Neck Pain Support Blog

Cervical Neck Collars Are Not the Best Treatment for Whiplash, according to Study

Whiplash often occurs as a result of a motor vehicle accident that involves a sudden extension and flexion. Most whiplash victims recover in a few months, but many report recurring pain a year or more later.

A recent 7 year study¹ analyzed the best methods of treating whiplash symptoms.

Dr. Linda Carroll, from the University of Alberta in Canada showed that the showed traditional neck collars were unlikely to help and that staying active was crucial.

"About one to two people in 20 will find their pain disabling," Dr Carroll said.

Another Study² showed that although, cervical collars are a seemingly benign intervention, they can have adverse effects, especially when used for longer periods of time. It is feared that a long period of immobilization, can result in atrophy-related secondary damage.

"The important thing to do is once you've ruled out serious pathology, like fractures and dislocations, the thing to do is get your neck moving as soon as possible; rest isn't a good thing."

Dr. Carrol stated that neck collars both hard and soft should not be used. She also stated that the neck should be moved.

Source:

1. Course and Prognostic Factors for Neck Pain in Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD): Results of the Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders.Spine Journal February 2008
2. When should a cervical collar be used to treat neck pain? Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine June 2008

Additional Reading Resources:

• Part I: Can whiplash cause shoulder pain?
• Part II: How does Whiplash Occur?
• Part III: What Symptoms are associated with a whiplash type injury ?
• Part IV: Reducing Whiplash Injuries by 90% by changing just one thing in your car

Visit Arc4life.com for your Pain Relief Products like cervical neck pillows, cervical traction units, products for your lower back and more. Read about how to choose the best neck pillow, how to remedy and stiff neck and how to do neck exercises.

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How to Treat Neck Pain during Pregnancy

Today's Post comes from a Yahoo Answers- Q: I am 22 weeks pregnant with severe neck pain- Last Saturday night I slept very uncomfortably trying to get all my pillows just right. Ever since then I have had incredible neck pain. It hurts every time I move my neck around. It is even worse at night while I try and sleep my neck stiffens up and when I go to turn my neck kills and it makes me want to cry. I am not sure if this is pregnancy related or if I just have torn a ligament in my neck and need to wait it out. Anyone have this problem?

A: When you are pregnant your body is completely different with added hormones, weight and an overall feeling that you are not able to get comfortable, especially at night. Plus you have to be extra careful with what medications you take. It appears that you have strained your neck muscles. So here are a few suggestions for you on how to get some neck pain relief while pregnant:

1) Don't sleep with so many pillows- you want to have one good cervical support neck pillow. One that will make sure that your head and neck are properly aligned while sleeping. Sleeping with too many pillow can create forward head posture which puts a ton of pressure on the neck muscles and nerves- which means neck pain, stiff neck and overall decrease in neck range of motion. Check out the Tri Core Support Neck Pillow or the Linear Gravity Cervical Support Neck Pillow

2) Because you are pregnant you want to make sure you are as comfortable as possible- take two pillows and place them under your knees- this will take pressure off the lower back when you are sleeping on your back. Incidentally, sleeping on your back during pregnancy is not recommended- especially during the later months. Avoiding it all together is a good idea because the extra weight of the uterus lies on the spine, muscles, intestines, blood vessels etc. This can be the cause of aches and pains, reducing the circulation of blood to you and your baby. Furthermore, it can cause a decrease in blood pressure ( for some it can cause an increase as well) causing dizziness. If you are a side sleeper, then you can put pillows under in between your knees. ** According to Sleep Expert, Donna Arand from BabyCenter.Com sleeping on your left side is recommended during pregnancy. It benefits the baby's blood flow allowing nutrients to get to the placenta. It also aids in helping your kidneys eliminate waste products efficiently  and fluids from your body, reducing swelling in your ankles, feet and hands. To assist in sleeping on your left side, place pillows behind your back and and between your legs for ultimate comfort.

