I have been Diagnosed With a Military Neck? What can you Suggest for home treatment?

A Military Neck basically means that you have a straightening of the cervical curve in your neck. Meaning that normally you should have a "C" shaped spinal curve if one was to look at you from the side profile on an x-ray. This also affects the discs in the spine. The fluid is forced out of the disc when the vertebrae are pushed forward.  When the neck loses this C shape that is normal, they call it is a military spine. A straightening of the cervical curve has occurred.

How can this happen? Well it is not an overnight occurrence. It happens very gradually over time- often taking months or years. It can happen from such things as:

• being at a computer desk for many hours
• spinal injury that involved hyper extension
• a whiplash type of accident
• having a slouched posture when walking or sitting
• sleeping on a pillow that is too high to too low

A military neck can be the cause of neck stiffness, aching and pain.

So what can help with this condition of the neck? Two things I am going to suggest: a special pillow and a device to help stretch your neck in the right direction. Your plan of action will be to use the traction device during the day for 10-15 min at a time and use a special pillow at night. Alongside with this, doing postural exercises will also be beneficial.

A specialized pillow with contours will help you get the proper curve in the spine. At first sleeping on such a pillow can be painful and cause soreness. However overtime it will help your neck and also you will sleep better with proper posture. One example is the arc4life traction pillow. For a more firmer pillow choice, the tri-core pillow is also great ( I would recommend the gentle version of this neck pillow).

A traction device to help you get the curve back in the neck is the posture pump 1000. This traction device stretches your neck in the C Curved shape. You can get upwards of 20 lbs of pressure with this traction unit. You have a lay down while you do this. Not only does the traction unit help to get the proper curvature in the spine, it also helps to hydrate the discs as well. Here is a video showing you how to use the posture pump hydrating the discs and helping you get rid of the military neck:



Off course we always suggest at arc4life that you have your cervical spine checked by a doctor to make sure you are cleared for neck traction. A proper consultation, examination and x-rays can help determine what your spine looks like.  These are suggestions for treatment of a militatry neck, but keep in mind there are contra-indications to doing neck traction as well. So check with your Doctor first. 

Additional Reading Resources

• Having a Pinched Nerve in the Neck..What a Pain in the Neck
• How the arc4life traction pillow can help you get the curve in the your c spine
• Understanding how the posture pump 1000 hydrates your discs
• The Different Types of Neck Traction Recommended by Doctors
• How having good neck posture helps you neck pain

Visit Arc4life.com for your online selection of cervical support neck pillows, orthopedic pain relief products and Home traction units. Products for pain relief. Bookmark this on Delicious Stumble It!

Ravens' Ed Reed Continues Playing His Best Despite a Nerve Impingment in his Neck

American football player Ed Reed who plays for the Baltimore Ravens has been having quite the season. He is playing so well despite a nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder. This is one of the reasons Reed wore a hands-off red quarterback's jersey much of training camp and was sidelined the entire preseason.

Reed has battled through the condition to become a relentless pain in the neck to opposing quarterbacks. Reed has said that his health is very important to him, and if it means that he has to sit it out for a while, he will.

"I never doubted my ability," Reed says. "It was just a matter of playing with my injury. The pain is still there. I've just been doing a lot of treatment this year and staying focused and keeping my eyes out for any feeling that I had in training camp that would put me out.

"I haven't had that. So I just move forward with it, take it day by day."

If it comes to surgery for this nerve impingement in his neck, Reed knows that it will affect his career and he is not willing to take that risk.

A nerve impingement in the neck is a very serious medical condition. It creates extra pressure on the neck nerves- nerves that supply all the head and neck muscles. When pressure is put on a cervical nerve 3 aspects are effected: motor, sensory and reflex. Reed may feel muscle weakness on the side of nerve impingment, may have a change or loss of sensation (like numbess and tingling) and also diminished reflexes. Regardless of the pain that he is dealing with in his neck, Reed continues to make a great performance.

