N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Feb 5, 2012, 8:26 pm
The Cervical Traction Pillow is two neck pillows in one. If you are using the traction “V” side you can turn it (or rotate the pillow) and then you can sleep on the Linear Gravity side (see picture on the right side). This pillow just has the neck roll, no “V” for traction. The “V” on th...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 25, 2012, 4:45 pm
The Apple Ipad has come to be known for many things: Innovation, Easability of use, Great for Kids to keep themselves busy while mom is cooking, reading the newspaper  and best of all, easy to move around with - but here's a new one: Neck Pain and Shoulder Discomfort. This �...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 20, 2012, 3:42 pm
Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Do you wake up with a stiff neck or a headache? Do you find yourself turning, switching sides, and constantly changing positions just to get comfortable? Well one aspect to look at is the current pillow that you are sleeping with. Here are some factors to co...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 2, 2012, 6:08 pm
Another Year is upon us...and if you partied hard on New Years Eve you may have awoken with a major headache. Good thing that January 1st 2012 fell on a Sunday. Most people had the day off today, so it still felt like a holiday. Hopefully enough time to get over the headache you are feeling.  ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Dec 14, 2011, 10:52 am
Most likely it probably hurts in other ranges also, not to mention that range of motion is probably limited. The nerves of the lower neck innervate or communicate to the shoulder and arms. Just like nerves in the lower back travel to the hips and legs. The problem can be more distal (nerves in the...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Nov 24, 2011, 9:37 am
Pain at any time can be a big downer, but especially during the holidays. The holiday season should be a time for fun, happiness, and relaxation. Many of us find that it can be extremely stressful. You are working harder because work is busier at this time of year. This leads to less time for shop...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Oct 26, 2011, 11:43 am
Shoulder, arm, or hand problems may stem from the neck. Nerve roots in the cervical spine branch out, form into a group called your brachial plexus, and nerve branches supply your hand and arm. For example, your radial nerve eventually innervates your first three fingers while the ulnar nerve typica...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Oct 14, 2011, 6:12 pm
Recently, i talked to a patient about this issue. Waking up with a stiff neck, stiff and sore shoulders is not ideal because you are starting your day with pain. You should be waking up feeling refreshed, ready to go and tackle the day ahead. So what some of the possible reasons for this? More impor...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Oct 11, 2011, 11:38 am
In the last few weeks, I had a patient question me about B12 deficiency. This vital vitamin, if deficient in our bodies, can cause many changes including mood changes, numbness and tingling, muscle weakness and other symptoms.  What is B12 ? How does B12 Play a Role in Our body...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Oct 10, 2011, 10:10 am
Let’s think about this one. We have a 10-20 lb bowling ball resting on our neck spine. As a matter of fact, for every inch the head moves into forward neck posture, it is equivalent to 10 lbs of extra weight and pressure on your neck and upper back spine, and all the parts that go along wit...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Sep 27, 2011, 11:22 am
 Generally speaking, side or back sleeping is the best. I say this because true stomach sleepers must wrench their necks to either side. When you are a small child, it works because you can turn your head 90 degrees to either side. As you get older, this becomes more difficult and you can end up wi...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Sep 21, 2011, 11:39 am
A sudden abrupt movement of the head and neck can be major source of neck pain and stiffness. Not being able to move your neck in a certain direction can be a big pain in the neck. You may not think its a big deal, but the simple activities of daily living can become a chore: For example, driving a ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Sep 13, 2011, 10:45 am
Star Quarterback Payton Manning, of the American Football League's Indianapolis Colts, may Be Out For The Season Because Of His Neck… Payton Manning hasn’t played yet this season, and hasn’t been able to practice much either. Neck Pain and arm symptoms are the culprit. He has undergone 3 neck ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Sep 6, 2011, 9:41 am
To all my Neck Pain Support Blog Readers, sorry for the delay in posting. For the last few weeks we have been a little stressed. You see, Hurricane Irene came through in Connecticut, and we lost power for 5 days. I know a lot of other people were probably worse off especially in other parts of the N...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Aug 16, 2011, 12:01 pm
When I was growing up, one of my favorite places to go with my family was Canada's Wonderland. I remember they had the stand up roller coaster one year- wow what a thrill. Standing in line for about an hour was well worth it. Now they have crazy rides like Psyclone, Windseeker, and the Behemoth (see...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Aug 3, 2011, 5:15 pm
Question: I got into a car wreck about a year ago and cracked two vertebre in my neck and I am still having random pain in my neck at random times. Is there a certain way I could sleep that would cause less pain? Should I sleep with a pillow or not? Please help me out. Thanks :) Answer:&...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jul 24, 2011, 8:33 pm
