Best Neck Pain Treatment Without Injections Or Surgery In Malaysia

Neck pain or cervical pain is a complaint nearing epidemic levels! Recovery for lasting relief is possible when neck pain treatment is precise, targeting the root causes of the painful neck. Our neck pain treatment is through non-surgical methods by the best chiropractors and top-rated physiotherapists (physical therapists) that gives you lasting relief without injections or surgery.

At CSC, our neck pain treatment is designed to eliminate cervicalgia (neck pain or cervical pain), including the associated radicular pain, neuropathic pain, and musculoskeletal pain, which is often classified as acute, subacute, or chronic pain. Acute or chronic neck pain can be challenging, but our methodologies get you the desired results. We have provided a brief description of the chronic, subacute, and acute neck pain below:

  1. Acute neck pain: Acute neck pain classification describes an intense abrupt cervicalgia with radicular pain (shooting pain) to the head, upper back, shoulders, or arms.
  2. Subacute neck pain: Subacute neck pain is where the painful neck lasts for several weeks.
  3. Chronic neck pain: Chronic neck pain is a classification reserved for people with neck pain that lasts longer than the subacute or for several months. Or a scenario where individual sufferers from recurrent neck pain.

The Cervical Spine & Cervicalgia

Your neck plays a crucial role in your overall health and well-being. It connects the rest of your body to your brain. As such, you should not ignore cervicalgia or neck pain. Getting the proper neck pain treatment in the early stages of cervicalgia is best, and we can help.

Your neck consists of seven cervical vertebrae (C1-7) stacked like a stack of coins. Each vertebra connects to the next through the neck’s joint, spinal discs, and ligaments. Cervical facet joints (joints in your neck) and spinal discs are designed to help you move freely, allowing you to nod, bend forward, backward, side to side, and rotate your head. They also help protect your spinal cord and nerves. When your neck moves correctly, everything else follows suit. But sometimes, things go wrong.

Cervicalgia results from poor posture, stress, arthritis, slipped discs, spondylosis, muscle strain, and other conditions. They can also be triggered by specific activities such as lifting heavy objects, sleeping poorly, or excessive use of computers & cell phones.

The best cervicalgia treatment for neck pain is a combined and integrative approach that combines care from a doctor of chiropractic and a physical therapist (physiotherapist). The integrated system is holistic and comprehensive, giving people with neck pain the quality of life without limitations.

What Should Patients With Neck Pain Know?

Neck pain occurs when or if your neck joints, spinal discs, nerves, or neck’s soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) are damaged or not working correctly, making everyday activities challenging. Neck pain is the primary cause of radicular pain, leading to upper back pain, shoulder blade pain, or numbness and tingling down the arms or hands. Several factors cause cervical pain, including arthritis, spondylosis, slipped disc, and whiplash, a common cause of neck pain.

Female with neck pain holding neck and head

Patients with neck pain should realize that neglecting a painful neck often leads to neurological deficits, including numbness, tingling, burning, weakness in the arms, and even paralysis from the neck down to your toes. Therefore, please don’t ignore your neck and get it treated by an expert as soon as possible. To recover, you need comprehensive therapy that fixes all factors for neck pain.

The neck is a complex structure of the spinal column. It provides support and shock absorbance for the head and mobility for the upper body. But sometimes, it becomes painful. This article discusses some of the most common causes of neck pain and offers tips for managing the discomfort. This article covers neck pain causes, signs, symptoms, and remedies. Still, most importantly, it provides an in-depth review and analysis of the best neck pain treatment options available for you. Before we get started, let’s cover two quick facts:

  1. A 2017 published report stated that the prevalence of neck pain is over 50% of adults have some degree of chronic neck pain that flares up frequently.
  2. According to another neck study, neck pain can be as high as 70% among adults.

What Are Common Causes Of Neck Pain?

Neck pain is the second most common spinal condition and a leading cause of disability in persons under 50. our modern lifestyle and the need to stay connected are the main culprits for the rapid rise of neck disorders, including idiopathic neck pain.

Idiopathic neck pain is a disorder of unknown cause often linked to lifestyles or psychosomatic neck issues often related to increased stress, as reported in the National Library of Medicine. In general, there are many possible reasons why someone could experience neck pain. Here are the 25 most common causes:

  1. Cervical spondylosis
  2. Slipped disc in the neck (bulging disc, protruded disc, prolapsed disc, Herniated disc, extruded disc & fragmented disc)
  3. Tears in spinal discs
  4. Cervical discitis
  5. Spondylolisthesis in the neck (C4-C5, C5-C6, or C6-C7 spondylolisthesis)
  6. Degenerative disc disease
  7. Congenital anomalies
  8. Moderate to severe scoliosis
  9. Whiplash & sports injuries
  10. Nerve impingement
  11. Neurological disorders such as M.S. & Parkinson’s disease
  12. Subluxation (minor misalignment or malpositioning of spinal bones)
  13. Fractures, infections, or pathological processes
  14. Bone spurs & osteoarthritis (wear and tear or degenerative arthritis)
  15. Rheumatoid arthritis & autoimmune disease
  16. Osteoporosis
  17. Muscles spasms, muscle strains, or muscle weakness
  18. Ligamentous strains or weakness in spinal joints
  19. Posterior facet syndrome, cervical facet imbrication, or cervical facet pain (facets are joints of the spine)
  20. Inflammation in spinal joints (facets), spinal nerves
  21. Tech neck or text neck
  22. Referred pain
  23. Cervical rib causing a cervical rib syndrome
  24. Temporomandibular joint dysfunction syndrome (Jaw pain)
  25. TOS. or Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

What Is The Best Treatment For Neck Pain?

