Neck pain affects roughly 1 out of 3 Americans today. An alarming 4 out of 5 Americans will experience neck pain at some point in their life. Unfortunately, the number continues to go up. Neck pain is one of the most common types of pain today. The reason for this is that everything in the modern world pulls the head forward and down. This motion puts continuous stress on the neck that works its way into the pain felt today. Technology is one of the biggest factors in the rise in neck stress. We know technology is not going anywhere; in fact, it’s only going to be more integrated into our lives and our children’s lives. The important piece is understanding how to use technology without experiencing its negative effects on the body.
When the neck has proper anatomy, there should be very distinct properties. The neck should have a gradual curve. This curve naturally develops as the neck begins to support the weight of the head. The human body is incredibly intelligent, and it creates this gradual curve to help carry the weight of the head. Because of this, it takes the stress off the joints that make up the neck. The neck is made up of muscles, ligaments, bones, and soft material called discs. The different components that make up the neck can cause a variety of problems when damaged, and each can be felt differently.
One of the most common causes of neck pain today is something called cervical subluxation. A cervical subluxation happens when one or more vertebrae become misaligned, irritating the nerves or disturbing optimal nerve function. When the nerve is not functioning properly, it can cause pain and affect joints, muscles, and even organs. This is why chiropractic is one of the most effective approaches to neck pain. In conventional medicine, most treatments focus on covering up neck pain. With our approach, we are not interested in covering up the problem; rather, we want to find the root cause so we can create a long-term fix.
At Northern Lakes Chiropractic, neck pain is our specialty. We utilize the latest chiropractic techniques, focusing on gentle methods without any twisting or cracking to provide effective relief.
$97 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Digital AI Range of Motion Analysis, Digital Posture Analysis, Digital X-rays & Report of Findings
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Discover The True Root Cause
We look beyond where you feel symptoms to understand what is actually causing them. Instead of offering a short-term answer, we focus on correcting the problem at its source to create long-term solutions and lasting results.
2. Finally Get Real Solutions
We are not here to simply manage symptoms or provide quick fixes. Our focus is on understanding the true reason behind your condition and correcting it, helping you move beyond the Band-Aid approach and toward lasting, meaningful results for your health.
3. Have The Freedom To Fulfill Your Dreams
Your goals become our goals. We are a goal focused practice helping you achieve the health so many people struggle with today. With better health comes the freedom to go after the dreams you’ve set out to achieve.
Our Approach To Treating Neck Pain in Duluth, MN
At Northern Lakes Chiropractic, we prioritize patient education and empowerment, ensuring that you understand your condition and treatment options every step of the way. We believe in a holistic approach to wellness that focuses on improving your overall health and well-being, not just masking symptoms.
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
This is where we start the process to truly understand how we can help you get real, long-lasting results. Our process starts with sitting down with you so we can understand your specific neck issues. We will perform an examination that includes digital range-of-motion testing, AI posture analysis, and, most likely, X-rays. This examination process will help us confirm exactly what is causing your neck pain. By using this process, we can get to the root cause of your problem and focus on a real solution rather than a band-aid fix.
Digital X-rays
X-rays are among the most important tools for understanding your neck pain. X-rays give us a detailed picture of the neck, and by seeing exactly what is going on, we get the best idea of how to treat your neck pain. The most obvious features on X-rays are the neck curve, joint spacing, and joint alignment. By gathering this information, we can get a clear picture of your spine. X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool and are low-risk, thanks to the modern digital X-ray equipment used in this office. To see is to know, and to not see is to guess, and we do not guess when it comes to your health.
Specific Chiropractic Care in Duluth, MN
Spinal subluxation (misalignment) happens when one or more of the vertebrae in the spine become misaligned, causing pressure on the adjacent nerve. This interrupts the signal from the nerve trying to communicate with the rest of the body. When nerves are irritated, your body sends a signal in the form of pain. We are the only chiropractic office in the Northland certified to use the Torque Release Technique. This technique does not use the traditional twisting or cracking of the neck. We use a tool called the Integrator, which produces a more precise and accurate adjustment than older techniques. Results from this technique for neck pain are typically much better due to its specificity. We not only see results happen faster but also see them last much longer, on average, compared to traditional techniques.