3) Ice your neck during the day- this will help to decrease inflammation, swelling and pain in the neck and best of all, it will provide an analgesic effect. Use a 6x20 ice pack for maximum pain relief in the neck and upper back.

4) In the morning, do neck stretching exercises- The most important thing is not to do these to the point of pain, only to the point of feeling a stretch in your neck. You will notice that as you do these everyday, your range of motion will increase and the muscles in your neck will loosen up. You can also do them in the hot shower- this can be very relaxing and it will give you tremendous pain relief.

4) Visit your chiropractor for neck pain- they have many effective techniques such as cervical adjustments, gentle mobilization and neck exercises that they can do to ease your neck pain. All without the use of medications or side effects. Use google to find a chiropractic office close to you or ask around for a referral - You can also search for a chiropractor on the internet

Additional Resources:

• 6 Ways to Improve your neck posture
• Fast and Easy Neck Stretches for Pain Relief
• How to Use the Traction Side of the Cervical Linear Traction Neck Pillow for Maximum Pain Relief and Better Sleep
• Dr.Bellingers Down Loadable E-Book: The Neck Pain Relief Kit
• Neck Pain resulting from a C5, C6, C7 or C8 Radiculopathy

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Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.
 
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Severe Neck Pain From a Herniated Disc: What are Your Treatment Options?

You have neck pain that radiates into your right arm causing weakness at the same time. A Cervical MRI shows that there is a herniated disc at C4-C5 level. There are many treatments beside neck surgery available to you:

1. Ice Therapy For immediate pain relief, ice should be applied to the neck and upper back area. The ice pack should be placed over the area of disc herniation (in this case C4-5), not over the area of severe pain. It is important to apply the ice for 30 minutes to allow for penetration of the cold therapy into the area of the herniation. Wait one hour and then re apply the ice pack for another 30 minutes. Ice helps to decrease inflammation and gives you pain relief.
   
   
2. Muscle Spasm Therapy A T.E.N.S unit also works well, although the pain relief may be temporary- Tens works by blocking pain signals. You also use an analgesic gel called Biofreeze which works extremely well for muscle spasm and soreness in the neck.
   
   
3. Chiropractic treatment is very important for a disc herniation: A chiropractor can determine if there is a misalignment in the cervical spine and correct that with manual manipulation and gentle mobilization techniques. Numerous studies have shown that chiropractic manipulation is a safe and effective treatment for herniated disc. BenEliyahu ^1,2 demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of including manipulation in the treatment of cervical radiculopathy caused by a herniated disc. He studied 27 patients (11 had a cervical radiculopathy). The patients were treated with manipulation, traction, therapeutic modalities, ice and home exercise. 22 of the 27 patients had a good outcome. 9 out of the 11 cervical patients were able to return to their normal occupations. Most importantly it was noticed that there were no side effects.
   
   
4. Cervical Traction is another therapy that can be used to treat herniated disc in the neck. A study that was completed by Zylbergold ³ that examined 3 types of traction in patients. Static, intermittent, and manual traction were compared to no traction. The study revealed that all patients had relief of symptoms but the intermittent traction group had significant results in terms of decreased pain and increased range of motion in the cervical spine. There are many traction units available on the market today. The gold standard for neck traction is the Pronex Pnuematic traction unit. This traction unit comes in 3 sizes, is very comfortable to use and gives traction in the anterior (front part) and posterior part (back part) of the disc. The Pronex has one section that stabilizes the occiput, while the other exerts counterforce against a patient's shoulders. The special design of the Pronex supports the natural curvature of the cervical spine during treatment. There is a single-hand pump inflation – which allows you to control the Pronex traction device easily while maintaining muscle relaxation during treatment. Another positive is that Pronex will not aggravate or put pressure on the on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
   
   
5. Cervical Support Neck Pillow A good cervical support neck pillow will also help patients who experience pain due to a herniated disc. The Cervical Traction neck pillow is a traction pillow that not only does traction in the neck but also gives good cervical support. This neck pillow allows its users to have a proper c-curve when sleeping- taking pressure off of the nerves and making sure your head and neck are properly aligned while sleeping.
   