There are various types of treatments available for people with neck pain. The best and most effective neck pain treatment is a comprehensive, holistic approach through evidence-based chiropractic combined with physiotherapy (physical therapy). Neck pain treatment through pain medication, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or a muscle relaxant may decrease your neck symptoms but fails when it comes to lasting relief.

Neck pain treatment in Kuala Lumpur with personalized physiotherapy

People with neck pain of chronic nature, or those caused by bulging discs or disc herniation, will need precision neck pain treatment that repairs the root causes. Moreover, patients with neuropathic pain and those with neurological deficits need care from clinical teams of chiropractors and physical therapists with a specialized set of skills through advanced methods of neck pain treatment that repair neurological deficits, neuropathic pains, and radicular symptoms of neck problems.

Contact Chiropractic Specialty Center® today to learn more about our holistic approach that combines chiropractic with physical therapy for people with neck pain, including those with neuropathic neck pain, radicular neck pain, or neck issues resulting from slipped discs, spinal canal, spinal column, or musculoskeletal pain.

What Is The Neck Pain Treatment At Home?

Neck Pain or cervicalgia is a ubiquitous condition impacting the neck (cervical spine). About 1/3 of us will experience neck pain at least once a year, which is more common in women. Your chances of experiencing neck pain increase with age; some describe their symptoms as:

  • Stiffness or discomfort when they move the neck or if they nod
  • Sharp, throbbing, or a dull pain that runs to the top of the shoulders, shoulder blade, or upper back
  • A stabbing-like pain when coughing, sneezing, while turning in bed, or with the movement of the head and neck
  • Burning sensation in the neck or upper back near the top of the shoulders
  • A feeling of increased sensitivity to touch.

Neck pain is treatable; the best way is to start at home. We have provided some of the best neck pain treatments that you can do at home below:

  1. Reduce stress & improve posture: You can also try to reduce your stress levels. Stress can cause muscle tension and stiffness, leading to neck pain. You can also try to minimize the time you spend sitting down. Sitting for long periods can stress your neck joints and spinal discs.
  2. Hot & cold packs: Heat or ice packs can help reduce swelling, including idiopathic neck pain (neck pain of unknown cause) or nonspecific neck pain.
  3. Resting: Temporarily stopping physical activity.
  4. Exercise: Do neck exercises and gentle stretches to strengthen your neck and shoulder muscles.
  5. Cervical pillow: Sleeping on a good cervical pillow (contoured pillow) will help keep your neck alignment during sleep.
  6. Cervical collar (neck brace): Cervical collar or a neck brace is suitable for whiplash patients and those with a cervical disc bulge or herniation.

If you followed the advice above and still have neck issues, you need to contact us. At Chiropractic Specialty Center®, we provide Malaysia’s best neck pain treatment. CSC was the first to incorporate a combined and integrative neck pain treatment in Kuala Lumpur that included physical therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, NSD Therapy® with chiropractic, lifestyle medication, and nutritional supplement in Malaysia. Get oil touch with us today to learn about the best neck pain treatment in KL without surgery or injections; we can help.

How Is Neck Pain Diagnosed?

At Chiropractic Specialty Center®, our doctor of chiropractic will assess your cervical spine (neck) thoroughly. Doctors diagnose neck pain with a physical exam and medical history. They will feel and move your neck to determine the integrity of your ligaments, muscles, spinal joints, and spinal discs.

A CSC chiropractor will also check your cervical nerve and spinal cord function by evaluating your reflexes and muscle strength. Our doctor will ask about previous neck injuries that might have caused whiplash, bulging disc, or a herniated disc. Moreover, they will ask about work or other activities that could affect your neck.

Man with neck pain illustrating spinal bones of the neck.

To diagnose the cause of the pain, our doctor may use imaging tests such as X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT). These tests can show damage and other issues in your neck’s bones and surrounding tissues, including your spinal discs, spinal cord, and spinal nerve.

Diagnostic testing or imaging aims to identify the root causes so they can be treated precisely when you start your neck pain treatment in Kuala Lumpur with us. Other tests our doctor may order include: electromyography, nerve conduction studies, or myelogram.

Neurologists, neurosurgeons, and orthopedic surgeons may recommend a nerve root block. But, our doctor of chiropractic will not send you for these tests as there are far too many side effects associated with tests through nerve blocks.

Here Are The Seven Reasons Why Your Neck Hurts?

