Neck pain can become, well, a real pain in the neck! Our necks are incredibly strong, but at the same time, they can also be very sensitive, and if an injury strikes or neck pain develops, you’re not going to want to ignore the problem. Left untreated, neck pain can lead to a number of more severe symptoms and issues. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some of the problems that can develop as a result of untreated neck pain, and how Dr. Jackman can help you find relief from your neck discomfort.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Neck Pain
They say that time heals all wounds, and while rest can certainly help to protect your neck while it’s in a delicate state, time alone is not guaranteed to help you recover following a neck injury. Whether you’re dealing with the fallout from a shifted cervical disc, a pinched nerve or a whiplash injury, untreated problems can lead to a host of long-term issues, including:
- Chronic Neck Pain – Torn or strained ligaments and muscles need targeted treatment to repair correctly. Failing to help these soft tissues heal can lead to months or years of neck discomfort long after sustaining the original injury.
- Mobility and Flexibility Loss – Neck injuries oftentimes trigger an inflammatory response as your body tries to limit movement in the area and protect your neck. However, if you don’t address the underlying injury in your neck, inflammation can become chronic, severely limiting your range of motion or making movements uncomfortable.
- Vertebral Misalignment – Sometimes a neck injury like whiplash can cause the uppermost vertebrae to move out of proper alignment, causing pain with movement and possibly impacting nerve function. It’s imperative that you make sure your vertebrae are aligned or realigned in the wake of trauma to the neck region.
- Vertigo – You may be surprised to learn that untreated neck injuries can lead to vertigo and dizziness. Trauma to the neck area can disrupt our inner ear equilibrium and lead to frequent instances of dizziness if not addressed.
- Headaches – Untreated muscles damage in the neck can lead to prolonged muscle tension, which in turn can trigger tension headaches. If your neck muscles can’t appropriately handle pressure after an injury, your risk of tension headaches will greatly increase. Help to strengthen these injured muscles and in turn decrease your headache risk by connecting with a neck specialist.
- Degenerative Disc Disease – Your spinal discs are positioned between your vertebrae and provide flexibility and stress absorption. Untreated neck injuries can lead to expedited degeneration of these discs, which can lead to pain and mobility issues.
Fortunately, all of these issues can be targeted with the help of a spine specialist like Dr. Jackman. He’ll be able to take a closer look at your injuries and set you up with an individualized treatment plan to help strengthen your neck region, expand neck mobility and improve your neck’s overall physical function. Whether that is through anti-inflammatory medications and a physical therapy routine or a more hands-on treatment like surgery, Dr. Jackman and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute are here to help.
Don’t let a neck injury snowball into a major issue that causes problems for months or years. Instead, connect with a neck specialist and put an end to your discomfort. For more information, or for help with a different type of spinal column issue, give Dr. Jackman’s office a call today at (651) 430-3800.
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