   
6. Non Surgical Spinal Decompression There is a newer treatment called non surgical spinal decompression for the cervical spine that might be beneficial if you are a candidate. If you google "Drx9000C" you may be able to find a doctor near you. This treatment is safe and effective for patients who suffer from disc herniations. It is very important that you have an exam (orthopedic +neurological) to see if you are a candidate. You Dr will also look at your MRI's to see what level is affected. The treatment is called Non surgical spinal decompression and most often it is offered in a chiropractor’s office. Unfortunately the treatment is not covered by most insurance companies. Each session can run about $170-$225 dollars depending on the office and location in the United States. Most people go for about 20 sessions- but each case is different. Treatment is often following by ice therapy and electrical stimulation. *** note that this is available for disc herniations in the lower back + Neck.
   
   
7. Pain Medications and Pain Management may provide a temporary relief for severe neck pain but also introduce new side effects that must be monitored by your Doctor. I am not a big favor of pain management because you are just treating the symptoms, not the cause of the disc herniation. Yes, some people get relief, but it means you are putting a lot of meds into your body and for how long will you have pain management and what will be the side effects?
   
   
8. Surgery- Only in extreme cases should surgery be considered. Surgery may be an option if severe neurological deficits occur, persistent pain, bowel or bladder dysfunction occur or severe motor weakness.** Always seek conservative non surgical treatment options before thinking about surgery as an option for treatment.

Sources:

1. BenEliyahu DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: Study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniation. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics ; 1996;19(9):597-606
   
   
2. BenEliyahu DJ. Chiropractic management and manipulative therapy for MRI documented cervical disk herniationJournal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1994; 17(3):177-185
   
   
3. Zylbergold RS, Piper MC. Cervical spine disorders: A Comparison of three types of traction. Spine 1985; 10(10):867-871

Additional Reading Resources:

• Part III: The Causes of Severe Neck Pain Resulting from a Cervical Radiculopathy
• Part II: Neck Pain resulting from a C5, C6, C7, or C8 Radiculopathy
• Part I: Are Your Severe Neck Pain Symptoms the Result of a Cervical Radiculopathy?
• How to End Neck Pain By Doing Cervical Traction At Home - Learn Step by Step instructions how to use the Pronex Cervical Traction Neck Unit at Home
• How Does a T.E.N.S Unit Work for Pain Relief
• Hot and Cold Therapy for your Neck Pain Symptoms
• Easy Pain Relief at Home: Using Hot and Cold- A Blog Post about how to treat pain at home with ice or heat; when to use each.

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.


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Motrin Causes Pain for Moms After Unfair Protrayal in Ad

Okay so we all know that being a mother in today’s society is a rewarding experience, but sometimes we can all have challenges- but do want to be portrayed as having pain after carrying our kids around in a sling, on our hips or on our backs ? And can we only be official Moms if we carry our kids around ? Not according to some mothers!

Johnson and Johnson recently created an online Motrin ad where they portrayed Mothers having neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain as a result of carrying their children around in various ways.

Here are some excerpts from the Motrin Ad: “Wearing your baby seems to be in fashion. I mean in theory it’s a great idea…there’s the front baby carrier, the sling, the schwing, the pouch, go hands free ! Supposedly it’s a real bonding experience…. These things put a ton of stress on, your back, your neck, your shoulders…Plus it totally makes me look like an official mom, so if I look tired and crazy, people will understand why….”

Motrin is an over the counter pain medication that is used by many to relieve pain in the neck and the lower back.

Perhaps the drug company should have been more sensitive- Many mothers who are consumers were offended by the ad because they stated that it trivialized women's pain and the method of carrying babies.

"It was meant to engender sympathy and appreciation for all that parents do for their kids, but did so through an attempt at humor that missed the mark and many moms found offensive," wrote Kathy Widmer, vice president of marketing, McNeil Consumer Healthcare.

