How Is Chronic Neck Pain Diagnosed?

You may wonder why it is so important for a doctor to have a complete patient history when diagnosing neck pain. The fact is that diagnosing the underlying cause of neck is a very important part of finding the right form of care.  As a result, we’re going to take a look at several factors that are important to consider during a neck pain diagnosis. Then we will look at a drug-free way to find relief from many forms of neck pain. 

Diagnosing Chronic Neck Pain

​When it comes to diagnosing neck pain, here are 6 factors that need to be considered.

1. Symptoms – Understanding what symptoms accompany the neck pain and whether they came on suddenly or gradually can all hint at the underlying issue.
2. Employment – Many neck problems go back to the workplace. Manual labor can certainly result in neck problems, but so can a desk job, especially if one must look at a monitor much of the day.
3. Habits – Text neck is an emerging problem resulting from the habit of people looking down at electronic devices for texting, using social media, binge watching shows, playing video games, or other uses.
4. Sleep – If neck pain is worst in the morning, sleep position or the type of pillow a person uses may be contributing factors.
5. Injuries – Whether the injury just occurred or it is a decade old, any past injury could be the cause of neck pain. In fact most chronic neck pain is the result of an old injury to the neck.  
6. Posture – Neck pain may occur gradually over time due to a phenomenon called hysteresis where repetitive poor posture can damage the supporting connective tissues of the spine resulting in chronic neck pain. 

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and chronic neck pain download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care For Chronic Neck Pain

Of all the 6 factors above old injuries to the head and neck are by far the most common cause of chronic neck pain.  Old injuries to the head and neck commonly result in damage to the supporting connective tissues which allows the upper neck to misalign causing your lower neck and spine to compensate to make up for the weight of the head no longer being balanced.  Chronic neck pain is likely to follow over the coming weeks months and years.  The average chronic neck pain case we see in the office suffered an injury to the head or neck averaging 10-15 years prior.   

Dr. Grayson Blom is a Boise, Idaho native that works with a nationwide group of Doctors expertly trained and specializing in the Upper Cervical procedure. Dr. Blom is also one of the few Doctors in the state of Idaho trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure. ​ 

About the Author

Dr. Dr. Grayson Blom, B.Sc., D.C., U.C.A., C.C.E.P

Upper Cervical Health Centers Boise

Before becoming an​ Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Dr. Blom graduated with honors from the Fountain Head of Chiropractic, Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa. He is an Idaho native returning home to serve the community he grew up in. Dr. Blom has also received a post graduate diplomate from the Upper Cervical Academy through Sherman College of Chiropractic and is also trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure through the KCUCS, Blair Upper Cervical Society, and in the Orthospinology procedure. He is one of only a few Doctors trained and certified in the Upper Cervical procedure in the State of Idaho.