Does Straightening of the Cervical Spine cause neck pain and sometimes headaches?

Kier- yes straightening of the cervical curve will cause neck pain and sometimes headaches. This is often called a “military neck”, or decrease in the cervical lordosis- and it puts stress on the cervical nerves. Normally you should a c curve in your neck. This reduction of the neck curve can occur with a trauma (such as a whiplash accident), repetitive motions where your neck is in an awkward position, sleeping incorrectly, bad posture, bad ergonomic set up at work– these things will all contribute to straighening of the cervical curve. The nerves of the neck supply the neck muscles, the blood vessels, your ability to talk and everything else to do with your head +neck- so if there is pressure, then headaches are possible. There may be other contributing factors for your headaches such as diet, loud noises etc, but a misalignment in the spine will affect them as well.

I think traction of the neck will ease some of the neck pain, and also sleeping with a traction pillow will help- this will put your head and neck in the optimal position. Read more information about cervical supports and traction here: http://www.arc4life.com/site/615058/page/623226; You can easily do traction at home everyday. Consider getting a traction pillow for at night: The Cervical Traction Neck Pillow can help you with that. Sometimes it can take a while to get used to, but it is useful because it aligns the cervical spine in the optimal position.

Before you do traction of the neck, make sure you get a proper evaluation by your Dr- a consultation, exam and x-rays may be necessary. It sounds like you may already have had the x-rays taken. Before starting traction, you want to make sure you are healthy enough to do it, and there are no contraindications.

I Hope this helps you out.

Human neck, artwork Photo Mugs Human neck, computer artwork. Close-up of a human neck, showing the cervical vertebrae (centre), the base of the skull (upper right), and the rear of the left jaw bone (upper left)…..

Neck vertebrae extended, X-ray Photo Mugs Bending of the neck. Coloured X-ray of a side view of the neck of a man showing extension of healthy cervical vertebrae (bones). The seven cervical neck vertebrae are the smallest, lightest vertebrae in the spine; they support the head and neck and allow the skull to turn and nod. Nodding occurs when an individual flexes and extends the neck. Flexion, a bending movement, occurs when the angle betw…

Arthritic neck, X-ray Photo Mugs Ankylosing spondylitis. Coloured X-ray of aside- view of the cervical (neck) spine of apatient with ankylosing spondylitis. The base ofthe skull is at upper right. The spaces betweenthe upper vertebrae (brown blocks) have shortened.This disease is a form of inflammatory arthritisthat mainly affects the spine and is most commonin men. The joints between the vertebrae becomeinflamed and then during …

Body Glove 90146 Deluxe Ice Pack, Shoulder, Back and Neck Wrap, Blue, Unisize $33.79 Deluxe Ice Wrap securely holds heat or cold against hard-to-reach back, shoulder, and neck regions, where other wraps slip, slide and fall off. Split design keeps wrap balanced and in place as it contours around the body, providing mild compression. Easiest way to secure cold or hot thermal packs in hard-to-wrap places Plush, premium closed-cell thermal neoprene traps warmth or cold next to injure…

Serta 4-Pound Density Memory Foam Contour Pillow $59.99 Amazon Home: Bed And Bath test…

Viniyoga Therapy for the Upper Back, Neck & Shoulders with Gary Kraftsow $14.43 Viniyoga Therapy for the Upper Back,Neck and Shoulders with Gary Kraftsow”Viniyoga Therapy for the Upper Back,Neck and Shoulders” features short,simple therapeutic yoga practices carefully designed to alleviate pain and promote health in the upper back,neck and shoulders. For the first time ever on DVD,benefit from the expert guidance of Gary Kraftsow,one of the world’s leading yoga therapists. Fo…

Muscle Energy Techniques Medical Massage Video 2 DVD Set – Volume 1 Pelvis Sacrum & Lumbar Back, Volume 2 Cervical Neck, Thoracic Spine & Ribs $99.90 Muscle Energy Technique is one of the most effective and gentle manual techniques for the correction of somatic dysfunction. MET uses accurate assessment techniques to discover if a joint is stuck out of alignment. Then the practitioner positions the patient and asks for gentle resistance in such a way that the joint is brought back into alignment, and the tight muscle relaxed. This technique can …

Medical Massage for the Cervical Neck Region DVD $36.02 This DVD, taught by Ralph Stephens, shares with you a complete medical massage routine for the posterior, lateral, and anterior myofascial tissues of the neck; clearly shown and explained, to help you thoroughly examine and normalize the soft tissues of the cervical region. Common causes of head and neck pain including trigger points and postural distortion are discussed. Learn powerful, yet easy…

Biofreeze Pain Relieving Gel with Soothing Menthol, 4-Ounce (Pack of 2) $11.99 Biofreeze is the pain reliever of choice for chiropractors, podiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists and athletic trainers. Biofreeze contains an herbal extract from a South American holly shrub known as ILEX to create a fast-acting, deep-penetrating, long-lasting pain reliever. It’s critical for treating: Sore or strained muscles, shoulder/arm discomfort, neck…

Biofreeze Pain Relieving Roll On, 3-Ounce (Pack of 3) $21.36 Can be used as often as necessary – up to 4 times per day. The application can be applied pre-treatment to acute areas of muscle spasms to allow for a faster relaxation of muscle involvement and better treatment response. The roll-on is also a convenient application for the patient at home to continue care for these acute conditions. As a roll-on it also affords the office staff a very hygienic de…