The company pulled the ad from the Motrin Web site and print magazines and apologized on its consumer blog. Probably a wise idea.

Well, Motrin may be one easy way to deal with pain symptoms in the neck and lower back - but there are so many natural pain relief methods available to women without side effects. I want to talk about a few neck pain relief tips, that don’t involve Motrin ! 

• Neck Stretches can really help to loosen up muscles in the neck and upper back. Neck Exercises specifically stretching will help to increase range of motion and prevent further injury. When you carrying your child in a sling,it can create a forward head posture which puts a lot of pressure on your neck and upper back. Strengthening exercises are important as well to build strong muscles and improve posture.
  
• If you do notice pain after carrying your child, use ice on your neck and upper back for about 10-15 minutes- this helps to decrease pain and reduce inflammation. Best of all, it provides a soothing analgesic effect. Don’t forget to wrap your ice pack in a towel before doing this.
  
• Sleep on a good cervical pillow at night- it will ensure that your head and neck are properly aligned while sleeping. Sleep is a very important part of our lives- especially when taking care of kids. Sleep is when our body heals and get rejuvenated- so make the most out of it.

Additional Resources:

• Controversy causing Ad by Motrin about Moms and Back Pain- Watch the Motrin Ad on You Tube Ad
  
• Headache remedies
  
• Stiff Neck Remedies: All Natural- Causes, Symptoms, Remedies and Support for Patients suffering from a Stiff Neck

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of the Natural Pain Relief Prodcuts for the Neck and Lower Back.

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Source: The Wall Street Journal: - J&J Pulls Online Motrin Ad After Social-Media Backlash
Photo Source- You Tube Motrin Ad

The Causes of Severe Neck Pain Resulting from a Cervical Radiculopathy

Depending on the cervical nerve root that is affected in a radiculopathy, a patient will notice neck pain that radiates into a certain area, weakness in certain muscles, or other neurological deficits. What causes irritation or compression to the cervical nerve roots in the first place? Well there are three causes that I am going to discuss today:

• The most common cause of a cervical radiculopathy is a herniated disc in the neck. This is more common in younger people. In between the bones of the cervical spine are cervical discs- they act like sponges. Sometimes with a whiplash injury or trauma t o the neck, this sponge material can move out of place putting pressure on nerves. This type of injury can occur as a result of a sudden trauma that puts extra pressure on the disc, such a whiplash type injury following a motor vehicle accident. Some patients may even state that their pain started after a seemingly simple event like a violent sneeze to turning to look around or they have no idea how it started.
  Although the process of a how cervical disc herniation develops has not been studied as extensively as it has been in the lower back, there are some theories similar to the lumbar spine.
  As a result of recurring flexion of the head (bringing the chin to the chest), loading and rotational strains, little tears can develop in the outside ring of the disc (the annulus fibrosus). Over time, these tears can become larger (radial tears) and may go from the inside of the disc to the outside of the disc. The material inside the disc can then travel through these tears and ultimately press on the sensitive cervical nerves. If the movement of the disc material occurs gradually the whole process can occur without the patient feeling anything. When the tear becomes nearly complete, it may only require a mild force to break through the remaining outside fibers and allow the nuclear material to enter the canal and thus cause a radiculopathy. This is the reason why some people with severe neck pain may note that their pain began after a seemingly unsuspecting event like turning their head to check their blind spot. The nerve root affected will be determined by the disc level involved. The most commonly involved discs are C5-6 and C6-7.
  
  
• The second most common is degeneration of the cervical spine. This is also called lateral canal stenosis, and cervical spondylosis. Changes occur to the bone that involves bony outgrowths, spurs, and certain ligaments swell and englarge. In most cases this may not cause symptoms right away. But if spurs extend into the canal where nerve roots sit, they can cause more irritation and compression, resulting in cervical radiculopathy. If there is a misalignment in the cervical spine at the same level, it can cause a decrease in range of motion which puts further pressure on the nerve root. This degeneration in the cervical spine often occurs in patients who are older.
  
