The cervical vertebrae are linked to one another by discs, ligaments, and tendons that allow remarkable flexibility. The normal shape of the neck rather than straight, is a gentle C shaped curve to the front, called the cervical curve. A good chiropractor can help you maintain or restore a health cervical curve.

The chiropractor treats many neck injuries, some severe and some not as bad, but most all can cause you a multitude of health problems if not corrected. There are many causes of neck pain such as a traumatic injury as we would expect from a car crash or a fall, and many injuries happen with no dramatic trauma, but rather over time, or with multiple minor injuries that build up.

Some natural disc degeneration occurs as we age. However, evidence of disc degeneration even in very young children suggests that stresses such as spinal imbalance, spinal subluxations, injury or emotional trauma cause undue wear and tear on our necks.

When the cervical vertebra get knocked out of alignment, you can feel pain in your neck. But you can also have pains, numbness and tingling down your arms all the way to your hands. This is because the spinal nerves get irritated and stimulate the pain nerves.

Many everyday habits or activities can contribute to neck pain. Sleeping in an awkward position, slumping over a desk, overwork, squeezing a telephone between the ear and shoulder, or straining to see over a steering wheel ail may cause muscle fatigue or strains.

Anger, fear or mental stress can cause neck muscles to tighten which, if prolonged, can lead to painful muscle spasms. Tension headaches also frequently follow bouts with neck pain.

Occasional minor stiffness or strain is nothing to worry about. Often it will clear up with a good night's sleep. However in many other cases, chiropractic treatment can reduce the pressure on the disc and prevent the need for surgery. For most patients, surgery should be considered only when more conservative treatment fails.

If these type of problems reoccur or if they do not clear up after a day or two, then you need to get help. The best thing you could do is to find a good chiropractor to make the necessary spinal correction and get you on your way back to good spinal health. My favorite saying is, "It's your future, Be there healthy".