If you have neck pain or experience frequent flareups, you need targeted neck pain treatment that repairs the root causes. The neck is the most critical part of the spine. Many different conditions can cause neck pain. Some of them include:

  • Aging: Our bodies degenerate or break down as we age. The neck joints become stiffer and less flexible due to spinal disc, spinal joint, muscle, or ligament degeneration resulting in loss of strength, mobility, and nerve function.
  • Poor posture: Poor posture is one of the main reasons people get neck pain, and it can impact anyone at any age. Sitting too long and hunching over keyboard/computer/cell phones are leading activities implicated in the development of poor posture.
  • Injury: A whiplash injury occurs when the head moves suddenly and forcefully backward or forwards. This causes the neck muscles to contract and pull the head back or forward. If the head is pulled back, the neck muscles stretch and tear, causing pain and soreness. If the head is pushed forward, the neck muscles tighten and pull the head forward, stretching the neck ligaments and disc. These injuries can affect the nerves and blood vessels in the neck, causing numbness and tingling.
  • Slipped discs: There are eight types of slipped discs (slip discs) that cause neck pain, including bulging, prolapse, protrusion, rupture, herniation, extrusion, fragmentation, and sequestration.
  • Clerical rib syndrome: The neck or cervical spine should not have any ribs. However, some will have a rib attached to their 7th cervical vertebrae. Ribs in the neck are the main culprit in developing cervical rid syndrome.
  • Excessive body weight: Obesity is a significant health issue that impacts all structures and cells, including your neck, as it weakens your core muscles and spinal muscles, including those that hold your head and neck properly.
  • Infections: Infections that cause neck pain are rare but do occur. Some examples include infections of your neck bones or spinal discs (osteomyelitis or septic discitis). Tuberculosis of the neck and meningitis are other infectious processes that cause neck pains.
  • Other health issues: Arthritis, cancers, and pathological growths: In rare cases, masses such as tumors, cysts, or bone spurs can cause neck pain.

What Is The Function Of The Spinal Disk & How Do They Slip, Bulge & Herniate In The Neck?

The three primary functions of the neck’s spinal disks are to connect the neck bones (cervical vertebrae), provide shock absorbance, and assist with head and neck movements and mobility. The spinal discs are the shock absorbers of the neck, highly specialized cartilaginous tissue with two main parts, the annular fibrosis and the nucleus pulposus.

The neck’s spinal discs are smaller than those in the lower back. The inner part (the nucleus pulposus) is a jelly-like substance, whereas the outer part, known as the annular fibrosis or the annular ligament, is sturdy and firm. Both parts of your spinal disk must remain healthy for spinal bones to move correctly without pain or stiffness.

A healthy disc will not slip, bulge, or herniate. As such, there must be some wear and tear (degenerative changes) for them to slip, bulge, protrude, or herniate. There are two main stages that the cervical disk goes through before it bugles, ruptures, or herniates:

  • Disc desiccation or dissected disc: A stage descriptive of loss of hydration or fluid content. A desiccated disc is a dry disc predisposed to degenerative disc disease.
  • Degenerative disc disease or degenerated disc: Degenerative disc disease is the second and final stage before a disc in your neck bulges, herniates, or slips through. Degenerated discs are smaller, worn out, dried up, and brittle discs predisposed to tears, herniates, protrudes, and bulges beyond their usual boundaries.

Are There Different Types Of Slipped Disks & What Is The Most Common Site For A Slip Disk In The Neck?

A slipped disc or slipped disks are simple terms patients use to refer to all spinal disc problems, including bulging and herniated discs. Slipped discs can occur at any of the neck’s six spinal discs. But, they are most common in the lower back and neck. The three most common sites for slipped disks in the neck:

  1. C4-C5 slipped disc
  2. C5-C5 slipped disc
  3. C6-C7 slipped disc

In total, there are eight types of slipped discs impacting the cervical spine (neck):

  1. Cervical Disc Bulge or a bulging cervical disk
  2. Cervical disc prolapsed or a prolapsed cervical disk
  3. Protruded cervical disc or cervical disk protrusion
  4. Ruptured cervical disc or cervical disk rupture
  5. Cervical disc herniation or herniated cervical disk
  6. Extruded cervical disc or cervical disk extrusion
  7. Fragmented cervical disc or cervical disk fragmentation
  8. Sequestered cervical disc or cervical disk sequestration

The good news is that a slipped disk (slip-disk) is treatable, repairable, and reversible without neck surgery or injections. CSC's neck pain treatment for disc bugle and disc herniations has helped thousands recover without surgery; contact us today for more info. 

All eight slipped discs, including the cervical disk bugle or the cervical disk herniation, compress the cervical spinal cord and the spinal nerve roots that exit the neck. NSD Therapy® is the best non-surgical slip-disc treatment for back and neck pain patients; contact CSC today for more information.

Intervertebral Disc Herniation Or "Slipped Disc" Fact Sheet

The intervertebral disc acts like a cushion between each vertebra in the spine. This allows you to bend forward without having to strain too hard. When there is a problem with the discs, it causes pain and stiffness. In some cases, it can even lead to paralysis.

