat Neck Pain At Home
Fortunately, you can do a few things from home to help combat a spinal misalignment.
Use Ice
Ice therapy can help reduce swelling in an inflamed area of your neck.
Ice therapy is as simple as holding a frozen bag of vegetables wrapped in a hand towel over your neck.
Keep it on your neck for 20 minutes, and then remove it for 40 minutes and repeat.
Check Your Pillow
If you're dealing with a misaligned cervical spine, you need to be sure to use a firm or extra firm pillow and sleep on your back.
When you use a pillow that is too flat, your neck will be forced into an unnatural position.
When you wake in the morning, the muscles in your neck could be stretched, causing neck pain as soon as you roll out of bed.
Exercise and Stretch
Many people in the United States likely spend most of their day sitting at work and for entertainment.
This has lead to a rise in back pain and neck pain due to poor posture. It will also affect the alignment of your spine and neck over time.
To help combat these effects, there are some exercises and stretching you can do.
The easiest thing to do is to get up and walk. Get up from your desk and take walking breaks during the day, and when you get home at night, don't spend your entire evening on the couch.
To get the most out of your walk, make sure your head and shoulders are in a straight line with your hips and legs before you start.
Roll your shoulders forward and backward to make sure you aren't slouched forward.
Don't walk any faster than what feels comfortable. If you feel yourself start to slouch, slow down, and correct your posture.
When to See a Doctor For A Misaligned Neck
Sometimes walking and other exercises aren't enough.
If you experience recurring back pain or neck pain, even after implementing lifestyle changes, it may be time to visit your local chiropractor.
If your neck pain is limiting your mobility you should also see a chiropractor right away.
Many people think neck pain will just go away, but that's not always the case.
If your pain starts interfering with your everyday life, see a doctor before things get worse.
Improving Neck Pain with Chiropractic
When you see a chiropractor for a misaligned spine, they will design a treatment plan that will likely involve chiropractic adjustments.
Chiropractors have an all-natural approach using manipulation techniques to locate and correct misalignments of the spine that are commonly referred to as subluxations.
When your chiropractor can locate and fix your misalignments, your entire spinal column will go back into its proper alignment, and your entire body will benefit.
Your neck, in particular, will be relieved of a lot of tension and pressure.
Misalignments anywhere in the spinal column will place unnatural and damaging pressure on other areas of your body as it compensates for the misalignment to stay balanced.
Your neck will take a large portion of unneeded stress when your neck is out of alignment, leading to pain and discomfort that lasts longer than it should.
This is why it is imperative to seek chiropractic care at the first sign of a misalignment.
Left untreated, misalignments can turn into chronic issues that could last for years.
Visit Florida Spine and Injury
If you were injured in a car accident and have neck pain, chiropractic care is the best treatment for you.
During a free consultation, the chiropractors at Florida Spine and Injury will perform a complete physical exam and go over your medical history to diagnose your subluxation and any other injuries.
Based on their findings, they will design a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs to restore your health and rid you of your pain.
To schedule your Free Consultation with the neck pain chiropractors at Florida Spine and Injury, click the button below.
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