It's the end of the day.  You hope to relax after a hard day at work. However, before long, you are aware that your hand is now cradling your neck.  That spot! Right there! That tender, relentless, painful area of your neck- you know exactly where it is!

You are not alone: 70% of people experience neck pain (lower back pain is 90% and headaches are at 80%).  You may be tempted to pop a pill when you're in pain! Because your comfort and your well being matter to me, I want you to be informed and know the potential risks associated with pain medications and neck adjustments based on evidence.

Chiropractic adjustments correct mechanical problems that can cause neck pain and stiffness. Pain medications don't correct the underlying mechanical cause of your pain. Pain medications can give temporary relief but it can not correct structural problems such as posture and alignment and movement of the neck.

Most people don't think twice when it comes to taking Over The Counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, or Bayer…or prescription Celebrex. Yet, These are just a handful of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) that are implicated in some 33,000 deaths every year- mainly from internal bleeding!

The FDA warns that NSAIDs can also increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack and stroke.

Tylenol (aka acetaminophen) poisoning is ranked 5th on the fatal Adverse Drug Reaction list, exceeding all other causes of liver failure in the U.S..  It is found in more than 600 medications, including prescription drugs like Vicodin and OTC Sudafed. Accidental overdose can occur when someone takes Nyquil for the cold, Benadryl for allergies, and Tylenol for chronic arthritis exceeding the recommended dose. Risks are even greater with prolonged use combined with alcohol consumption.  Aside from mortality risk, prescription painkillers can impair your judgment and lead to falls and severe injuries.

On the other hand, the Annals of Internal Medicine, published the National Institutes of Health study and found that after 12 weeks of Chiropractic care, patients were more than twice as likely to be pain free as those relying on medical care.

Another study published in the Journal of Manipulative Therapy reports, that for some types of neck problems, there is "quality evidence that immediate improvements are obtained from a single spinal adjustment."  Every person and neck problem is unique and depending on your condition, it may take a series of visits for optimal results.

Another study based on 19,722 patients and 50,276 cervical spine adjustments found that there were no serious adverse events!

Researchers determined that Chiropractic care was more defective that medication in both short and long term – up to one year after care.

Another study showed lab findings of reduced inflammation within 2 hours of getting a spinal adjustment and adjustments are 90% effective in relieving pain.

If you have never had an adjustment it is important for you to know it's not about strength but skill. I want to put your mind at ease if you are new to chiropractic. The first thing is to find out where in your spine the problem is coming from and then let you know exactly how I can or can't help. Chiropractic adjustments that are applied appropriately are effective and safe.  It is my desire to serve you the best, making your experience as comfortable as possible by using the right technique to adjust your spine and keeping your spinal bones from getting on your nerves.