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Neck Pain Treatment in West Omaha

neck pain treatment in omaha
Here at Kosak Chiropractic and Acupuncture, we help patients who suffer from neck pain. We treat neck injuries ranging from upper cervical spine pain to whiplash. Whether you have a neck injury or chronic neck pain that is preventing you from having total mobility—our chiropractor can assist you. Our drug-free neck treatments include comprehensive chiropractic services, such as spinal adjustments and acupuncture. Find out more about how we use these treatments to resolve neck pain naturally and without surgery.

Neck pain can have a big impact on your quality of life. Neck pain can make it hard to sleep, work and have fun. It can also lead to Headaches and Migraines. If you suffer from neck pain in West Omaha, chiropractic care can help you get the treatment you need to relieve your pain and enjoy life. At Kosak Chiropractic & Acupuncture, we use a range of chiropractic techniques to help our patients manage their neck pain and heal from neck injuries.

Quick Guide

Common Causes for Neck Pain

Woman with Whiplash experiences neck pain and seeks treatment at Kosak chiropractic

Neck pain can be due to poor posture or lack of ergonomic practices in the workplace. This is a type of personal work-related injury that occurs quite often. You can also suffer from neck pain due to an injury, such as an auto accident or sports injury. For traumatic neck injuries involving sudden twisting or movements of the neck, you may have a herniated disc in the upper spine along with torn neck ligaments. If left untreated, this can develop into whiplash.

Another type of neck pain is due to an improperly aligned spine. When the spinal column is not in the proper position, this puts pressure on the surrounding nerve endings. This pressure or pinching of the nerves can lead to nerve damage and pain in the neck and extremities. In addition, you can suffer from numbness and tingling, or a lack of mobility, due to pinched nerves.

There are many reasons that people experience neck pain in West Omaha. Some of the most common reasons that people experience neck pain include:

  • Whiplash. This condition typically affects people who have been in car accidents and personal injuries. Whiplash causes small tears to form in the muscles and ligaments, causing neck pain, swelling and limited range of motion.
  • Stress. Stress causes the muscles to become tense, resulting in pain in the neck, back and head.
  • Muscle strain. Muscle strain can cause pain in many parts of the body, including the neck.
  • Subluxations. A subluxation is what happens when the vertebrae pinch the spinal cord.
  • Herniated disc. A herniated disc occurs when a vertebral disc protrudes from the tough casing that encloses it.
  • Text neck. Looking down at mobile devices for too long can strain your neck muscles, leading to pain.

What is Text Neck

woman holding her neck due to painText neck is one of the most common medical problems in the era of ubiquitous electronic use. As more people than ever before spend time staring at screens from smart devices, this has led to the development of neck pain. This condition has also been called turtle neck syndrome in addition to the anterior head syndrome.

This condition develops because people are spending a significant amount of time cranking their necks downward to read the tiny screen on their cell phones. Because people cannot seem to disconnect from their devices, this places a tremendous amount of strain on the muscles of the neck. There are muscles that connect the back and neck to the muscles of the temple and scalp. These muscles become strained over time, leading to text neck.

Perhaps most concerning, this problem is impacting the younger generation disproportionately, because children and teenagers are most often prone to using cell phones in an exorbitant manner, they are also the population that is most prone to developing this condition. Therefore, measures need to be employed to address this serious problem.

Because routine cell phone use is still a relatively new phenomenon, the research on this condition is still in its infancy. Even though more research still needs to be done, there is some important information that everyone needs to keep in mind.

How can Proper Posture Avoid Text Neck?

In order to avoid developing text neck, it is important to have proper posture. The reason why people develop pain and stiffness and their neck in the first place is because they are constantly looking down at their phones. Avoiding poor posture will be key in preventing this condition from developing.

First, stand up straight. Proper posture always starts with the back. Make sure that the shoulders are kept back and that the neck and pelvis are properly aligned to avoid poor posture.

Then, avoid looking down at the phone while texting or looking at the screen. This condition develops when people look down constantly. Instead, raise the screen up to the level of the eyes instead of cranking the neck down. This will go along way toward preventing the development of this condition.

Finally, take frequent breaks to look away from the screen, and give the neck a rest. This proper posture will lead to the development of habits that can prevent text neck pain.

