Holistic Treatment for Neck Pain: What to Expect

An estimated 127.4 million Americans are affected by disabling musculoskeletal conditions, which include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, low back pain, osteoporosis, gout, and more. Remarkably, about 7 in 10 musculoskeletal sufferers experience neck pain at some point in their lives.

While many suffer from this condition, it’s not unusual for patients to describe their symptoms differently. If you count yourself among these neck pain sufferers, you’re familiar with how difficult getting relief from your pain can be.

Brian Murphy, DC, MS, and the skilled professional team at Stamford Spine in Stamford, Connecticut, offer holistic treatments to relieve your discomfort so you can thrive. 

Here’s what you need to know:

Your neck is vulnerable

Your neck region, also called your cervical spine, starts at the base of your skull and comprises seven small vertebrae, which are surrounded by muscles, tendons, nerves, and ligaments. 

These vertebrae, C1 through C7, connect at the back of the bone by facet joints, which facilitate the forward, backward, and twisting motions of your neck. Running through your entire spine is your spinal cord, which functions as the superhighway between your brain and all the systems in your body. 

While the biomechanics of your neck and cervical spine are impressive, vertebrae, muscles, joints, and ligaments must be in balance as well as be strong and agile for pain-free movement to happen. Threats to a healthy cervical spine include poor posture, everyday wear-and-tear, extended sitting, repetitive motion, trauma or accidents, and the ramifications of normal aging.

Blended treatment plans can help

Since the cervical spine is so complex, typically cookie-cutter treatment solutions don’t exist. Instead, personalized holistic treatment options may help you get relief from pain as well as prevent some future issues.

Physical therapy can strengthen muscles

Since muscle strength and stability are important factors for a healthy cervical spine, physical therapy is often part of a holistic treatment plan for neck pain. It can strengthen your supporting muscles, which in turn will take pressure off your spine.

Your physical therapist guides you through a customized exercise plan that you can perform at home. Through the course of your treatment plan, things like poor posture, muscle soreness, and tense and tight muscles are addressed — all while your neck muscles are being strengthened.

Massage therapy can reduce muscle strain and stress

Here at Stamford Spine, your neck pain treatment plan may include massage therapy, providing holistic, drug-free pain relief.

When your massage therapist performs soft tissue manipulation, it releases muscle spasms while also relaxing your tendons, muscles, and joints. It also helps with spinal alignment issues that can put undue strain and stress on your neck.

In addition, massage therapy increases blood circulation, which ultimately warms your body and triggers pain relief.

Holistic treatments can complement chiropractic care

Holistic treatment methods for neck pain work extremely well with chiropractic care. It taps into your body’s natural healing power to ease your pain and release muscle stress from spinal misalignment, helping you return to your normal lifestyle.

Consolidated into an integrative treatment plan, physical therapy, massage therapy, and corrective chiropractic care can help reduce or eliminate inflammation, relieve pain, and help you heal. 

With Dr. Murphy’s extensive background in massage therapy and rehabilitative exercise — in addition to his commitment to providing the latest conservative muscle and joint treatments, you can get the relief you need and deserve.

If you suffer from neck pain, call our Stamford, Connecticut, office today or book online to stop the debilitating cycle of neck pain.