Upper Cervical Chiropractic: A Successful Approach to Back Pain

Back pain will affect a staggering 80% of adults at some point in life.

That doesn’t leave many people exempt from this extremely common condition, which is the leading cause of missed work days and disability.

There are many avenues that people take in order to find relief. People commonly turn to ice, heat, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and pain relievers, massage, and various other therapies. Some of these methods might provide some short-term relief – just long enough to get through the worst of the episode.  

However, what happens if you’ve tried these options and your back pain still nags? It is possible that the issue is stemming from elsewhere in the spine, particularly from the small bone that sits at the very top of the spine.

Why Adjust the Neck for Back Pain?

The neck plays an important role in how the rest of your spine and back feel and function. Where your head is positioned contributes to how the rest of the spine must compensate. If your head is being carried too far forward, then it’s likely that you’ll experience pain or discomfort elsewhere in the back, even if you don’t have any neck pain at all.  

Related article

What is the source of spine pain?

Feb 18, 2021

Your atlas vertebra is the topmost one in the spine. It forms the junction between the head and neck, and also provides a tough layer of protection for the brainstem. When the atlas misaligns, it creates a chain reaction that can cause abnormal posture, muscle spasm, and imbalance that can easily manifest as mid or low back pain.

Rather than chase around pain, we address the root cause of the problem. If your back problems are being caused by a misalignment of the upper neck, then an upper cervical chiropractic approach is the solution. Many of our back pain patients report that their conditions improve dramatically, sometimes even after very few adjustments. This is because, once we address the primary misalignment of the atlas, the postural compensations that were causing the pain are naturally corrected as a result. This is the key towards achieving back pain relief that is lasting, not merely temporary.

References:

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Low-Back-Pain-Fact-Sheet

Dr Nick Tedder is located in Dacula GA and services the communities of Atlanta, Auburn, Austell, Braselton, Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Flowery branch, Gainesville, Grayson, Hoschton, Hamilton Mill, Johns Creek, Lanier Islands, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross, Suwanee, and Winde.