In humans, the intervertebral discs are the shock absorbers between the individual vertebrae that make up the backbone. They act as cushions between the vertebrae and allow us to bend our bodies. However, they are also responsible for keeping the spine strong and flexible.

The intervertebral discs are composed of three distinct parts:

  1. Nucleus pulposus
  2. Annulus fibrosis
  3. Cartilage endplate

Get the best neck pain treatment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with combined neck-specific chiropractic methods with physiotherapy & rehabilitation for lasting relief today.

At CSC, we fix and repair the root causes of your neck pain without injections or surgery. If you are looking for the 1 and only system that targets and restores your neck without injections, opt for our combined integrative approach targeting neck problems with advanced methodologies and breakthrough therapy technologies holistically.

Causes Of Intervertebral Disc Damage

As we age, the connective tissue cushioning our spinal bones becomes less resilient and more susceptible to damage. This is because it dries out and loses some of its elasticity. When this happens, the spine starts to lose flexibility and mobility.

Illustration of the spine and the intervertebral discs.

What causes disc degeneration?: Several factors contribute to disc degeneration. These include genetics, lifestyle choices, and injuries. Some people inherit genetic predispositions toward developing disc problems. Lifestyle choices such as smoking, obesity, lack of exercise, and certain medical conditions can lead to disc issues. Injuries to the spine can cause tears or cracks in the outer layers of the disc, leading to leaks of the gelatinous substance inside.

How do you know if you have disc degeneration?: If you notice pain in your lower back, neck, or legs, it could mean a problem with one or more of your discs. You might feel stiffness, soreness, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness. Your doctor can perform tests to determine whether or not you have disc degeneration. They may recommend imaging studies such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or ultrasounds.

If you have been diagnosed with disc degeneration, your physician may prescribe medications to help relieve symptoms. Medication may help with symptoms but will not fix the disc. As such, you need focused neck pain treatment that targets the intervertebral disc. CSC offers the number 1 best approach for neck treatment; we can help. 

Risk Factors For Neck Pain Caused By A Bulge, Herniation & Other Forms Of Slip Disks

Herniated discs are one of the most common spine injuries, causing chronic, acute, or subacute neck pain. Individuals with neck pain should be aware of slipped discs as they can damage the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots. In some cases, the injury occurs because of trauma, while others occur spontaneously. Most people experience low back pain due to a herniated disc sometime during their lifetime. However, many people do not seek medical attention and don’t realize how serious it could be.

The good news is that most patients with a herniated disc recover entirely without surgery by getting herniated disc-specific neck pain treatment at our center. But even though you might feel better after neck pain treatment, you still must take steps to prevent future problems. The following risk factors can increase your chance of developing a herniated disc.

  • Family History
  • Being overweight
  • Being older (the discs become more rigid, dry, and weak with age) – This is especially true for those over 40
  • Performing strenuous activities frequently – Heavy weightlifting or manual labor
  • Participating in sports or hobbies that involve repetitive bending or lifting

What Is A Bulging Disc & How Common Is A Cervical Disc Bulge?

A cervical disc bugle is a scenario where one or more of your neck’s spinal disc swells up and gets pushed out of their normal position. The neck’s neck can slip or bugle forward (anteriorly), sideways (laterally), or backward (posteriorly). Posterior and lateral disk bulges are the most common types of disc bulges. Moreover, they are dangerous as they may occupy the spinal canal, compressing the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots of the neck.

Man with a cervical disc bugle causing neck pain

Some may not have any symptoms of a bulging disk But, for most, a bulging disk in the neck can interfere with the quality of life as it may cause acute, subacute, or chronic neck pain. Here are common symptoms associated with a cervical disc bulge:

  • Neck discomfort, stiffness, or pain
  • Painful upper back or shoulder blade
  • Radicular signs impacting the shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, and fingers
  • Shoulder pain or a sore arm
  • Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the arms and hands
  • Weakness in the arms or hands
  • Headaches, migraines, dizziness, or vertigo

MRI assessment of the neck provides the best diagnostic accuracy regarding a disc bulge in the neck, neuropathic neck disorders, or non-specific neck pain. Accurate diagnosis is the first step in recovery from all eight types of slipped disks. Get in touch with CSC in KL to learn more about our neck pain treatment for bulging discs, protruded, and herniated discs; we can help!

What Is A Herniated Disc & How Common Is A Cervical Disc Herniation?

A cervical disc herniation is more problematic than a disc bugle. Herniations often co-occur with spinal disc tears. Larger disc herniations are more severe as they can compress and even obliterate part of the spinal cord, leading to quadriplegia or complete paralysis. Severe disc herniations are often referred to as extruded discs or fragmented discs. However, the likelihood of it causing total paralysis is doubtful. Disc herniation symptoms in the neck are similar to what we covered in the cervical disc bugle section above.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is crucial for diagnostic accuracy because there are minute differences between disc herniations compared to bugles, protrusion, and prolapses. Moreover, these minor differences play a critical role in the type of neck treatment you get.

