Neck Pain

Neck pain affects many lives and can keep you from enjoying everyday moments. Studies show that pain in the neck grows common as people age, reaching its highest point around 70 to 74 years. Numbers from research indicate that pain is widespread and is expected to touch more lives in the coming decades. You are not alone in facing neck pain and options exist that aim to address the cause rather than hide the pain.

Many have tried pain relievers that only dull the discomfort while leaving the source untouched. This method often leads to more troubles later on. I saw this firsthand when I practiced chiropractic in Ireland years ago. In America, patients often ask which pain reliever to take after their first visit. In Ireland, patients understood that pain medication merely covered up the problem. I remember one patient, Liam, who was training to break the Irish national record in the 100-meter dash for his age group. He came in with severe, persistent pain and had started using medication to manage it. Liam sensed that masking his symptoms would not give him the strength he needed in the long run. He asked me, a chiropractor, to address the root issue, help him stop the medication, and get him back to training. Over the course of his chiropractic care, his pain eased, and he found his way back to the track. His story stands as a reminder that natural care can restore not only movement but also hope.

Research shows that adjustment of the neck can provide relief that other treatments might not offer. One study found that adjusting the cervical spine worked better for long-term pain relief. Other findings reveal that patients who see a chiropractor have a lower chance of needing opioid prescriptions. Numbers from global studies show that neck pain brings pain, disability, and cost to everyday life. Women often experience neck pain more than men, and the number of cases is expected to rise in the coming decades.

If neck pain limits your daily activities or dreams, a visit to a skilled chiropractor in Cranston, RI may help you find a natural solution. Care from a chiropractor aims to set your body right, offering adjustments that can reduce pain without relying on drugs. Many have found that taking this natural route lets them live more freely, without the side effects that come with masking the pain. Taking control of neck pain means choosing a path that goes back to the source of discomfort. You deserve care that helps you live better and feel stronger each day.

References:
GBD 2021 Neck Pain Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of neck pain, 1990-2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024;6(3):e142-e155. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00321-1. Link

Safiri S, Kolahi AA, Hoy D, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of neck pain in the general population, 1990-2017: systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. BMJ. 2020;368:m791. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m791. Link

Hurwitz EL, Aker PD, Adams AH, Meeker WC, Shekelle PG. Manipulation and mobilization of the cervical spine. A systematic review of the literature. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1996 Aug 1;21(15):1746-59; discussion 1759-60. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199608010-00007. PMID: 8855459. Link

National Research Council (US); Institute of Medicine (US). U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health. Woolf SH, Aron L, editors. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2013. PMID: 24006554. Link

Kelsey L Corcoran, Lori A Bastian, Craig G Gunderson, Catherine Steffens, Alexandria Brackett, Anthony J Lisi. Association Between Chiropractic Use and Opioid Receipt Among Patients with Spinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pain Medicine. 2020 Feb;21(2):e139–e145. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz219. Link

James M Whedon, Andrew W J Toler, Louis A Kazal, Serena Bezdjian, Justin M Goehl, Jay Greenstein. Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain. Pain Medicine. 2020 Dec;21(12):3567–3573. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa014. Link