What are the Symptoms of Text Neck?

woman holding her neck due to inflammation

If someone has been diagnosed with text neck, there are a few common symptoms that might arise. The marquee symptom of text neck is neck stiffness. When people crank their neck in a downward direction, this places dozens of pounds of force on the muscles of the neck. The greater the degree of tilt, the larger the force. The longer people hold their neck in this position, the worse the stiffness is going to be. This stiffness can make it harder for people to not of their head or turn their neck from side to side.

Another common symptom is text neck pain. Some people say that this pain is localized to their neck. In other situations, so just when people move their neck, people might feel this pain diffuse throughout their shoulders, back, and head. The longer people go with their neck tilted downward, the worse this pain is going to get.

People often complain of muscular weakness with this condition as well. Eventually, the muscles in the neck are going to start to get tired. As a result, more stress is going to be placed on the other muscles in this region. People often complain of muscular weakness and their shoulders and back with this condition.

Finally, people with this condition can also develop severe headaches. The stress that people place on the muscles in the neck can cause the muscles in the head to feel tight as well. This can lead to chronic tension headaches that can be particularly debilitating.

What is Stiff Neck

At its very root, most commonly a stiff neck is a strain or a sprain to the muscles and ligaments found within the neck.  Typically, sprains and strains occur when the soft tissue is stretched too far beyond the range of motion.  A stiff neck can occur from an acute injury, such as an accident, or can develop over time, as is the case with patients suffering from bad posture.

In some cases, a stiff neck will resolve itself, slowly healing as the patient refrains from the activity that caused the injury in the first place.  In other cases, a stiff neck can become a chronic condition, leading to ongoing pain and stiffness in the patient.  In these situations, chiropractic care may be required for neck pain treatment.

What Can Cause A Stiff Neck and What Are the Symptoms?

One of the most common ways a stiff neck can develop is from sleeping wrong.  This can be caused by a number of common sleep issues.  Sometimes, a person may sleep with his or her head at an odd, or unnatural angle which puts undue stress and strain on the soft tissues in the neck.  For other people, a stiff neck may be caused by a sudden jerking motion that may occur during sleep, or when a person tries to roll over.  In other cases, it is possible to aggravate an already existing injury.  A perfect example is a person who may have suffered whiplash from an automobile accident.  Although the accident may have happened hours before bedtime, the stiffness and soreness will only become apparent when the person is asleep.

Of course, other injuries and conditions can also lead to a stiff neck.  It is possible to experience a stiff neck with degenerative disc disease, especially if the impacted discs are located in the upper spine or neck region.   Another cause of a stiff neck could be osteoarthritis which can impact the facet joint in the neck region.

Symptoms for a stiff neck can range from person to person, depending on the type and severity of the injury.  For some, a stiff neck can be a sharp and stabbing pain.  For others, a stiff neck may be a dull ache, noticed throughout the day.  Pain may become worse with sudden movements, or by turning the head at certain angles.

Stiffness and a lack of range of motion are also common symptoms associated with a neck injury.  A person may notice that they are unable to turn their head, or unable to rotate the head without feeling pain and stiffness in the neck.  Luckily, with neck pain treatment in West Omaha, these symptoms can be greatly reduced or eliminated completely.

Neck Pain and Headaches

woman holding her head due to chronic headache

Those who suffer from headaches and migraines on a regular basis understand just how serious these conditions can be. Headaches come in many different forms. Migraines are among the most debilitating. The cause of migraines is still an active area of research. Some people have a form of migraines called migraines with aura. Individuals often have a vision that the migraine is coming. It might be a flash of light, a certain smell, or other signals that a migraine is setting in. Then, headache and vomiting set in.

Other people suffer from tension headaches. These are headaches that are caused by the muscles of the head and scalp gradually tightening around the rest of the skull. Often, these muscles are tightening due to neck pain. Pain in the muscles of the neck starts to tug on the rest of the head. This causes the feeling of a "band" to tighten around the head, leading to pain. Stress in the muscles of the neck and scalp leads to these headaches, which can be extremely debilitating.

Whiplash is a Common Cause of Headaches

An often overlooked cause of headaches comes in the form of whiplash. This is the name given to a sprain of the cervical ligaments of the neck. People often develop this condition in a car accident. The rapid changes in momentum can cause the neck to snap back and forth quickly. This sprains the ligaments of the neck, causing people to feel pain and stiffness when they try to move their heads. As the stiffness in the neck starts to set in, this stiffness places a lot of stress in the muscles of the neck. This is referred to the head, leading to severe headaches. This can make it hard for people to focus on their daily routine, causing a severe quality of life issue.