Recovery from a cervical disc herniation (herniated disk in the neck) requires the utmost attention to detail, including:

  • Location of disc herniation
  • The severity of slippage or herniation
  • Compressive effects on the spinal cord or spinal nerves
  • Number of neck segments with slip disks or disc herniations
  • Presence of arthritis, arthritic or degenerative facet joints (facet joint degeneration)
  • Patient’s age and overall well-being
  • Patients’ daily activities and level of fitness

Chiropractic Specialty Center® in KL has successfully treated thousands of cervical disc herniations without corticosteroid injections, muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, or spine surgery; visit us today for holistic non-surgical neck treatment for all types of slipped disks, including the cervical disk herniation.

Treatment Options For Patients With Neck Pain In Malaysia

Neck pain can interfere significantly with your daily activities and reduce your overall quality of life if not treated. Treatment options for neck pain vary depending on the cause. Neck pain can be treated with standard therapies, including:

  • Over-the-counter medication & prescription drugs: Medicines may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants to ease pain and swelling. Or they can consist of prescription drugs such as narcotic painkillers like morphine or oxycodone.
  • Chiropractic: Chiropractic care is one of the safest and most effective means of treating neck pain (cervical pain or cervicalgia). Chiropractors are well-educated doctors of chiropractic and have been treating neck pain for over 130 years. Try getting your chiropractic treatment from clinics offering physical therapy and physiotherapy for the best results. Chiropractic with physical therapy, rehabilitation, and physiotherapy gives neck pain sufferers the best-lasting relief.
  • Physical therapy: Physical therapy relates to activities, exercises, and stretching programs that strengthen your cervical spine in hopes of stabilizing it. Physical therapy activities and treatment can be provided by your doctor of chiropractic, a physical therapist, or a certified physiotherapist.
  • Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy is the art of prescribing the proper treatment for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Physiotherapy can be manual or through modalities (therapy machines). We may provide neck pain sufferers with electrotherapy, ultrasound therapy, high-intensity laser therapy, shockwave therapy, cryotherapy, spinal traction, or spinal decompression therapy, depending on the type and severity of their neck symptoms.
  • NSD Therapy®:NSD Therapy® for the neck is an integrative method that combines chiropractic, physiotherapy therapy, rehabilitation, proper nutrition, and physiotherapy through advanced evidence-based methodologies in neck treatment with specialized medical devices and therapeutic technologies.
  • Corticosteroid injections: Spine specialists such as neurosurgeons or orthopedic surgeons may prescribe a corticosteroid injection or epidural injections. Steroid shots near the nerve roots relieve pain and inflammation. However, it would be best to be very careful regarding any steroid injection. You should only proceed with caution after exhausting your physical therapy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic sessions, as corticosteroid injections may cause irreparable damage to your neck, heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver.
  • Neck surgery: neck surgery is the last option. Orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons recommend neck surgery when a conservative course of care is ineffective. Neurosurgeons are a better option if you need neck surgery. However, we recommend exhausting your conservative approach before seeking surgical intervention.

When Should You Call Us For Your Personalized Neck Pain Treatment?

Contact your doctor or  CSC's chiropractors if you have neck pain that interferes with work or other daily activities. Your doctor may prescribe medication, but at CSC, we will plan a holistic neck pain treatment program that targets the causes of your neck issues for lasting relief.

We have listed scenarios where you should get in touch with us right away:

  • Develops after having an accident.
  • Your neck pain accompanies or presents with numbness or tingling in the arms, shoulders, or legs.
  • Neck pain combines with weakness in the arms or legs or a situation where you lose coordination in the arms or legs.
  • Includes headache, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.
  • Involves loss of bowel or bladder control.
  • If you get out of bed and notice a stiff neck.
  • Occurs with chills, fever, or unexplained weight loss.
  • Continuous or constant cervicalgia that says the same when resting or moving.
  • Does not respond to over-the-counter medications.
  • It does not lessen after one week.

Our expert clinical team of chiropractors and physiotherapists provides the most holistic neck pain treatment in Kuala Lumpur. CSC's neck pain treatment includes manual and therapy device treatments that fix and repairs the root cause of your cervicalgia so you can return to your favorite activities without limitations. Get your cervicalgia spine treated by the combined efforts of Malaysia's award-winning chiropractors and physiotherapists today by calling us.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain can result from an acute condition or chronic issues. Acute neck pain is descriptive of a sudden onset neck issue resulting from the injury. Chronic neck pain describes long-standing neck problems that may or may not have been problems that surface later in life. Acute and chronic neck pain are treatable and recoverable without injections or surgery.

In General, there are nine different types of neck pain encasing both the acute and chronic types:

  1. Whiplash to the cervical spine
  2. Ligamentous neck pain
  3. Neck pain from weak muscle tone
  4. Muscle spasms & excessive muscle tensions that cause discomfort and stiffness
  5. Painful neck due to degenerative changes
  6. Neck pain from slipped discs (bulging, prolapsed, protruded, ruptured, herniated, and extruded discs)
  7. Neck issues caused by spondylosis (cervical spondylosis)
  8. Spondylolisthesis & painful neck
  9. Stiff and sore neck from arthritis
  10. Referred neck pain

What Are The Common Causes Of A Chronic Neck Pain?