Chiropractic care provides a non-invasive and drug-free approach to managing and alleviating neck pain. By correcting spinal misalignments, chiropractic adjustments can reduce nerve compression, improve mobility, and enhance overall spinal health. Patients often experience pain relief, increased flexibility, and improved range of motion, leading to an enhanced quality of life. Chiropractic treatment can also help reduce symptoms like numbness, tingling, and pain.
During the treatment, Dr. Bryce uses a gentle, non-twisting method to adjust your neck. This technique involves precise, controlled movements to align the vertebrae without the traditional “cracking” commonly associated with chiropractic adjustments. This approach is both effective and ensures a comfortable and stress-free experience.
Custom Therapeutic Exercise Plan
The reason we see subluxation in the neck is the constant stress placed on it. We can improve the neck’s position to better handle this stress by strengthening it, allowing it to better adapt to the daily stress it encounters. For that reason, we will give you specific neck exercises to help with your neck pain. There are many neck muscles, and we want to ensure we can provide strong support for the spine. Creating strength around the neck will allow for better, longer-lasting results.
Hydrowave (Shockwave Therapy)
To supercharge your healing, we use Hydrowave Therapy to address your neck pain. Hydrowave Therapy is the highest class of shockwave therapy (electromagnetic shockwave) used today. Hydrowave Therapy works by sending numerous small acoustic waves into the tissue, tricking it into thinking it is damaged and, in turn, helping your body create healing factors. This process helps the body release biochemicals that increase growth hormone, blood flow, and collagen production, and encourage cellular repair to stimulate the production of new, healthy tissue. People describe the feeling of Hydrowave as a pulsing sensation that goes deep into the tissue, and most say it feels different from any other treatment they have ever had.
Common Causes of Neck Pain in Duluth, MN
Bulged and Herniated Cervical Disc
When we see a bulge in the cervical spine, it results from the disc pressing on the spinal nerve adjacent to it. The pressure from the disc on the nerve prevents the nerve from functioning optimally. The disc itself consists of a soft, spongy center that helps absorb shock. The outer layer of the disc is a tough, fibrous material that keeps that soft center in place. A disc herniation occurs when the soft center material pushes through the outer fibrous layer, putting pressure on the nerve and causing immediate neck pain that is consistent in nature, but which can also result in numbness, tingling, and even weakness in the arms, forearms, and hands.
The difference between a bulged disc and a herniated disc is the integrity of the outer layer. A disc bulge occurs when the soft center of the disc protrudes into the outer layer without that outer layer being completely damaged. A disc herniation occurs when the outer layer of the disc is compromised, allowing the soft material in the center of the disc to protrude. This can cause severe, relentless neck pain from the disc’s consistent pressure on the nerve, and may also cause numbness, tingling, and even weakness.
Degenerative Disc Disease
What is degenerative disc disease? How does it affect the discs? What are the risk factors? How does it affect the body? How do you help care for DDD in your practice?
Degenerative disc disease occurs when the soft material (disc) starts to compress and lose its height. The disc acts as a shock absorber in the spine, helping maintain proper movement. The risk with increased disc degeneration is that it will limit the range of motion, increase irritation to the spinal nerves, and cause permanent changes to the spine. Another big risk is that if it continues to worsen, it will increase the need for surgery once it degenerates too much. Poor spinal alignment contributes to disc degeneration. One of the major things we look at on your first day is alignment, so we can slow the process of disc degeneration, prevent negative side effects, and keep you as healthy as possible.
Tech Neck
What is “tech neck”? What does it look like? Why is it so prevalent? Why is an altered cervical curve so bad for our bodies? What other problems could arise from tech neck?
Tech neck comes from the straightening of the cervical (neck) spine. Normally, we have a gradual curve in our neck to help support the weight of the head. The digital age has caused people, on average, to look down more today than ever—this process of consistently looking down straightens the neck curve. When the neck is straight, we lose the ability to properly distribute the weight of the head, which accelerates the progression of arthritis and degeneration. Other problems that can occur include increased tension in the shoulder and neck muscles and nerve irritation, leading to neck pain and headaches.
Muscle Strain
Muscle strain occurs when a muscle or tendon is pushed beyond its physiological limits. Muscle strains typically happen due to overuse, trauma, and poor lifting technique. When our spine is misaligned, it can cause abnormal muscular tone, leading to increased muscle strain. Most muscle strains typically heal within 2–4 weeks, depending on their severity. When muscle strains keep happening and become common, it is important to get checked out, because something structural could be contributing to the repetitive strains.
