Whether you’ve got a stiff neck or sharp pain that shoots down the back of your neck every time you turn your head, neck pain symptoms can often be debilitating.

If you have neck pain symptoms, you’ve no doubt received plenty of advice from well-meaning friends and family members who swear by one remedy or another.

But before you try anything for neck pain relief, read through this list of mistakes people make that can actually make your neck pain symptoms worse.

Kansas City Neck Pain Symptoms

Mistake #1 – Applying Heat Packs

Heat should only be used with a chronic condition when there has been no recent increase in inflammation.  (Like if you’ve had dull neck pain symptoms for weeks or months.)

Heat increases the blood flow to the area, so if you apply heat after a recent injury, it can actually increase inflammation, swelling and pain!

For recent injuries or flare-ups, our Kansas City chiropractors always recommend applying ice.  You don’t have to use a fancy ice pack.  A bag of frozen vegetables from your freezer or even some ice cubes in a ziplock bag will work just fine.

Mistake #2 – Ignoring Your Pain

Pain is a sign that something is wrong.

It’s your body’s alarm system.  If your home security system alarm goes off, ignoring it won’t fix the problem.  In fact, it could actually result in greater danger.  The same is true for your body.  If you ignore the pain, it will only return stronger and more severe.

It’s common for pain to come and go, but unless you discover the source of the problem, it will gradually become more serious and harder to treat.

Chiropractors are specialists in treating the cause of mechanical problems in the spine and joints.  These symptoms often manifest as back pain or neck pain symptoms, headaches, or sciatica pain.

Mistake #3 – Opting for Surgery Too Soon

Some people see spine surgery as a “quick fix.”  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Surgery is often considered “successful” as long as the patient’s symptoms aren’t  worse after surgery.

It’s always recommended that patients suffering from neck pain symptoms seek non-surgical treatment for several months before considering surgery.

Mistake #4 – Taking Pain Pills

As Americans, we’ve been conditioned to reach for pain pills whenever we feel pain.  Over the counter drugs like Tylenol and Advil as well as prescription pain pills are a huge industry.  Drug companies make millions every month selling their drugs as the “solution” to any pain you’re experiencing.

Unfortunately, all medicines have side effects – even over-the-counter medications.

The adverse side effects often greatly outweigh any short-term benefits. Plus, none of them address the underlying source of the pain.  They only prolong the amount of time that you “ignore” the true cause.

Mistake #5 – Relying on Your Primary Doctor Too Long

General practitioners typically don’t have in-depth training in the mechanical issues of the spine.  This can make it more difficult to get a correct diagnosis or treatment plan.

If you’ve been experiencing neck pain symptoms for more than a few weeks, the best way your primary doctor can help is to refer you to a spine specialist (or chiropractor.)

Chiropractors specialize in treating the source of spine and joint pain through chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy.

Our Kansas City chiropractors work closely with hundreds of Kansas City primary care physicians to diagnose and then treat back pain, headaches and neck pain symptoms using a non-surgical, effective form of treatment.

Mistake #6 – Focusing Only on MRI’s

MRI’s don’t show pain.  You could be in excruciating pain and have an MRI scan that shows a normal spine, or your MRI scan may show a large herniated disc, but you’re feeling fine.

A skilled chiropractor will be able to read your MRI results and combine them with a full clinical examination to get an accurate diagnosis.

Read more: What to Expect:  Treatment & Pain Relief

Mistake #7 – Stopping All or Most Activities

Resting for a few days is fine.  However, staying inactive for a long period of time will actually make your pain worse.

It’s important to keep your neck and back muscles strong and flexible.  Gentle stretching can hasten the healing process and minimize your chances of future injuries.

Neck muscles don’t get much exercise from normal daily activities.  See the list below for stretches that can help to treat and prevent some of the symptoms you may be experiencing:

• 6 Exercises that Stop Neck Pain
• Signs of a Neck Problem Most People Miss
• How to Stop Muscle Spasms
• 5 Causes of Neck Pain You’re Overlooking

Fulk’s Kansas City chiropractors treat hundreds of cases of neck pain every year.  In fact, with the rise in smart phones and tablets, neck pain symptoms are a more common complaint in our clinic than back pain.

Open 7 Days a week, we offer chiropractic treatment when our Kansas City patients need us, most.  Schedule an appointment to meet with one of our doctors and see if chiropractic care can help with your specific neck pain symptoms.