What is Straight Neck Syndrome?
Cervical lordosis is the natural C-curve a healthy person has in the upper segment of the spine. When this curve is absent, it is known medically as cervical kyphosis. More commonly it is called straight-neck syndrome or military neck syndrome.
Straight neck syndrome can be caused by an accident or trauma to the spine, but often it is simply due to poor posture. The rise of hand-held electronic devices has caused an increase in straight neck syndrome. People crane their heads forward by extending their necks and looking down far too much daily, and it results in postural problems. Straight neck syndrome can lead to other health problems if not treated.
Signs and Symptoms of Straight Neck Syndrome
The most obvious sign is the lack of cervical lordosis in the back of the neck. This condition can lead to neck pain, shoulder pain, or back pain. People with straight-neck syndrome may experience headaches or may have tingling or numbness in the spine.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Effects Straight Neck Syndrome
The upper cervical spine consists of the uppermost seven vertebrae that run down the neck. It is responsible for the carriage of the head and the ability to turn our heads from side to side.
A jolt to the head and neck or persistent poor posture can cause the vertebrae of the neck to become misaligned. If a vertebra shifts out of alignment, you may not notice at first. To keep your head up straight, however, your body unconsciously shifts to compensate for the misalignment.
This shift causes inflammation and swelling, putting strain on the joints, muscles, and ligaments. The damage is cumulative and, over time, the neck will lose that natural curvature and strain more to hold up the head.
Neck problems are only the beginning with straight neck syndrome, however. Misalignments of the upper cervical spine have a way of causing a domino effect of problems cascading down the back. As you continue to compensate for your misalignment, the vertebrae, joints, muscles, ligaments, and bones all the way down your back can experience undue pressure. This can put you at risk for a wide range of musculoskeletal problems, pinched nerves, nerve damage, and chronic back pain.
How Our Straight Neck Syndrome Treatment Works
At Upper Spine Knoxville, our goal is to get at the root cause of straight neck syndrome, relieving you of painful symptoms and nipping future problems in the bud. Our upper cervical specialist, Dr. Bejian Shamloo, can accomplish this by restoring health to the upper cervical spine.
Dr. Shamloo will give patients a thorough examination using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools. Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and advanced 3-D imaging, Dr. Shamloo can visualize the health of the spine better than with traditional 2D X-rays. This helps him pinpoint problem areas and make more precise adjustments that hold longer.
Once the vertebrae are properly aligned, the body's restorative abilities are unleashed. You may feel some immediate relief just after your adjustment, but the situation will continue to improve as inflammation decreases, muscle strain is alleviated and nerve damage begins to heal.
Dr. Shamloo provides upper cervical chiropractic treatment for patients in Knoxville, Alcoa, Maryville, Farragut, Clinton, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Lenoir City, Karns, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, and Fountain City in Tennessee, as well as the surrounding areas. If you suspect you have straight neck syndrome and are in these areas, contact our office for a consultation.