Neck Pain Management – Naples, FL
Whiplash Pain? Poor Posture? We’ll Fix It!
If you’re experiencing neck pain, a trip to Wills Chiropractic may be in order. Dr. Chad Wills and his dedicated Naples team offer a variety of treatments to help patients relieve pain and renew full, comfortable range of motion. The first step is scheduling a consultation, so we can complete a thorough examination and help you determine the underlying cause of your neck pain. Once we understand why you’re experiencing this pain, we’ll work with you to develop an ongoing plan for neck pain managment with our Naples, FL chiropractor that will help you return to your proper, pain-free alignment.
Why Choose Wills Chiropractic for Neck Pain Management?
- Programs and Treatment Customized Just for You
- Team That Listens to Your Needs and Goals
- More Than 20 Years of Clinical Experience
Causes of Neck Pain
Before we begin any chiropractic treatment plan, we’ll need to evaluate your current condition by capturing x-rays and completing a thorough visual and manual examination. We’ll also walk through your medical history and try to evaluate what may be causing your neck pain. Some of the common causes associated with neck pain include:
- Accidents or injuries like car accidents, whiplash, slip and falls, or sports-related injuries
- Poor posture placing excessive strain on the neck
- Bad ergonomics at your workstation straining muscles and joints
- Jaw clenching and grinding straining the neck
Relieving Neck Pain
Depending on the underlying causes of your neck pain, Dr. Wills creates a personalized treatment plan to relieve neck pain. No two treatment plans are alike, and we’ll work to create a chiropractic care plan that allows you to move and rest comfortably. We may include any of the following treatments:
- Regular adjustments beginning with frequent visits (once or twice a week) and slowly decreasing to fewer appointments (once a month or less)
- In-office rehab with a physical therapist and at-home exercises to relieve strain
- Posture changes to ensure the correct alignment of the spine and avoid neck pain, and braces, special pillows, or other devices to improve posture
- Ergonomic evaluations of workstations or other spaces where you spend long periods of time
- Treatment for jaw clenching and grinding through partnership with dentists when necessary
Preventing Neck Pain
Preventing neck pain before it begins may be possible for some patients. In addition, visiting a dentist for regular adjustments may be beneficial for some patients. You should also consider an ergonomic evaluation of your workspace. Many patients experience neck pain due to hours spent in front of a computer. Changing office chairs, your keyboard and mouse, or other parts of your workspace may help you avoid neck pain. Your pillow and mattress also impact the alignment of your spine, and the wrong sleep surfaces can lead to chronic neck pain. Dr. Wills can help you choose the right mattress or pillow to ensure you sleep soundly and remain comfortable. Patients who experience neck pain caused by chronic stress may benefit from removing stressors or working with therapists to learn better coping mechanisms.
Neck Pain FAQs
What Shouldn’t You Do When You Have Neck Pain?
Here are some things you should avoid when you have neck pain:
- Texting or looking down at technology for long periods of time . If you must work or use a phone, take frequent breaks, and try to use good posture as much as possible.
- Slouching or using poor posture . Sitting or standing with bad posture often causes neck pain.
- Being excessively sedentary or strenuously active . Try to be at least somewhat active, but do not hurt yourself further by lifting heavy weights.
- Using too many pillows . Sleeping with your head too elevated can lead to neck pain.
- Waiting for the pain to go away on its own . Although sometimes pain recedes over time, appropriate therapy can help it end sooner.
What Aggravates Neck Pain?
If you already have neck pain from an accident or other source, several things can make it worse, including an awkward sleeping position. Before bed, make sure your head is properly supported, but not excessively elevated. In addition, poor sitting and standing posture for a long time every day can exacerbate neck pain. Although using cold and hot therapy (cold and heat packs) can help ease the pain, it’s better to address the cause by correcting poor posture and spinal misalignment through neck pain treatment in Naples with Dr. Wills.
Why Does My Neck Hurt After a Car Accident?
When your body is unexpectedly jolted in a certain direction, your neck strains to restabilize and protect your head. It often jerks to correct itself, causing an injury called whiplash. Even if your auto accident doesn’t seem serious immediately afterward, neck pain can manifest itself hours or even days later. The best way to deal with this type of injury is to visit a chiropractor for treatment quickly to minimize your discomfort and shorten the healing process.
What Does Good Posture Look Like?
Too often, bad posture, particularly when you’re texting or working at a computer, leads to chronic neck pain. To help your neck, you need to keep your shoulders back, regardless of whether you’re sitting or standing. You also need to hold your head so that your ears align with your shoulders. Avoid pulling your head forward because this position places more strain and stress on your neck and upper back muscles. If you struggle to see your computer screen, you can have your eyes checked by an optometrist, or if your workspace needs to be more ergonomic, talk to your employer about accommodations.