For many people, neck pains cause immediate concern because they occur alongside other problems like migraines. Whether the pain results from an injury or muscle sprain, it’s crucial to resolve it right away. After all, your neck is one of your body's most critical parts. It supports the weight of the head and connects to your body.

Unfortunately, because of its design and structure, it’s highly vulnerable to getting injured. As much as possible, if you experience neck pain or any of its accompanying symptoms, you should resolve it right away. Here at K2 Health Center, we offer natural neck pain relief in Encinitas. 

To help you understand how we can help, let’s take a closer look at the neck’s essential functions. Then, we’ll deep dive into other questions you should ask when you meet with a local chiropractor.

Understanding your cervical spine’s main functions 

Your neck takes charge of various responsibilities, including: 

• Provides support to your head

On average, a human adult head can weigh around 12 pounds. That’s the average weight that a neck has to carry and support all the time. More importantly, the neck provides the head with the ability to move and turn. 

• Houses the brainstem, a critical part of your spine

The neck bones accommodate the brainstem as well as other nerve bundles that control your body. The two bones on top of the neck, called the atlas and axis, are the main focus of upper cervical care chiropractors when providing neck pain relief in Encinitas. 

• Ensures the smooth flow of fluids to the brain

Arteries and nerves traversing you’re the hollow parts of your neck bones supply cerebrospinal fluid and blood to your brain. If bone misalignment occurs, the flow of fluids like blood and cerebrospinal fluid gets impeded. Thankfully, a chiropractic care professional can correct the misalignment to restore normal fluid flow. 

If you feel any pain in your neck, it could be a sign that it’s failing to perform the three functions listed above. Other symptoms such as migraines can also occur together with the throbbing sensation in your neck. If left unattended, the problem may worsen and could trigger more severe concerns. 

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and neck pain, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Are you visiting a chiropractor for the first time?  

Your research on neck pain has led you to a professional who can provide neck pain relief in Encinitas. However, because you’re new to this experience and unsure what to expect, you should ask questions during the consultation session. It would allow you to understand how it works and how your overall well-being can benefit from the procedure. 

It would help if you also prepare answers to some standard chiropractor’s questions. These queries help an upper cervical care professional gauge your condition and how they can help. Here are some examples of questions your chiropractor might ask: 

• Did something trigger your neck pain? 

Most patients notice neck pains after an injury from vehicle collisions, trauma, physical abuse, and contact sports accidents. It will significantly help you if you take note of any trigger that might have caused your condition. It’s also a good idea how long before the pain started after the injury or event.  

• How long have you been experiencing the pain?

Have you been complaining about it for a few days or months? Has the pain progressed, or is it slowly going away? By providing details on the duration of the pain, your chiropractor can determine whether you have a mild or chronic problem. 

• Do you feel the throbbing or stabbing sensation spread to your upper limbs?

If left unresolved, neck pain eventually causes other problems like migraines. Also, the pain could radiate to the upper extremities, including the tip of your fingers. When seeking neck pain relief in Encinitas, you should include details of the main affected areas of your neck. 

• Have you attempted to manage your condition using medication? 

You can choose from various options to relieve yourself of the pain caused by a neck injury or misalignment.  For some folks, they opt to use pain relievers. If you used them too, you should inform your upper cervical chiropractor. You can also report if you use other remedies to neck pain such as:

• Bed rest
• Massage therapy
• Topical pain-relieving lotions or creams 
• Acupuncture 
• Cold or hot compress
• Chiropractic care
• What improves or worsens your pain? 

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to achieve freedom from neck pain. As such, you should take note of the factors that worsen or improves your symptoms. For example, do you find better relief when using a cold or hot compress? Does stretching help you, or does it stiffen your neck muscles even more? Figuring out key triggers can help you make the necessary adjustments. 

All-natural Neck Pain and relief in Encinitas 

Upper cervical chiropractic care has been around for a while. It may not be as popular as other options used for neck pain relief in Encinitas, but it delivers positive results. As neck chiropractors, we pay close attention to the connection between your neck and head.

If you suffered from a neck injury, it’s highly likely that your bones, the atlas and axis, skewed from their normal position. A few common indicators of neck pain arising from an injury include muscle spasms, migraines, and muscle stiffness.

To confirm our initial diagnosis, we run imaging scans. We check the level of bone misalignment, and we measure the adjustments needed to realign your neck bones to your head. In every session, we use gentle and precise adjustments to encourage your body to heal independently. Need neck pain relief in Encinitas? Contact us today at K2 Health Center to book a consultation with our upper cervical doctor. You may also call us at 760-456-9470 for urgent concerns.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Keener, call our Encinitas office at 760-456-9470. You can also click the button below.

If you are outside of the local area, you can find an Upper Cervical Doctor near you at www.uppercervicalawareness.com.