A strong, healthy neck is important for many everyday movements and activities. Even as we’re relaxing, the neck is working to hold the head up. With consistent pressure comes vulnerability to injury and pain. 

 

This article offers seven common reasons for neck pain and offers tips on how to relieve it. 

 

Why Does My Neck Hurt?

Poor posture and workstation setup

Bad posture puts undue pressure on the neck muscles and spine, interfering with comfort and function. If poor posture is used often, it can impact body and spine shape, requiring physical re-education to re-establish proper spinal integrity. 

 

Ensuring your workstation is set up ergonomically will not only support good posture but can also contribute to higher efficiency and productivity, reduced tension and mental stress, and a better mood in general. 

 

Regular device use

Scrolling on devices, gaming, streaming hours of shows at a time, and sitting in front of your computer can all contribute significantly to neck discomfort, injuries, and even chronic pain. 

 

It’s essential to allow your neck time to rest when involved with device-related activities and always consider spine alignment during use. 

 

Poor sleeping position and improper pillow use

If you like using soft pillows and sleeping on your side, you’re not alone. However, these habits can generate neck discomfort due to long periods of spinal misalignment. Using supportive pillows and back-sleeping to promote a straight spine is a healthy habit to start practicing now. 

 

Repetitive motions 

Whether you have a highly physical job, play on a sports team, or regularly work out, overuse and repetitive use of the neck muscles and cervical spine can cause strains, sprains, inflammation, and other imbalances. Always give your body the downtime it needs to recover from the demands you place on it.

 

Injuries 

Muscle strain, herniated discs, whiplash, pinched nerves, and many other injuries can occur within the neck and upper back, especially after a trauma, accident, or surgery. 

 

Getting proper treatment for the underlying injury causing your neck pain will benefit your body’s overall function and provide lasting neck pain relief. 

 

Chronic conditions

You may have a condition or illness that causes neck discomfort. While you may not be able to cure those things, you likely have access to relief after seeking guidance from a chiropractor. 

 

Common conditions that contribute to neck pain that your chiropractor can help with include:

• Arthritis
• Text neck
• Degenerative disc disease  
• Spinal stenosis
• Chronic headaches  
• Your unique physical structure or function

 

Mental stress

Mental stress is a silent pain ignitor, often manifesting physically in the neck, shoulders, back, and hips due to muscle tension. 

 

If you suffer from ongoing mental stress, anxiety, or depression, neck pain may be a constant in your life, too. 

 

Finding stress relief is imperative to your mental and physical well-being, as both are intrinsically related and rely on each other’s optimal function for their own. 

 

Relieving Neck Pain Naturally

If you’re tired of heading to the medicine bottle every time your neck hurts and want more sustainable and natural results, try these safe chiropractic methods to find neck pain relief.

 

At-home neck pain control tips:

• After excessive neck use, such as with job or sport, ice the neck muscles to reduce inflammation
• Apply heat to the neck to reduce muscle tension 
• Stretch the neck regularly, especially before and after repetitive use
• Strengthen the neck, shoulders, core, and back with exercises that encourage muscle and spine health
• Ensure you wear the correct footwear for your activities to help support the spine 
• Consider your posture and correct it as needed (set a timer as a reminder until this becomes a habit)
• Get a massage
• Use firm pillows and try to sleep on your back with your spine in neutral position 
• Time your device use, especially when scrolling, to relieve excessive neck pressure
• However, don’t push through pain. Pain that does not rapidly go away and stay away, may indicated tissues have changed, compensated and or been damaged. At this point, you shoulder work with your local chiropractor to ensure your spine and neck are functioning properly.

 

Visit Our St. Paul Chiropractor for Neck Pain Management 

Our chiropractic care team partners with those of all ages and activity levels who suffer from neck pain and disorders. We know you need a strong neck so you can confidently return to your routine. We have numerous chiropractic solutions to ensure you get the optimal healing strategy. 

 

Our chiropractic treatments to effectively treat neck pain and injuries include:

• Chiropractic care, including adjustments, acupuncture, rehabilitation exercises, soft tissue therapies, and joint-related therapies
• Disc herniation treatments 
• Car accident treatment
• Work injury treatment   
• Rehabilitation 
• Strengthening and conditioning methods
• Lifestyle guidance 

 

Don’t let your neck pain hinder your performance, mood, or productivity for another day.  Schedule an appointment with our St. Paul chiropractic clinic. 

 

We’ll discuss your unique lifestyle, activities, injury, and goals and provide you with in-clinic and take-home treatment for the safest and fastest results. What are you waiting for? You’ve got a comfortable, active life to get back to.