Neck pain can be difficult to overcome because your neck muscles and tendons are constantly in use, supporting and turning your head. You can feel pain even if you are trying to hold your head completely still. In fact, holding your head in the same position for too long, like when you are working on a computer or driving a car, can actually make neck pain worse.
It can be difficult to treat neck pain because the muscles, tendons, nerves, and spine are under constant pressure — not to mention that a wide range of diseases and injuries can cause the pain.
As a neck pain specialist in Bergen County, Amla Healing Arts can help. We offer a variety of treatments that can alleviate acute neck pain and help you manage chronic discomfort.
Here is a look at the types of treatment that a neck pain specialist in Bergen County can employ to combat your discomfort.
Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in treating certain types of neck pain. There are several theories about why this ancient holistic treatment is effective for pain management. Firstly, acupuncture can stimulate natural bodily rhythms, including the production of hormones that can help deal with injury or stress. Secondly, acupuncture can offer competing nerve signals that slow the pain response by overloading the pain receptors in your brain.
Finally, the more traditional understanding of acupuncture is that it stimulates electromagnetic fields that run through the body. If the neurotransmitters that control these fields are properly stimulated, they can help speed healing and relieve pain.
Cupping, scraping, and pressure-point massage also seek to stimulate these points throughout the body for similar pain management purposes.
Physical therapy can work for both acute and chronic neck pain. By stretching and strengthening the neck's muscles and tendons, you can potentially achieve proper alignment and support. However, you should always consult a neck pain specialist or physical therapist before attempting exercises or stretching. If you perform the motions incorrectly, it could actually make the pain worse. You typically begin this type of therapy very slowly, increasing the intensity of the exercises as your strength and flexibility improve.
Myofascial therapy involves the same motions as regular bodywork massages. However, the motions are much slower and the pressure is deeper. The goal is to treat the muscle and the fascia, which are the muscle's connective tissues. Rather than offering temporary comfort and relief, this bodywork aims to restore the natural range of motion and proper balance within the body.
If you visit a neck pain specialist in Bergen County, they may first recommend over-the-counter pain relief. Oral or injectable medicines can also help reduce inflammation in the neck or relax muscles. Though these medications can help with severe acute pain, they can have a negative impact on your overall health if continued over a long period. You may want to consider herbal alternatives, which may not have as many side effects as chemical-based neck pain relievers.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-invasive treatment that involves using a gentle electric pulse to disrupt pain signals in your body. This treatment relies on a small device with leads placed near the nerves causing the pain.
If you are seeking a neck pain specialist in Bergen County, consider Amla Healing Arts. We offer treatments that relieve pain while also trying to restore the body to its natural balance and alignment. With this approach, we can help you deal with the root cause of the pain rather than simply treating the symptoms.
Contact us today to learn more about our neck pain treatment options.
