When something aggravates you, you call it “a pain in the neck” — a sign of just how common, and unwanted, neck pain can be.
You might think you’d go to great lengths to get rid of your neck pain or headaches, but you might not have to. Simply changing your daily habits or lifestyle could make a big difference in the frequency and intensity of your symptoms.
At Alpenglow Pain & Wellness of Anchorage, Alaska, interventional pain management specialist Dr. Nichelle Renk approaches your neck pain holistically, looking at more than just medication management.
She discusses your habits, health history, and symptoms with you, looking for minimally invasive ways to reduce your pain levels and improve your overall quality of life.
The gadgets we use on a daily basis, and the way we use them, can affect your neck more than you might realize. That includes high-tech devices like computers and tablets, as well as simple bags and backpacks.
Screen time is a common source of neck pain complaints. Many people spend long periods bent over their phone or tablet screens, or they scroll in a slumped posture on the couch when relaxing. If you work at a computer, your setup might not be ergonomic.
The more time you spend using technology with poor posture, the more stress it puts on the muscles in your neck.
What about bags and backpacks? If you’re one of the thousands of Americans who carry a bag every day, it could be contributing to your neck pain, especially if you always sling your bag from the same shoulder, or if your load isn’t well-balanced.
You’re less likely to suffer from neck pain if you pay attention to the alignment of your posture and the health of your neck joints. When you regularly stress your neck through poor posture habits or repetitive motions, neck pain often results.
In good posture, the back of your head should align with your spine between the shoulders, as well as with your tailbone at the bottom of your spine. Often, people hunch over, letting the weight of the head put too much pressure on the joints in the upper (cervical) spine.
After putting too much ongoing stress on your neck, you may develop cervical spondylosis. The small joints in your cervical spine can wear down, so they no longer function without pain.
Both emotional stress and physical duress due to accident or injury can contribute to chronic neck pain problems.
If you frequently hold tension in your jaw, you may need treatment for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues. And, if emotional issues cause you to suffer chronic pain, you may benefit from improved stress management techniques or pain psychology.
Acupuncture, meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and other forms of alternative medicine may improve neck pain related to emotional stress or physical trauma. Your neck pain treatment plan may even include vitamins or nutritional supplements. Magnesium in a specific form, glycinate chelate, for instance can relax muscles, decrease anxiety, reduce stress, and improve sleep.
Dr. Renk diagnoses the cause of your neck pain based on a thorough review of your symptoms and medical history, as well as a physical exam and any needed imaging or testing.
Depending on the underlying cause of your neck pain, you may be able to find relief with massage, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, or other treatments for short- and long-term pain relief. Dr. Renk uses medication for chronic neck pain on only a limited basis as there are many more options that can be helpful for this problem.
To learn more about the underlying causes of your neck pain, and potentially simple solutions to relieve your symptoms, contact Dr. Renk and set up a consultation today. Schedule your appointment at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness online or over the phone.