Reed led the league in interceptions with nine this season and has 43 in the regular season for his career. He also has five career playoff interceptions and would seem a natural spokesman for the Maryland Lottery folks because of his uncanny knack for cashing in a pick six.

Reed continues to work to get treatment for his condition, and judging from his recent plays it is working but he has to be very careful. Having good support for his neck will be helpful such as neck traction or using a supportive neck pillow at night. There are newer treatments such as non surgical spinal decompression that may help him as well. Modalities such as heat and ice. Electrotherapy and massage will be beneficial to aid in muscle spasms and pain.

The 2004 NFL defensive player of the year is the only player in league history to boast a touchdown off a punt return, blocked punt, interception and fumble recovery. "He's maybe the best player in the game," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

Reed has be careful in his next plays- yes he wants to be the best he can be for his team, but his health is more important and will affect the rest of his life.

Source: Jim Corbett: Reed overcomes own anguish to be a pain to opposing QBs USA Today

Picture Source: Lil_Mon_21 on Flickr

Additional Reading Resources:

• What is the Best Pillow for A Pinched Nerve in the Neck
  
• 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 Arc 4 life for your online selection of Neck Pain Relief Products for Home- cervical support neck pillows, neck traction, electrotherapy and other products


Bookmark this on Delicious

Stumble It!

"I awake with neck and shoulder pain daily"....

We recently received the following email from a desperate customer looking for the right neck pillow...

Hi, im pretty new to picking a pillow for my cause i was hoping you could help me. I am a side sleeper and awake with neck and shoulder pain daily, mainly on the right side because that's the shoulder i lay on. I may have a pinched nerve but have yet to see the doc. Any sugesstions i would greatly apprciate and would give a try. Thanks ~ Davinder


Dear Davinder,

Thank you for your email- I think that I would recommend a cervical traction neck pillow for you. This cervical support pillow has two functions: support and traction. The Cervical traction Neck Pillow is for side and back sleepers. This pillow is particularly good for patients who suffer from a disc herniation in the neck or a “pinched” nerve. The traction part of the pillow is designed to support your neck in the proper cervical curve and also to maintain proper alignment when you are sleeping.

Because of the special design of the pillow, it back take a few nights to get used to. My suggestion would be to try the CLT pillow using the neck roll side of the pillow to begin with - also use the pillow for a few hours each night and then go back to your regular pillow. Slowly use the pillow a few hours greater each night. Some soreness and achiness is normal for some of our patients because they are not used to a pillow with this built in support for the neck. I am also going to give you a link for neck stretches that you can do in the A.M: arc4life.com/neckstretches. Make sure you do these only to the point of feeling a stretch, not to the point of pain. Davinder, you will notice that you may only be able to bend your neck in a small range of motion in the beginning, but this increase as you continue the neck stretches.

For more information about a pinched nerve in the neck, visit the Neck Pain Support Blog.

I hope this helps- IF you have any more specific questions about this neck pillow, please email me directly at arc4life[at]Cox.net (change the [at] to @).


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


Bookmark this on Delicious

Stumble It!

Loss of Curvature in the Neck- "military neck"

"oh my neck really hurts... I cannot turn my head" "My Neck is stiff..." - is that a constant health complaint for you? Neck pain affects many aspects of our life. Working on the computer, reading, looking back to check your blind spot while driving- can really aggravate neck pain and stiffness. For those who look further into it and have a proper examination with x-rays of their neck will find that they do not have a proper C-curve in their spine. Particularly this can be seen when we look at a lateral cervical spine radiograph:. Enough can not be said about the importance of the cervical curve. When bones of the spine lose their normal position or motion, sensitive nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected. When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated they can symptoms such as headaches and neck pain. Aspirin and medication may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause. Many patients with neck pain have lost the normal forward curve in the neck. Ultimately, this can affect the brain stem and spinal cord.

A customer who was dealing with neck pain, neck stiffness recently wrote in our website. This customer ordered a Cervical Traction Neck Pillow:

"I have been dealing with back and neck pain for 10+ years. My x-rays show a complete loss in the curvature of my neck, a permanent head tilt, and a curvature in my spine to compensate for my head tilt. I've been to the chiropractor again and again, tried roll pillows under my neck at night (so uncomfortable) and popped tons of advil. Minimal relief.


