I have had consistent neck and head pain for 6 years, and intermittently (often daily) for 13 years.
I have multiple herniated discs, spinal cord narrowing and compression, and bone spurs – none of which are severe enough for surgery but all of which can and do cause incredible pain, not just in the neck; it affects the entire spinal column, radiates down into my arms and causes massive head pain.
Over the years I’ve tried anything and everything to relieve that pain – some helps, some really doesn’t.
Here are some things that have helped:
These are not traditional chiropractors who manually adjust by manipulating / cracking your spine. Instead they use detailed x-rays to measure your neck alignment and then using those measurements, they are able to shift the atlas into correct placement through a series of small and gentle corrections.
They do not crack! They do not twist, or push, or make any abrupt movements. It is painless and surprising that so little pressure can offer such extreme results.
For more info and to find a NUCCA doctor: https://nucca.org/what-is-nucca/
PS: This is not the same as an upper cervical chiropractor who uses the Palmer method. If you tried and hated that (like me), know that this is nothing like that.
Percussion/Vibration
Did you know the skull is not one bone? It’s actually 13 separate pieces connected by tissue and blood vessels, allowing the individual bones to sort of float over the brain.
However the connective tissue can become rigid, so the skull bones aren’t able to move independently. Imagine fluid building up under the skull. If the pieces can move separately, there is flexibility. If the connective tissue is rigid, the fluid just pushes up under the skull, causing pressure and pain.
Some chiropractors use percussion therapy to soften the tissue, allowing the skull to move freely again.
This is one of my favorite therapies. It is amazing how quickly the pressure dissipates. The trick – finding the right chiropractor. 😉
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
Red and violet lasers (also known as cold lasers) can help reduand inflammation, and repair tissue damage. Easy to use – just apply to the affected area…red
You can buy these pens for less than $10 each – just make sure you get the correct wavelength and power as noted below.
- Red – 650nm 5mw: arthritis, acute pain, fibromyalgia chronic, joint pain, muscle pain
- Violet – 405nm 5mw: anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory (can help with chronic pain and acne)
Gotta admit, so far I’m not a huge fan of this one, but I will keep trying! I know it helps other people, but my neck is in such bad shape I’m having to take it super slow. That said, when you see how it works, you can understand how it might help rehydrate discs, providing more flexibility and reducing pain.
PhilippiJoy 