Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care in Clearwater, FL

Your neck is made up of small, flexible vertebrae that allow you to move your head. A misalignment of the top two bones, known as the upper cervical spine, can result in discomfort and chronic pain.

Luckily, there are a variety of chiropractic treatments proven to reduce upper cervical pain.

Family Life Chiropractic offers upper cervical chiropractic care in Clearwater, FL. With four decades of experience, Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip is an experts in treating neck pain without medication or surgery!

Learn more about the causes and treatments for upper cervical pain here.

What Is Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care?

Upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on treating the junction of the head and neck.

Your upper cervical spine comprises two bones, the atlas, and the axis. This area is very susceptible to injury as it’s one of the most unprotected areas of the spine.

Misalignment of the upper cervical spine can cause nerve pain and, in some cases, compress the brainstem. Left untreated, this could disrupt communication from the brain to the body and lead to chronic health problems.

This is where Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip can help! Gentle chiropractic techniques are applied to the upper spine, promoting your body’s natural healing.

What Causes Upper Cervical Pain?

While your neck’s flexibility allows you to move your head with ease, it also makes your upper cervical spine susceptible to injury.

Several factors and conditions that can trigger upper cervical pain include:

- Arthritis – Osteoarthritis is a common cause of upper neck pain. Arthritis is typically caused by high levels of motion in the neck. Other degenerative diseases may also compress the spinal nerves.

- Nerve compression – Herniated discs can cause pain in the cervical spinal nerves. This pain ranges from the neck down to the shoulders and arms.

- Injury to the neck – High impact or forceful movements can result in whiplash injury. Whiplash from an auto accident may compress the neck and spine, causing stiffness or chronic pain.

- Fracture – Fractures of the top two spinal bones usually happen together. Upper cervical fractures may be the result of falling or forcibly hitting something with your chin or forehead.

Poor posture – Poor posture can strain your neck muscles. Holding your head in a particular way or sleeping in an odd position can cause repetitive trauma to the upper cervical spine.

Symptoms of Upper Cervical Pain

Upper cervical pain typically ranges from a dull ache to sharp, severe pain in the neck. Neck pain may last one to two weeks or become chronic.

Some of the most common symptoms of upper cervical pain include:

Neck pain
Radiating pain at the back or top of the head
Pain behind the eyes or ears
Headaches and migraines
Difficulty moving your head up and down
Radiating pain down the shoulders and arms
Sensitivity to light
Hearing or vision problems

Upper cervical pain can be incredibly debilitating, so it’s important to see a licensed chiropractor for help.

Diagnosis of Upper Cervical Pain

Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip will start with a full diagnostic exam at your first appointment. He’ll review any neck X-Rays or MRIs you bring with you.

Next, Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip will examine your cervical mobility by seeing how far you can move your head in different directions.

Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip may perform a muscle test to check your strength and muscle reflexes. Muscle testing is a diagnostic tool that finds points of weakness in the body. The process allows Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip to isolate the cause of your neck pain, so they can create an effective treatment plan that fits your needs.

How Is Upper Cervical Pain Treated?

Fortunately, there are many different chiropractic services for upper cervical pain.

Chiropractic Adjustment

Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip will start by looking at your upper spine to ensure the vertebrae are properly aligned. After this, he’ll perform a gentle chiropractic adjustment to alleviate your pain.

Cold laser therapy may also be recommended for reducing stiffness and promoting natural healing.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Additionally, Dr. Jere & Dr. Philip may use spinal decompression therapy to give your vertebrae some breathing room.

Using gentle traction, we’re able to stretch the spine ever so slightly, which takes the pressure off of the affected nerves. This provides relief from the radiating numbness and tingling associated with herniated discs.

Upper Cervical Chiropractor in Clearwater, FL

Are you suffering from upper cervical pain? Seek professional chiropractic care as soon as possible, as cervical spine pain becomes more difficult to treat over time.

Call 727-447-4647 or contact us to set up an appointment today!