Chronic neck pain is a significant problem resulting from injuries to the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, and discs). Common soft tissue disorders that cause chronic neck pain include:

  • Abnormalities in the deep muscles of the neck
  • An unstable neck due to weakness of the capsular ligament
  • Spinal disc degeneration
  • Slipped discs such as a bulge, herniation, or protrusion

According to a report in the Journal of Manual Therapy, superficial and deep muscles of the neck is a source of chronic neck pain. Researchers have discovered that chronic neck pain patients’ neck muscles are slower in reaction (contraction) for them to mobilize. The slower rate of contraction results from underlying nerve damage resulting from impingements.

Women in front of computer with neck pain

Problematic neck joints (cervical facet syndrome), slipped discs (bulging discs or herniated discs),  and bone spurs (arthritis) are common causes of nerve impingements in the neck that causes chronic muscle rigidity (chronic muscle spasms).

Cervical instability is when the neck becomes unstable, leading to chronic neck pain. Another common cause of chronic neck pain is a problematic capsular ligament. The neck joints (cervical facets) are bound together by the capsular ligament––the central stabilizing soft tissue for the neck joints. Any weakness or laxity of the capsular ligament results in cervical instability, causing the neck bones to become excessively mobile as the neck joints become loose.

Loosely held neck joints impact the neck’s spinal discs, causing them to degenerate, bulge, herniate, or become arthritic. Arthritic changes (bone spurs), bulging discs, and disc herniation are the leading cause of nerve impingements that cause sensory-motor deficits, neck stiffness, neck pain, numbness, or tingling down the arms.

How Serious In Neck Pain & Why You Need Neck Pain Treatment?

The beck is the most cubical part of your spinal column. Neck pain patients, including those with a history of neck pain, must realize the complexities of the neck as it relates to the spinal column, the spinal canal, the spinal cord, and spinal nerve roots.

First off, anytime you have neck pain, it's a big deal, affecting nearly half of us during our lifetimes. Second, the root cause is tough to diagnose; most doctors miss diagnosing the actual cause. Third, simple neck problems (mild neck issues) get better over time, but there are instances where neck pain worsens, making them very dangerous.

Finally, it can be treated without neck surgery or injections if you get personalized treatment from top-rated non-surgical clinics. Please trust us; CSC has the expertise, advanced neck pain treatment methodology, specialized skill sets, advanced chiropractic treatment techniques, and therapy devices or technologies specific to the neck.

The neck is a complex composed of many parts, including bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, blood vessels, and nerves. Various conditions can cause neck pain, including injury, arthritis, infection, tumor4s, herniated discs, spinal cord injuries, degenerative changes, and muscle strain.

The human neck consists of seven bones called cervical vertebrae, stacked in a row to support your head, protect the spinal cord, and provide mobility, helping you can scan your surroundings. In short, your neck is the main structure that connects the brain (nervous system) to the rest of your body.

What Are The Contributing Factors In The Development Of A Painful Neck?

Most people experience neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain can range from mild discomfort to severe or debilitating neck pain. Several factors contribute to neck pain, including poor posture while sitting, spending too much time looking down at a screen, and sleeping wrong. Some people even wake up feeling stiff because of improper pillow support. But one thing you can change about your sleep habits is where you lay your head at night.

Most will have some form of injury, including a whiplash-like traumatic event. Whiplash is a common contributing factor for many. It occurs with a sudden, rapid, or fast snapping motion involving the head and neck, often experienced in rear-end accidents or during athletic activity.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults sleep anywhere from seven to eight hours per night. About half of us spend our nights lying on our backs, while the rest lie on either side or face up. If you’re prone to tossing and turning, it can lead to neck pain. So try switching out your pillow every few months. Or better yet, invest in a good neck pillow designed for sleeping.

Finding your neck pain’s contributing factor is vital as it will help future flare-ups. CSC’s clinical team of chiropractors and physiotherapists will spend a great deal of time during your session identifying them and educating you on how to eliminate the contributing factors.

Signs & Symptoms Of Neck Problems & When Should you See A Doctor?

As we have discussed, neck pain is a prevalent condition. However, if you were to ask a group of ten people suffering from neck pain to describe their symptoms, chances are you would get ten vastly different descriptions of their condition. Such is the reality of neck pain; it manifests differently for people, sometimes even when the underlying anatomical issues are the same.

Neck pain consultation at CSC in Kuala Lumpur

Hidden neck problems (idiopathic neck pain) are more problematic than known neck issues as they are often overlooked and neglected. Also, there are situations where neck problems may not manifest themselves with neck pain, stiffness or discomfort. As such, we deem it necessary to expand and elaborate on the signs & symptoms of neck problems. Our list below will familiarize you with common signs or symptoms of neck problems and their respective level of complexity to help you find the best medical care possible for your neck:

  1. Pain and discomfort at the shoulder blades or between the shoulder blades
  2. Burning or tingling sensations in your upper back or chest
  3. Pricking, tingling, or numbness at the top of the shoulder, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, or fingers
  4. Headaches & migraines
  5. Vertigo & dizziness
  6. Ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears

If you have any of the signs mentioned above & symptoms, you should see our doctor of chiropractic right away for a thorough assessment. If your neck pain persists longer than 48 hours, seek medical attention to fix and repair the root causes before progressing to the degenerative or arthritic stage, where joints, spinal discs, spinal cord, or nerves get damaged.

