Back Pain Detective: Finding the source of your neck pain.

If you suffer from neck pain or headaches and you're interested in going to a chiropractor, you might be wondering how is it that we figure out the source of your problem.

The History

The first step for every patient visit is getting a thorough history by asking questions such as when the pain started, how long the pain has been going on, when is it worse, when it is better, and much more.

The Physical Exam

Ranges of Motion

The next step is to start a physical examination which we begin by looking at the neck’s range of motion. We want to assess the quality of these movements and if there are any particular ranges that are difficult or painful.

Nerves

We also want to understand the role of the nerves in your pain. Since all the nerves of the neck exit out and go into your arm, sometimes you might experience symptoms into your arms, such as numbness and tingling. At times there can be a disc bulge that is compressing the nerves and causing those symptoms to go down the arm, so we will check reflexes and strength to see if there is a decrease.

Palpation

Then we want to palpate the muscles of the neck to see if there is any tightness or tenderness. Then we like to assess the joints of the neck and see if any joints are stiff or not moving as well as they should be.

The Final Verdict

Now all of these tests not only help us figure out the source of your problem but also help us decide what is the best treatment for you. We have many tools in our toolbox and we tailor our treatment specifically to your problem, your condition, and your preferences.

If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to reach out and ask us, we are always happy to help.