Tension Headaches That Cause Neck Pain and Tenderness

Perhaps the most common type of headache is called a tension headache. This headache gets its name because of the tension placed on the muscles of the neck and scalp. These headaches are typically referred to as having a "vice grip" or "band-like" sensation. People often feel like their head is being squeezed, leading to the feeling of pressure around the outside of the head.

This type of headache often starts in the muscles of the neck and back. Stress can develop in these muscles due to athletic activity, anxiety, overuse, and even poor posture. When these muscles are placed under stress, they start to tighten. People can develop knots in these muscles. As a result, people lose flexibility and range of motion in these muscles. This can place a lot of stress on the neck and head, leading to recurrent tension headaches.

Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture can Help with Headaches and Migraines

chiropractor adjusting a patients neck

Often, when people develop recurrent neck pain and headaches, they are told that they need to take a bunch of prescription medications to help with their headaches. Sadly, these medications can also lead to side effects that might be worse than headaches. Fortunately, chiropractic care can provide an effective alternative that can help people deal with headaches and migraines.

A trained chiropractor knows how to relax the muscles of the head and neck. By relaxing the muscles, their flexibility and range of motion are restored. This will alleviate the tension that is being placed on the muscles of the neck and head, providing headache relief. A trained chiropractor can also perform acupuncture. A microcurrent or non-piercing Teishin needle is used to influence the flow of circulation and hormones throughout the body. This can help someone who suffers from recurrent migraines, providing headache relief without the nasty side effects of other healthcare options. Rely on a chiropractor for help with neck pain, headaches, migraines, and other issues involving the neck, back, spine, and head.

Chiropractic Treatment for Neck Pain

To help you remedy your neck pain without drugs or surgery, we use chiropractic treatment. This includes chiropractic adjustments to realign your musculoskeletal system. In addition, we use acupuncture as part of our practice. With acupuncture, we are able to stimulate the natural cellular regeneration in your body for improved healing after an injury.

We also use acupuncture to help with headaches and migraines caused by neck pain and upper cervical spine injuries. Acupuncture treatment is ideal for patients who want treatment without drugs or downtime after their therapy session for neck pain.

There are many ways that a chiropractor can treat neck pain. Some of the most common methods that we use at Kosak Chiropractic & Acupuncture includes:

  • Spinal adjustment. Spinal adjustment is the technique that chiropractors use to relieve patient pain, speed the healing process and improve the functioning of the nervous system. Spinal adjustment is a technique that chiropractors use to heal all patients.
  • Stretches and exercises. Stretches and exercises can help improve the range of motion for patients suffering from muscle pain and musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Lifestyle advice. Our lifestyle advice helps patients avoid injuries and muscle pain.

Nutrition counseling. Obesity can contribute to muscle pain and joint pain, even in the neck. Nutrition counseling can help patients meet their weight loss goals and can also help patients maintain the energy they need to exercise and stay healthy.

Benefits of Choosing Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain

Benefits of choosing chiropractic for neck pain

There are many reasons to get chiropractic care for your neck pain. Many people seek chiropractic care from a neck pain specialist in Omaha because it is all-natural, gentle, and non-invasive. In addition, chiropractic care is medication-free, so it’s non-addictive and has no negative side effects.

The main reason why our patients choose chiropractic care for their neck pain is due to the minimal downtime. When you have neck surgery, you can expect to be out of work or your normal activities for a couple of months. Most busy people do not have that amount of time to recover from a neck injury. More importantly, for a musculoskeletal neck injury involving the spinal column or neck muscles—you can choose chiropractic care instead.

By visiting a chiropractor for neck pain treatment, you avoid neck surgery, as well as the use of pain-killing drugs. While traditional doctors will give you narcotics for your neck pain, we avoid using dangerous prescriptions. We understand the adverse effects of addiction and work toward using all-natural approaches for more beneficial healthcare solutions. If you want to treat your neck pain without drugs because you are pregnant or nursing, chiropractic care is the preferred modality.

Finally, chiropractic treatment is a complementary form of care, which means that it can be combined with other forms of treatment without interfering with other therapies. This is important for patients who are seeing multiple healthcare professionals for their diagnosis.

Why Choose Kosak Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Kosak Chiropractic and Acupuncture

Here at Kosak Chiropractic and Acupuncture, our chiropractor Dr. Kevin Kosak is a family chiropractor serving West Omaha, Nebraska. We offer gentle chiropractic treatments including prenatal/pregnancy care and pediatric services. In addition, we provide injury treatment for auto accidents, work/personal injuries, and sports injuries. Whether this is your first time to a chiropractor or you are looking for a new chiropractor just for neck pain, let our team assist you, call our office today at (402) 964-0300.