Why Is The Neck So Import To Your Life & wellbeing?

The spinal canal originates in the upper neck (below the skull) and ends in the tailbone. The spinal canal is housed within the spinal column and is the most crucial part of the spinal canal in the cervical spine. The spinal column, spinal canal, spinal cord, and spinal nerve roots that exit the neck control vital organs and everyday activities.

A healthy neck helps with quality of life and the maintenance of life-sustaining organs. If your neck doesn’t work correctly, it can cause problems throughout your entire body. So how does your neck do its job?

Your neck supports your head. It’s like a pillar holding up a building. Think about it. You wouldn’t want your house to fall because one of those pillars broke. However, the most crucial function of the neck is its role as a passage of communication between your brain and the rest of your body. All the nerves from the skull base down to your toes pass through the neck; therefore, the neck is the most critical life-sustaining body part.

And just like a building, your neck needs to hold up your whole body. It helps keep your head upright and your shoulders level with your hips. Without it, you couldn’t stand straight without wobbling around.

What Is Whiplash Injury?

Whiplash is caused by sudden acceleration/deceleration forces applied to the head and neck region. The most common causes of acceleration/deceleration injuries (whiplash injuries) are those experienced in automobile and motorcycle accidents. Whiplash neck injuries can also occur during a slip and fall or sports injuries.

Illustration of damage to the neck during whiplash injury

An acceleration/deceleration injury causes damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, spinal joints (facet joints), spinal discs, spinal nerves, and spinal cord of the neck. What makes whiplash dangerous is that it can compress the spinal nerves and blood vessels that run through the neck.

Whiplash from a motor vehicle accident or a sports injury is a common cause of neck pain. The neck pain diagnosis related to a whiplash injury depends on the patient’s history, mechanism of injury, and physical exam. However, a whiplash injury is a complex condition to diagnose. In most instances, the full effects of your whiplash may not be fully apparent until six months after injury.

What makes whiplash challenging to diagnose is that it consistently results in hidden injuries that may not be detectable soon after the accident. Don't live with the pain of whiplash; let our team help. We offer the No. 1 best whiplash treatment in Malaysia. 

What Are The Common Symptoms Of Whiplash?

In most cassettes, the stiffness and pain you feel right after whiplash dissipates or goes away entirely after a few days. However, the resolved stiffness, aches, and pains that went away may resurface weeks, months, or years later—the reason why a whiplash injury results in future neck aches, pains, or disability. In short, even the neck’s mildest whiplash injuries require attention to avoid future problems. Common symptoms of whiplash include:

  1. Stiff neck or painful neck
  2. Shoulder pain
  3. Pain between shoulder blades
  4. Radicular pain or symptoms in the arms
  5. Headaches, migraines, dizziness & vertigo
  6. Neuropathic pains & symptoms (pain, numbness, brining, or tingling sensation in arms or upper back)
  7. Muscle pain & muscle spasms
  8. Pain with movement

If you have been injured through a whiplash injury, you need a thorough examination of your neck, upper back, base of skulls, and jaws. Chiropractic Specialty Center® provides the most compressive assessment for neck injuries, including sports-related and whiplash damages; contact us today. Our director, Dr. Yama (an American chiropractor), has over 26 years of experience treating neck injuries, including whiplash; call us today for the best whiplash treatment in Malaysia. 

What Are The Dos & Don’ts Of Whiplash Injury?

If you have a whiplash injury, you must be aware of the dos & don’ts. Doing the right things helps your recovery and prevents premature degenerative changes. To recover fully and to avoid future flare-ups, we have provided some of the dos and don’ts when it comes to whiplash injuries below:

  1. Do rest and take it easy even with minor accidents
  2. Do ice your neck following a whiplash injury. Ice for 10-15 minutes 3 times a day to reduce swelling
  3. See an expert in whiplash treatment regardless of the severity of your accident to address any hidden injury not seen through regular check-ups. We at CSC provide the best whiplash assessment and treatment.
  4. Don’t use hot packs or any other therapy that provides heat unless it is through highly specialized therapeutic devices, such as high-intensity laser therapy, where you may feel a bit of warming.
  5. Don’t perform any exercises or stretching even if they are given to you by physiotherapists or specialists. Exercise for the neck is good, but it must be incorporated when the damage is all healed. Exercising or stretching too soon after whiplash can cause more damage.
  6. Don’t get neck pain treatment or whiplash therapy that involves bending or twisting your head and neck.

Avoid cell phone use as much as possible. Bending the neck forward puts enormous stress on ligaments, muscles, joints, and spinal discs. Therefore, whiplash patients should try their best to avoid them.