  
• A lesser common cause of radiculopathy, although just as serious, is infection and certain types of cancer.
  In the next blog post we will effective treatment options for a cervical radiculopathy
  
  
  
  Additional Reading Resources:
  
  
  1. Part II: Are Your Severe Neck Pain Symptoms the Result of a Cervical Radiculopathy?
     
  2. Part I: Neck Pain resulting from a C5 Radiculopathy,C6 Radiculopathy ,C7 Radiculopathy, or C8 Radiculopathy
     
  3. Part III: Severe Neck Pain From a Herniated Disc: What are Your Treatment Options?
     
  4. Understanding A Disc Problem with a Jelly Donut: Herniated Disc or Slipped Disc?
     
  5. The Neck Pain Relief Kit
     
  
  Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical supports and cervical traction products for relief of stiff neck, and neck pain. Learn about How to choose the right neck pillow when you suffer from severe neck pain.
  
  
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Neck Pain resulting from a C5, C6, C7, or C8 Radiculopathy

In our last post we discussed severe neck pain caused by a cervical radiculopathy. When a nerve root in the neck is irriated or compressed, a patient will show certain signs and symptoms. Lets find out what some of these classic symptoms are:


C5
If the C5 nerve root is irritated or compressed, a patient will exhibit certain pain patterns and neurological changes. The pain will be concentrated in the neck, upper arm, shoulders, and medial border of the scapula. The patient may also show numbness and tingling in the upper arm specifically in the arm and deltoid muscles. The Doctor may notice a decreased biceps reflex and the patient is not able to bring their arms sideways up towards their ears (abduction) to the level of the shoulder or above.

C6
Patients who have a radiculopathy that involves the C6 nerve root will present with neck pain, shoulder pain, medial scapula pain, thumb and index finger pain. They may have numbness and tingling into the outer aspect of the lower arm, into the thumb and index finger. The Doctor may notice that the brachioradilis and biceps reflex is decreased or absent. With motor testing, the doctor may also notice that the patient has weakness with wrist extension and the ability to bend the elbow.

C7
Patients who present with a C7 radiculopathy will show have neck pain, lower arm and along the medial border of the scapula. They may experience numbness and tingling into the middle finger. The Doctor may notice an absent triceps reflex. Weakness may also be noticed in the ability to straighten the elbow, and weakness in the triceps muscle, wrist flexors and finger extensors.

C8
Patients who have a c8 radiculopathy may present with neck pain, scapula pain, pain along the inner side of the arm, ring and little fingers. They may also have numbness and tingling in the ring and little fingers. Weakness may be noted in the finger flexors.

It should be noted that even if you have been diagnosed with a certain level of radiculopathy your symptoms may be different from the classic symptoms that we have listed above. Radiculopathic pain is not limited to one specific distribution pattern and may not always be sharp, and shooting and superficial in nature. Instead often times, the pain is all over the place, not just localized to one area and can be deep in nature. One reason for this because of the referred scleretogenous pain that comes from irritaton of the dural sleeve which is densely innervated.

As you can see, each nerve controls a lot of different sensations, muscles and reflexes. What causes irritation or compression to the cervical nerve roots in the first place? That's a whole another discussion we will save for next blog post.

Additional Reading Resources:

• Part II: Are Your Severe Neck Pain Symptoms the Result of a Cervical Radiculopathy?
  
• Part III: The Causes of Severe Neck Pain Resulting from a Cervical Radiculopathy
  
• Part IV: Severe Neck Pain From a Herniated Disc: What are Your Treatment Options?
  
• Understanding your Disc Problem Like a Jelly Donut
  
• How to End Neck Pain Naturally by Doing A Cervical Traction Program at Home
  

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical supports and cervical traction products for relief of stiff neck, and neck pain

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Are Your Severe Neck Pain Symptoms the Result of a Cervical Radiculopathy?

