Upper Cervical Treatment and Neck Pain
Your neck or cervical spine is made up of vertebrae that extend from the skull to the upper torso. Cervical discs absorb shock between the bones. It also acts as a conduit, allowing fluid flow and nerve impulses to travel to and from the head/brain.
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The bones, ligaments, and muscles of your neck support your head and allow for motion. Any abnormalities, inflammation, or injury can cause neck pain or stiffness. Some of these muscles attach to the base of the skull and travel as far down as your shoulder blades (it's all connected!).
Many people will experience neck pain or stiffness occasionally and in many cases, this is due to poor posture or overuse. Other times, neck pain is originated by injury from a fall, contact sports, or whiplash.
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In acute situations, pain lasting 1-4 days, ice and rest may be all you need.
However, it is when this becomes a recurring issue or when the pain lasts more than a few days that you should seek treatment. These are the common signs to look for when your neck pain may be caused by an upper cervical misalignment:
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Sharp or Burning Pain
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Inability to fully move the neck or pain upon rotation
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Pressure or pain at the base of your skull
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Radiating pain; down your arms or into your face/jaw
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Chronic or reoccurring neck pain
Many patients will come into our office after numerous consultations, physical therapy, steroid injections, and massage. Depending on the cause of your neck pain, these may provide temporary relief but will not get to the root cause of your problem. If there is an upper neck misalignment contributing to the muscles being irritated, getting this misalignment corrected is the path to long-term relief.
Patient Stories - Neck Pain and Upper Cervical Care
How Our Doctors Can Help
Pierce Upper Cervical uses a revolutionary healthcare procedure that focuses on the Upper Cervical Spine. This procedure identifies subtle misalignments of the top vertebrae in the neck and corrects them using a light-force instrument adjustment.
Correcting the misalignments in the neck will allow the muscles of the neck to relax leading to long-term alleviation of pain and discomfort.
I highly recommend Pierce Chiropractic and Dr. Randy Culig. The facility is friendly, warm and inviting. There is no forceful cracking and popping but very calculated, precise adjustments incorporating state of the art technology. For the first time I feel hopeful instead of hopeless. I am feeling lasting relief and have an awareness I have never felt before in my neck. His treatment has made a huge change in my life. Thank you Dr. Culig.
Cindy S.
Dr. Culig's approach is very unique. There is no harsh neck cracking or cranking. He starts with imaging to see what is going on with your anatomy and then makes very focused and gentle adjustments from there. This method really works! I previously had recurring neck issues on one side. With regular adjustments and support, I've been pain free for quite some time now. I just cannot say enough about him, his staff and his sweet dog, Jack
Allison C.
I've been extremely impressed with the care I've gotten here. I've had chronic neck pain for about 10 years; I've seen numerous clinicians and tried multiple therapies. Most gave me minimal or no relief. Dr. Culig has been by far the most thorough in trying to identify my specific issues and devising different treatment modalities that have provided me some lasting measure of relief.
Pablo F.
Dr. Culig's approach to treatments is so different. He never guesses what might be wrong. He assesses your imagining and treats you based on what you need. I have seen 4-5 chiropractors prior coming to him who were more of an 'old school crack your back' practitioners. It never felt right to my back or neck.
4 months later and I am able to live my life to the fullest. I am back to the gym and stronger than ever. If you are stuck with your 'traditional' chiropractic care and feel like it's not serving your well, give Dr. Culig a try. You will be very surprised.
Irina P.