Personalized Care for Neck Pain and Stiffness
Neck pain can affect much more than your ability to turn your head comfortably. It can make working at a computer, driving, sleeping, exercising and even looking down at your phone uncomfortable. At Total Health Chiropractic in Coralville, IA, we evaluate neck pain to identify factors that may be contributing to discomfort, stiffness or limited mobility. Dr. Dillon Hammes, Dr. Andrew Donnelly and our team work with patients experiencing everything from a recent stiff neck to recurring discomfort and neck pain following an injury. By looking at your symptoms, spinal movement, posture, lifestyle and injury history, we can develop a care plan based on your individual needs.
Why Does My Neck Hurt?
The neck, or cervical spine, supports the weight of the head while allowing a considerable amount of movement. Muscles, joints, discs, ligaments and nerves all work together in a relatively small area, which means several different problems can produce similar symptoms. Neck pain may develop after prolonged computer or phone use, poor posture, repetitive activity, muscle strain, sports, an auto accident or another injury. Disc changes, joint restriction and irritation involving nearby nerves may also contribute to symptoms. Some people experience pain primarily in the neck, while others notice tightness across the shoulders, headaches, reduced range of motion or discomfort that extends toward the shoulder, arm or hand.
Evaluating the Cause of Your Neck Pain
Understanding how and when your symptoms developed is an important part of determining what type of care may be appropriate. At Total Health Chiropractic, your evaluation may include a review of your health and injury history along with an assessment of posture, cervical range of motion, joint function and relevant orthopedic or neurological findings. We also have digital X-rays available in-house when imaging is clinically appropriate based on your history and examination. Not every patient with neck pain requires X-rays. The goal of the evaluation is to gather the information necessary to better understand your condition before recommending treatment.
Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain
Chiropractic treatment may be appropriate for certain types of mechanical and musculoskeletal neck pain. Care is tailored to the individual rather than applying the same treatment to every patient with neck discomfort. Depending on your examination findings, treatment may focus on improving joint mobility, addressing restricted movement and supporting better overall function. Our approach may also consider posture, muscle function and activities that repeatedly place stress on your neck. Learn more about our chiropractic care in Coralville and how Total Health Chiropractic approaches spinal and musculoskeletal health.
Neck Pain, Disc Problems and Spinal Decompression
Neck symptoms are sometimes associated with changes involving the discs of the cervical spine or irritation of nearby nerves. Depending on the nature of the condition, patients may experience neck pain along with discomfort, numbness or tingling that extends into the shoulder, arm or hand. For appropriately selected patients, spinal decompression therapy for neck and back pain may be considered as part of a conservative treatment plan. Total Health Chiropractic offers IDD Therapy® spinal decompression in our Coralville office. Your doctor will determine whether decompression or another treatment approach is appropriate after evaluating your symptoms and examination findings.
Neck Pain After an Auto Accident or Sports Injury
Sudden forces can place considerable stress on the cervical spine and surrounding soft tissues. Neck pain and stiffness are common complaints following a collision, and symptoms do not always become noticeable immediately after the accident. If your neck symptoms developed after a crash, our auto accident injury treatment in Coralville provides evaluation and individualized care for musculoskeletal injuries, including neck pain and reduced range of motion. Neck injuries can also occur during athletics, exercise or recreational activities. Our chiropractic care for sports injuries can help evaluate how an injury is affecting movement and function while considering the physical demands of the sport or activity you want to return to.
Additional Therapies for Neck Pain and Soft Tissue Injuries
Depending on what is contributing to your symptoms, chiropractic care may be combined with other conservative treatment options available at Total Health Chiropractic. Rehabilitation and therapeutic exercises may be used to support mobility, strength and better movement patterns. For certain musculoskeletal and soft tissue conditions, cold laser therapy may also be considered as a non-invasive treatment option designed to support tissue recovery and help manage discomfort and inflammation. The therapies recommended for you will depend on your examination, diagnosis, health history and individual treatment goals.
Neck Pain Care for Coralville, Iowa City and Surrounding Communities
Total Health Chiropractic is located at 2201 E. Grantview Dr., Suite 202 in Coralville, Iowa, making our office convenient for patients throughout Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, Tiffin, Solon and surrounding Johnson County communities. Whether your neck pain started recently, developed after an injury or has been interfering with your daily activities for an extended period, our team can evaluate your symptoms and discuss appropriate treatment options. Schedule your appointment online or call (319) 338-7025 to get started.
Neck Back Pain FAQ
Neck pain may be associated with muscle strain, joint restriction, poor posture, prolonged computer or phone use, repetitive activity, sports injuries, auto accidents, disc problems, degenerative changes or irritation involving nearby nerves. An evaluation can help determine factors that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Chiropractic care may be appropriate for certain types of mechanical and musculoskeletal neck pain. Your chiropractor can evaluate your symptoms, range of motion, spinal and joint function, posture and other relevant findings before recommending an individualized treatment plan.
Not every patient with neck pain needs X-rays. Imaging may be recommended when your health history, symptoms, injury history or examination findings indicate that X-rays could provide useful clinical information. Total Health Chiropractic has digital X-rays available in-house when imaging is clinically appropriate.
Certain headaches can be associated with structures in the neck, including muscles and joints of the cervical spine. Poor posture, muscle tension and restricted neck movement may also occur along with headaches. Because headaches can have many causes, an evaluation is important when headaches are frequent, severe, changing or accompanied by other concerning symptoms.
Pain that extends from the neck into the shoulder, arm or hand can sometimes be associated with irritation of a cervical nerve, although other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or hand should be evaluated to help determine the source of the symptoms.
Spinal decompression may be considered for certain patients with neck symptoms associated with cervical disc problems or nerve irritation. It is not appropriate for every type of neck pain, so an examination is necessary to determine whether spinal decompression should be included in your treatment plan.
Yes. Neck pain and stiffness can develop after an auto accident, and some people do not notice symptoms immediately following the collision. If neck pain, headaches, reduced range of motion, numbness, tingling or other symptoms develop after an accident, an evaluation can help determine whether a musculoskeletal injury may be contributing.