Can Whiplash Cause Stiffness, Discomfort & Neck Pain Months Or Years Later?

Yes, whiplash can cause pain months or years late! In most instances, the pain that went away within a few days of the whiplash returns. If you start to recover and then notice neck stiffness or pain that gradually builds months or years after a car accident, you should get a professional highly knowledgeable about whiplash injuries to thoroughly assess your neck and rule out the spinal cord, spinal nerve, spinal disc, and joint injuries before it becomes a life-altering condition.

Whiplash injuries that cause neck pain need specialized neck pain treatment for a whiplash injury of the neck. Typical neck pain treatment offered in competing centers will fail to fix or repair the injuries of whiplash as the majority of centers lack highly specialized therapy devices and technologies needed for whiplash treatment of the neck or back; contact us to learn more about the best holistic measure rated as No. 1 in neck pain treatment today.

If you have injured your neck during a slip and fall, sports injury, or whiplash, you should rest and use ice packs until your assessment at our center. Icing your neck helps reduce swelling and inflammatory processes. Use a good quality ice pack on your neck every 2 hours for 10-15 minutes. You can visit your GP (medical provider) for pain medication such as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) to help with pain and inflammation.

What Is Tech Neck & Is It Different From Text Neck?

Tech neck and text neck describe known activities that cause neck pain. If you have neck discomfort, stiffness, or pain and spend many hours hunched over your computer, cell phones, or handheld devices, that cause of your neck problems is likely due to “text neck” or “tech neck.”

Text neck is the older term coined by an American chiropractor Dr. Dean L. Fishman. While the original word “text neck” was more descriptive of neck issues relating to handheld devices such as gaining units or cell phones, tech is a more global term describing similar scenarios resulting from the use of computers, laptops, mobile phones, and other handheld devices.

The text or tech neck problem isn’t just limited to millennials. One in five parents surveyed admitted to having text necks. And while many of us know that sitting hunched over our phones or computer is terrible for our backs, necks and shoulders, we often don’t realize what it’s doing to our brains.

A recent study published in the Journal NeuroImage found that looking at smartphones for long periods causes changes in brain activity. Researchers noted that the subjects experienced no cognitive benefits from looking at the images. Instead, they reported feeling tired and distracted. In addition, researchers linked excessive phone use to an addiction resulting in:

  • Inability to maintain concentration
  • Difficulty with interpersonal relationship
  • Emotional vulnerability
  • Low levels of self-esteem

Computers, Cell Phones & Handled Devices & Your Neck

Tech or text neck isn't just because you spent too much time staring down at your laptop's screen or cell phone. The real issue with a text or tech neck is the strain you put on your neck's muscles.

Text neck in a women with neck and shoulder pain while using cell phone

Suppose your occupation, daily habits, or activities require computers, cell phones, and handled devices. Patients with acute neck pain and chronic neck issues must be mindful of tech and text necks' impact. In that case, you should use proper posture to avoid damaging your spinal joints, discs, and neck nerves.

When you use your hands and arms to hold your phone, or while using the keypads or boards of desktops, laptops, tablets, or phones, you're putting stress muscles that support your neck as well as the muscles of your upper back, chest, and shoulders. To conclude, slouching over your keyboard or phone puts extra pressure on the joints of your neck, upper back, and shoulders causing them to degenerate and wear out prematurely.

Whom Should You See For Your Neck Pain Treatment In Malaysia?

Chiropractic Specialty Center® (CSC) offers the best neck pain treatment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our clinical team of chiropractors and physical therapists has the specialized skills, knowledge, and breakthrough neck therapy devices to help you recover without pain medication, muscle relaxants, steroid injections, or neck surgery. We have listed some of the therapies and services we routinely perform during neck pain treatment in KL:

  • Chiropractic treatment or adjustment for precise cervical manipulation
  • Physiotherapy combined with physical therapy through manual soft tissue methods and manipulations for the cervical and thoracic spine, including their respective soft tissues.
  • Ultrasound therapy
  • Electrotherapy & IFT (Interferential Current Therapy)
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve stimulation therapy or TENS therapy
  • Nerve block
  • High-Intensity Laser Therapy
  • ESWT Shockwave Or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
  • Therapy®
  • Spinal decompression therapy through the RxDecom®
  • Cervical traction therapy by DTS spinal decompression therapy
  • Neck rehabilitation, exercises, and stretches to improve strength, mobility, and function
  • Advice on nutritional supplements & lifestyle modifications for lasting relief

Contact us if you or someone you know lives with neck pain, stiffens, or discomfort; we are the leading non-surgical neck treatment center in Malaysia. The first CSC was launched in 2007, and we have seven centers in greater Kuala Lumpur providing award-winning neck pain treatment without injections or surgery; contact us today.

CSC's approach to neck pain treatment is unmatched. Our methods and technologies provide the care you need for faster recovery. Contact CSC for more information on neck pain causes and the best neck pain treatment that repairs root causes without injections or neck surgery; we can help. Get the best and most efficient neck care today.