Patients who present with severe neck pain that is radiating into their shoulders or arms may be diagnosed with a cervical radiculopathy. A cervical radiculopathy includes anything that causes irritation, compression or dysfunction of one or more of the neck nerves. The cervical nerve roots are very sensitive to any type of irritation or any type of pressure- and can cause those nerve roots to not function properly.


What goes on at the nerve root level in the neck can cause many different symptoms. Any type of irritation to the nerve root can cause inflammation which can then cause neck pain. Believe it or not, pressing on a nerve may not cause pain per se, but it can cause neurological deficits.

Each of the cervical nerve root has 3 components: 1) sensory 2) motor 3) reflex. When we say compression of a nerve root could cause neurological deficits, the sensory, motor or reflex component may be affected. Each nerve in the neck controls certain muscles, certain feelings/sensations in areas of the neck and upper shoulders and certain reflexes.

Radiculopathy can be caused by different things- and often times it is important to distinguish a radiculopathy from other conditions such as trigger points or even thoracic outlet syndrome.

The cervical level in which radiculopathy occurs most often is at C6 and C7 nerve root level.

To diagnose a radiculopathy, it is important to have a proper history and consultation with your Doctor. What caused this pain? What is the pain level? Does the neck pain travel into the arms ? Does the pain cause numbness and tingling anywhere? Your doctor will determine what level the radiculopathy is taking place by looking at sensory changes such as feeling altered sensations or tingling, decreased or absent reflexes, and weakness in certain muscles. This goes back to looking at the sensory, motor and reflex aspect of each cervical nerve root. So the first step in understanding a cervical radiculopathy, is to see your Doctor for a proper consultation, history and examination. You may also be sent out for specific imaging studies such as a cervical MRI.

I will discuss more about specific details about what can cause a radiculopathy, what symptoms present at certain levels and how to treat this type of neck pain in the next few blog posts. If you have specific questions about a cervical radiculopathy, please email me at neckpainsupport[at]gmail.com, replace [at] with “@” - NJ

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief.

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The Surprising Positive Connection Between Migraine Headaches And Breast Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide, with an estimated 465,000 deaths annually.

A new study from the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, BioMarkers and Prevention reveals that women who have a history of migraine headaches are less likely to develop breast cancer than other women.

“We found that, overall, women who had a history of migraines had a 30 percent lower risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not have a history of such headaches,” said Dr. Christopher Li of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

Li said the reduction in risk was for the most common types of breast cancers -- those driven by hormones, such as estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, which is fueled by estrogen, and progesterone-receptor positive breast cancer, which is fueled by progesterone.

Hormones also play a role in migraines, a brutal type of headache often accompanied by nausea, vomiting and heightened sensitivity to light and sound. Women are two to three times more likely than men to get migraines.

While it is not exactly clear why women with a history of migraines had a lower risk for breast cancer, Li and colleagues suspect hormones are playing a role.Women who have increased levels of estrogen in their blood have higher levels of breast cancer. He also stated that migraine headaches are often triggered by low levels of the hormone estrogen, such as when estrogen levels fall during a woman's menstrual cycle.

Women who get migraines "may have a chronically lower baseline estrogen. That difference could be what is protective against breast cancer," Li said.

In this research study, Li and colleagues analyzed data from two studies of 3,412 post-menopausal women in the Seattle area, 1,938 of whom had been diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,474 of whom had no history of breast cancer. Women in the study provided information on their migraine history.

They found women who had reported a clinical diagnosis of migraine had a 30 percent reduced risk of developing hormonally sensitive breast cancers.

"Migraines are typically most severe among pre-menopausal women," Li said. "This study was all post-menopausal women."

Li states that this finding suggests the protective effect seen in women who get migraines may have a lasting effect at reducing breast cancer risk.

"While these results need to be interpreted with caution, they point to a possible new factor that may be related to breast-cancer risk," Li said in a statement.

Source:
Migraine in Postmenopausal Women and the Risk of Invasive Breast Cancer, November 2008, Journal Cancer Epidemiology, BioMarkers and Prevention

Additional Resources:
The Real Cost of Headaches: Lost Time from Work, Family and Fun.

