Causes of Subluxations
Subluxations are caused by a difficult birth, a fall (even as far back as childhood), an accident, by working in one position for a long period or chronic emotional tension.
Whiplash injury is a common cause of neck subluxations. Whiplash and neck injury sufferers may complain of headaches, vision problems, dizziness, ringing in the ears, decreased attention span, learning and memory impairments, emotional changes, nasal, tongue and throat problems. Chiropractic care realigns the vertebrae and removes stress from nerves. Many people suffering from neck problems, including whiplash, have found chiropractic to be a blessing. As one major medical journal reports: "Whiplash injuries are common Chiropractic is the only proven effective treatment in chronic cases."
The most serious neck injury -- fractures, dislocation or severe tissue damage -- can be fatal if not given emergency medical care. Most other neck problems, although no life-threatening, can impair your health if not corrected.
Disc Damage and Osteoarthritis
If your spine is unhealthy, you may lose your normal neck curve and suffer from pain, nerve irritation and disc degeneration. Although many doctors tell their parents that this is due to age, disc degeneration can be found in young children while some older adults are relatively free of it. One of the most common causes of disc degeneration is years of uncorrected subluxations. Over time uncorrected subluxation degeneration causes arthritis changes in the vertebrae such as lipping or spurring (bony growths), disc thinning and deterioration. studies show little or no correlation between the degree of pain felt in the neck and arthritis changes found on X-rays and MRI. Subluxation degeneration is considered a defense mechanism that tries to stabilize an off-balance spine.
The Orthodox Medical Approach
The standard medical approach to neck pain is often painkillers, muscle relaxers and/or tranquillizers. If the pain doesn't subside, cortisone or other injections may be administered. In some cases physical therapy, neck pillows, collars or traction may be prescribed. Interestingly enough, these constitute a tacit endorsement of the chiropractic approach of releasing pressure on the nerves, joints and openings through which nerves travel. Sometimes surgery is needed especially in serious trauma or severe disc herniation. However, in many cases, chiropractic techniques have saved people from neck or disc surgery. There is even evidence that chiropractic care can reverse osteoarthritis -- something previously considered impossible.
Surgery should only be considered "as a last resort" according to Rene Cailliet, MD, an authority on orthopedic disorders. Even severe torticollis (wry neck) in infants and others is sometimes "fixed" by surgically cutting the neck muscles. This condition as well as many others such as Erb's Palsy; vision problems; hearing problems; and ear, nose and throat infections, has responded to neck adjustments (even in infancy).