Subluxation
What is a subluxation? What effect do they have on the body? How do you find and correct subluxations? What effect does a chiropractic adjustment have on the body? Why are chiropractors the best practitioners to correct a subluxation?
One of the most common causes of neck pain today is something called cervical subluxation. A subluxation happens when one or more vertebrae become misaligned, irritating the nerves or disturbing optimal nerve function. Subluxations can affect the body in several ways by interfering with how nerves communicate with the rest of the body. Some of the most common symptoms people experience include neck pain (which can feel dull, sharp, burning, or stabbing); tingling or numbness in the arms; muscle tightness or spasms; headaches; migraines; and decreased neck mobility. Over time, poor spinal alignment can also place extra stress on joints and discs, potentially accelerating wear and tear. Since the nervous system controls every part of the body, keeping the spine healthy is an important way to support overall function and well-being. The best way to find and correct subluxation is through an examination that includes digital range-of-motion, AI posture analysis, and, most likely, X-rays. This examination process will help us confirm exactly what is causing your neck pain. By using this process, we can identify the root cause of your problem by adjusting the spine and allowing the nerve to function properly. Chiropractors are the only doctors properly trained to find, correct, and prevent subluxations from recurring, allowing your body to function at its best.
Whiplash
What is whiplash? How does whiplash occur? What are the effects of whiplash? What are some important things to be aware of after an injury that could cause whiplash? What is the chiropractic approach to treating whiplash, and how is it superior to other approaches?
Whiplash occurs when the head is forced into a forward-and-backward motion, pushing the neck beyond its normal limits. Whiplash can occur in any event in which the head is rapidly forced forward and backward, but the most common cause is a car accident. The side effects after a whiplash injury include, but are not limited to, headaches, dizziness, severe loss of range of motion, pain down the arms, sharp neck pain, and permanent damage to the ligaments in the neck. The important thing to be aware of after a whiplash injury is that if you have any of these symptoms, it is important to get checked out right away. It can take weeks or months for symptoms to appear, but when they do, early detection and treatment are key. Chiropractic has one of the best approaches to whiplash because we get to the root cause of the problem, unlike conventional medications, which tend to cover up the problem — something that only allows it to keep getting worse over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Neck Pain
Is a chiropractor in Duluth, MN, good for neck pain?
YES! We use a specialized technique that excels at relieving neck pain. There is no twisting or cracking of the neck, just specific, precise adjustments.
When should you see a chiropractor for neck pain?
For most people, the best time to see a chiropractor was five years ago; if you don’t have a time machine, the second-best time is now.
Is it okay to “pop” my own neck?
Most of the time, when we feel a “pop” in our neck, it’s because a joint is stuck out of place and causing irritation. When we “pop” our neck, we are just moving the bones that are already freely moving, and we don’t actually change the joints that are stuck. That is why the sensation keeps coming back, and you never get real relief. The best thing to do is see a chiropractor so they can get the stuck joints moving again and give you real relief.
Do medical doctors recommend chiropractors for neck pain?
Absolutely. We have plenty of medical doctors who refer patients to this office specifically, because it is very low-risk, with no twisting or cracking of the neck.
How can I relieve my neck pain?
The best way to relieve neck pain is first to get checked out by a chiropractor, because there are so many factors that can be contributing to your symptoms. Get checked out by a chiropractor first so they can find the actual cause of your neck pain and help you find a solution.
How should I sleep with neck pain?
When sleeping on your side, make sure your neck is well-supported and elevated enough to keep it in a neutral position — not so much that it tilts. When lying on your back, use a thin pillow to prevent your head from sitting too far forward.
Why does my neck hurt on one side?
Your neck can hurt on one side for many reasons, but it often comes down to where you are putting consistent stress on it. The side with the most stress often feels the most neck pain.
How can you tell if your neck is out of alignment?
The best way to tell is by assessing the range of motion, evaluating posture, and, most importantly, taking X-rays. These are all tests we perform during your first visit to the office.
$97 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Digital AI Range of Motion Analysis, Digital Posture Analysis, Digital X-rays & Report of Findings
