Common among many adults, neck pain can actually occur at any age. It can happen suddenly, such as from an injury, or it may develop slowly, such as from years of poor posture. Some instances of neck pain can resolve themselves within a few days or weeks, but if it continues for many weeks or months, it could signal an underlying cause that needs to be taken care of. A strained neck chiropractor will look to find the underlying cause of one’s neck pain and then prescribe the appropriate treatment.

So how do you know if your neck is out of alignment? Misalignment can be caused by any number of things, such as the birthing process (which causes problems later in life), whiplash or a sports injury, repetitive trauma, such as poor posture, staring at devices too frequently, sleeping in odd positions, and poor posture either from sitting or standing.

While some people notice pain or discomfort immediately after the injury or repetitive trauma, some can go many years without realizing their neck is out of alignment. A wide range of both minor and serious issues can result from misalignment in the neck, such as numbness, tingling, pain, stiffness, and weakness in and around the neck. If left untreated, other issues can develop, such as headaches, migraines, sinus issues, vertigo, seizures, TMJ, fatigue, eye problems, hearing issues, immune system problems, and chronic illnesses. Long-term compression of the spinal cord can result in neurological problems, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, trigeminal neuralgia, and more.

For treatment, your neck chiropractor will focus on the top two vertebrae of the spine, the atlas, and the axis bones. All of the nerve impulses to and from the brain run through these two vertebrae, so any misalignment issues can cause distortions and dysfunction in the nervous system. As these two bones are gently adjusted, your body’s function will be restored naturally.

Have more questions about how do you know if your neck is out of alignment? Call McKim Chiropractic today for more information and to schedule an appointment with a neck chiropractor. Our licensed and certified staff is committed to helping the residents of Nampa, ID achieve health wholeness!