Along with neck pain, we also treat back pain, sciatica, shoulder pain, pinched nerves, headaches, carpal tunnel, and disc herniation. Choose our comprehensive chiropractic treatments as part of your overall health and wellness program. By getting regular chiropractic adjustments you can help to reduce the risk of injuring your neck again in the future.

Neck Pain Stretches & Tips

It is important for everyone to stretch before and after athletic activity to help the body recover; however, people often neglect to stretch their neck. Individuals often do not realize just how much work the neck does throughout the course of the day. Remember, the head is one of the heaviest parts of the body. This means that extreme demands are placed on the muscles of the neck. It is important for people to perform a thorough neck pain stretch because this will provide the muscles of the neck with a chance to relax and recover. Importantly, people should make sure not to stretch the neck muscles if there has been an injury. This includes injuries suffered in auto accidents, slip and fall incidents, and even sports injuries. Stretching the neck following an injury might make the injury worse. This should be done only in the presence of a trained medical professional.

Examples of Neck Stretches

young man having his neck stretched by a doctor

There are a few common neck stretches that people can perform. Some of these include:

Upper Trapezius Stretch: This is a common neck stretch that everyone can perform. First, sit up tall in a chair with appropriate posture. Then, use one hand to grasp the bottom of the seat. Next, turn the neck to the opposite side. People should feel a firm stretch in the neck. Hold this position for a few seconds and repeat on each side for several repetitions, gradually increasing the distance of the rotation.

Levator Scapular Stretch: This stretch is also done in a firm seat. Grab the bottom of the seat like the first exercise; however, this time, tilt the chin toward the opposite armpit. People should be able to feel the stretch in their neck; however, in a slightly different location. Repeat this exercise several times on each side.

The Neck Rotation: This stretch can be performed almost anywhere. Start from a comfortable position either sitting or standing. Keep the chin level. Try not to let the chin drop to the chest. Then, rotate the neck from side to side. Try to touch the chin to the opposite shoulder, gradually lengthening the duration of the stretch with each repetition.

All of these stretches can be performed multiple times per day. The goal is to lengthen the distance that the neck can be stretched. This will alleviate the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles of the neck. This contributes to neck soreness and its removal can make people feel better.

Other Tips for Dealing with Neck Pain

business woman holding her neck due to painThere are a number of other tips that can help people who are suffering from neck pain. These include:

Texting Posture: People often do not realize the amount of time they spend looking at a screen, such as texting. When people stare at a screen for an extended period of time, they place a lot of stress on the muscles of the neck. This can strain the muscles, leading to severe pain. Therefore, when looking at a screen, try to keep the chin level and shift the position of the screen instead of the position of the neck. Keep the neck straight and this will provide relief from neck pain.

Posture While Sitting, Standing, and Sleeping: Generalized posture also plays an important role in neck pain. When standing, try to keep the shoulders back and don't let the neck hunch over. Keeping the neck straight can help someone who is suffering from neck pain. While sitting, make sure to find a chair with a firm back. Keep the head straight and don't hunch over. Poor sitting position is another common cause of neck pain. Finally, while sleeping, make sure to use a pillow with the appropriate height. Often, the neck falls out of alignment with the rest of the back while sleeping. This can lead to severe neck pain that gets worse over time.

Why Choose Kosak Chiropractic & Acupuncture?

The team at Kosak Chiropractic and Acupuncture understands how frustrating it can be working through a stiff neck.  It can be hard to complete daily tasks, and even minimal movements can cause pain and discomfort.  The Kosak Chiropractic and Acupuncture team of professionals is dedicated to helping our patients live a pain-free life, and are eager to promote healthy habits to prevent future injuries.  To learn more about our services, particularly neck pain treatment, or to schedule an appointment, call our office today at (402) 964-0300.  We are eagerly accepting new patients.

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    14450 Eagle Run Dr #150
    Omaha, NE 68116
    United States
    Phone: (402) 513 - 8954
  • Office Hours

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    9:30am-12:30pm &
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    contact information

    14450 Eagle Run Dr #150
    Omaha, NE 68116
    United States
    Phone: (402) 964-0300

    office hours

    Monday-Thursday
    9:30am-12:30pm &
    3:00pm-6:00pm
    Friday-Sunday
    Closed

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