Help with Headaches

Visit Headache Pain Relief- Information about the Headache Ice Pillow, Halo Rejuvenator and Healthy Neck System.


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Did you know? … The Vast Majority of Headaches Stem from your Neck!

There are many things that can cause headaches: too much caffeine, too less caffeine, certain types of food, Sugar, stress and other factors. Often overlooked is the cervical spine. It contributes to neck pain and headaches more than most of us think.

There are many aspects of the cervical spine that can trigger a headache, including a misalignment in the neck and trigger points in certain neck muscles.

Posture can make a big difference in bringing on headaches. A forward head posture can also trigger headaches in some patients because of the imbalance between the upper cervical extensors and the deep cervical flexor muscles. If your shoulders are not level that can also suggest upper trapezius muscle tightness.

The common levels of the cervical spine that are affected include C0-C1, C1-2, and C2-3. If you notice these are all levels in the upper cervical spine.

Trigger points in the following muscles most likely can lead to headaches: sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, suboccipitals and splenius capitus muscles. These trigger points are often pain generators in patients with headaches. Often adhesions in these muscles will entrap trigger points - a technique called ART (Active Release Technique) is very effective in releasing these trigger points.

Manipulation of the cervical spine can be very helpful in relieving headaches. Using the services of a Chiropractor can be very helpful. Trigger point therapy is also very effective in treating headaches.

There are some home remedies for headache pain relief. Using cold therapy on the neck and upper back can decrease inflammation, swelling, pain, and provide an analgesic effect. The Headache Ice pillow will help to stretch out the suboccipital and cervical paraspinal muscles in the neck. A new product on the market is called the Halo Rejunvenator. The Halo Rejuvenator
stimulates increased blood flow to the brain. It will also increase your flexibility and range of Motion and improve your posture. Finally, the HealthyNeck is great for working on the muscles we talked about that have trigger points including the upper trapezius, cervical paraspinals and suboccipitals. For Trigger point therapy at home, check out the Healthy Neck System.

Additional Reading Sources:

The Healthy Neck System for relief of muscle tension, muscle spasms and headaches
Natural Headache Pain Relief

Visit Natural Headache Cures - effective remedies for headache sufferers including the headache ice pillow, the healthy neck system and the Halo rejuvenator. Visit Arc4life for your Pain Relief needs.

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Travel Pain Free this Holiday Season with the Right Neck Pillow

If you travel for work a lot or go away during the holidays- you know what can happen with flight delays and sitting on airplanes for extended periods of time. Its tough to sleep while in the seated position. Its tough to sleep with kids crying all the time, or sitting beside a snorer while on the plane. How do some people do it? The key is be as comfortable as possible. If you start by having a good travel pillow that can make a big difference. Even celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio don't leave home without their travel pillow.

A travel neck pillow is often U shaped. It is shaped like this so that you can sleep basically anywhere- especially in the sitting position. It fits comfortably behind your neck and gives your good support in those seemingly awkward position.

Travel pillows are made out of foam or fiber.

A Travel Neck support is made to help you sleep while traveling as if you were in your own home. The compact size of these support pillow allows you to simply pack it along your other items when traveling with your suitcase. It is helpful for treating headaches, and neck discomfort including tightness and stiffness. Use it two ways: Get the support you need while sitting (position the lobes down) or lying down (position the lobes up or down).

Consider getting a ergonomic travel neck pillow to make your next plane trip as comfortable as possible.



Additional Reading Resources:

• Travel Pillows that Will Give you Neck Support and Keep you Comfortable
  
• A Supportive Neck Pillow for A 20 hour Flight
  
• The Top 10 Ways to Improve your Posture and get Rid of Neck Pain
  
• The Right Neck Pillow for Headaches
  

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of travel neck pillows. Choose the U Shaped Foam travel neck pillow or Fiber Travel Neck Pillow.


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