Then I ordered this pillow. The first night I used it I woke up the next morning with much less pain than usual. The next night I slept soundly and had even less pain in the morning. I have been using this pillow every night for three weeks now, and I wake up feeling great. The best part is, my neck is still okay by the end of the day! The pain stays at bay.


Sure the pillow takes a little getting used to, you can't move around much, but I am willing to sacrifice rolling around in bed at night for a pain free tomorrow!"


Arc4life Cervical Traction Neck Pillow



Cost of Neck Pillow: $67.95
Shipping: UPS or Post Office: $12.90 (ships within 2 days)
Color: White
Dimensions: 24"x17"
Weight: 1.5 lbs
Shipping Weight: 3.6 lbs
Fits: Standard Pillow Case
Indications: Neck Pain, neck stiffness, pinched nerve in neck, sore neck, disc herniation in neck, military neck, loss of cervical curve, Cervical Brachial Syndrome, Cervical Radiculopathy, Cervical Disc, Cervical Degeneration, Neck Fusion, Cervical Sprain, Cervical Strain, Whiplash, Neck Injury
To order the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow: Click Here

Visit us on the web at Arc4life.com

Stiff neck: The "Real Pain in the Neck"

To start, before we can tell if we truly have a "stiff neck". We need to know exactly what it is. A stiff neck is a neck that feels tight or sore and has some loss of one normal motion. We often can get a stiff neck from being in one position too long or straining the neck in some fashion. Most often someone may sleep in an awkward position or work in a certain position for an extended period of time that can cause pressure on a nerve.

Nerves in the neck spine supply our muscles. If we have pressure on those nerves the muscles may get irritated, inflammed or not in balance. This in turn can cause neck pain and/or neck stiffness.
Someone who has neck spine or neck posture that is out of alignment will be the most common person to have recurrent or chronic stiff neck. Add to this, the fact that if the person has an occupation where they continually put strain on the neck or someone with a pillow they are sleeping on that does not have good support. Also sleeping on your stomach can cause major neck stiffness or pain. Why is sleeping on your stomach a problem? To breathe we have to turn our head 90 degrees to the left or to the right. As we age, this is not only difficult but not good for extended periods of time when you are sleeping.
Our posture gives us insight into what our spine may look like. So if your sleeping posture is horrible for 6-8 hours every night, your body starts getting trained to shift to an unhealthy, abnormal posture or spinal alignment. And once out of alignment we will more easily get the symptoms of neck pain and stiffness.
To correct neck alignment and reduce bad posture the best things to do are as follows:

1. Always be aware of your posture- if you are always in one position, move around. If you are constantly walking with your head down- look up more. If you have an uncomfortable work station- set it up to be more ergonomically efficient.
   
2. Use a good neck pillow and avoid sleeping on your stomach. I recommend the cervical traction neck pillow by Arc4life.com.
   
3. See a chiropractor or a physical therapist. Both professionals can give you good postural exercises. Doctors of chiropractic can also adjust or manipulate the spine to help restore neck alignment.

All of the above listed solutions are usually quick and easy to do and will pay off in the long run. Good neck posture and spinal alignment will reduce the incidence of stiff necks.
If you or someone you know is suffering from severe neck pain or neck stiffness currently or has chronic neck issues I would also recommnend using heat to loosen the muscles. Biofreeze is a great natural neck pain relief gel which helps tremendously. Apply to your stiff and sore muscles for 3-5 minutes. Apply ice for 10 minutes afterward. Use ice if there is any inflammation in the neck area.If this is a chronic neck pain issue, heat may also help.
The Trisectional Ice Pack is a perfect ice pack for around your neck and upper back. It includes straps that you can securely hold it in place.
Arc4life has all your neck pain relief products to give you relief of neck pain, so that it is no longer a pain in the neck !

Posted by Dr. Bellinger.

Visit us on the web at Arc4life.com