Stenosis comes with severe degeneration. In the spine you have one big canal which runs the length of the spine; this is your spinal canal. At each spinal level where the vertebrae meet there forms a hole, or foramen, on each side of the spine. This is where nerve roots exit off of the spinal cor...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jul 16, 2011, 4:00 pm
Surgery is a last resort option to relieve pain or other symptoms resulting in a lessened state of health. All methods of relief must be exhausted before surgery is performed. A good surgeon will only perform a surgery if absolutely necessary. Many things may exclude someone from a possib...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jul 4, 2011, 3:09 pm
Thousands of people every year go to the hospital because of an overdose from over-the-counter (OTC) medicine. So, when you are regularly reaching for that Tylenol to stop the neck pain, keep track of how often you are taking it and how much. Tylenol has in it what they call acetaminophen,...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jun 28, 2011, 10:27 am
Posture is like a window into your spine alignment. If our spines are in good position, this means the nerves are free of pressure and the stress on joints is negligible. One small misalignment of shift of the cervical spine, however, (just millimeters) is enough to stress a nerve or nerves and decr...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jun 22, 2011, 8:39 pm
Problems sleeping can lead to some major health problems. Today, I wanted to talk about sleep apnea. Approximately 15% of people have some form of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is defined by lack of breathing during sleep. When we breathe we expel carbon dioxide and take in oxygen. Without oxygen to brea...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jun 14, 2011, 3:59 pm
When dealing with neck pain or upper back pain, you may have red areas in the neck or puffed out inflamed regions, or even areas that give off heat. When this is going on we can use ice to bring down the inflammation. This tends to be more surface inflammation however. Use your...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jun 8, 2011, 4:08 pm
One way your doctor can discover someone has significant nerve pressure is if the patient presents with muscle weakness (motor component), loss of reflex of hyper reflexes (reflex component), sensation changes or a difference from one side of the body compared to the other (sensory component).
...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jun 2, 2011, 3:14 pm
 Last week, it was reported that baseball player Carlos Zambros of the Chicago Cubs was suffering with neck pain. He apparently played throughout the game, but with neck pain. As a result, he was sent home and referred for cervical spine x-rays. Where was the neck pain coming from? According to Bru...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - May 30, 2011, 6:28 pm
If you already have the traction pillow, you are off to a good start. The neck roll built into the “V” or the neck roll on the Linear Gravity side will help hold and improve alignment while you sleep. During the day, however, you must be aware of your posture. If you often work with y...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - May 23, 2011, 10:57 am
Ever wish you could shut off the “I need to eat” signal? Well, going to the gym may be the answer! PLOS Biology Journal reports that exercise may help control your hunger pains. The study showed that obese rodents that were put on an intense workout exercise regimen had increased levels of an...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - May 17, 2011, 10:29 am
I was recently watching an episode of Dr. Oz where he was discussing the effectiveness of complementary therapies such as acupuncture. Dr. Oz disagreed with one of the guests on his panel, and Medical Doctor who stated that acupuncture did not have any veritable studies to validate its benefits. Rea...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Apr 30, 2011, 5:07 pm
In recent years I have been tuning in to “Dancing with the Stars”- it’s amazing to watch the transformation of these celebrities becoming accomplished dancers. This year, 2011, I am fascinated watching Kirsty Alley as I know that this form of exercise is going to help her really get into shap...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Apr 20, 2011, 11:45 am
Sitting here at my computer writing the Neck Pain Support Blog it makes me aware of my computer, my breathing, my sitting posture, and how I feel while working on the computer.Actually, I am pretty comfortable- no neck pain, no upper back pain, and no eye strain.I think my Mom would be proud: She ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Apr 18, 2011, 1:10 pm
According to psychologists at Nottingham University in London England a simple computer generated optical illusion could play a role for those suffering from arthritis pain. The technology, called Mirage, helped arthritis patients improve the mobility of their hands by halving the pain they f...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Apr 12, 2011, 12:15 pm
Before you pop that next Tylenol for your neck pain, or maybe even morphine if you are really desperate, consider a new study that shows that brain activity is altered in people who meditate while exposed to pain. New evidence to be published in the Journal of Neuroscience suggests that relaxation t...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Mar 27, 2011, 11:40 am
One of the non invasive therapies that we use in our office is vibration therapy. Time and time again, I have noticed that patients, includes ones with fibromyalgia symptoms have responded very well to it. A new study shows that vibration therapy can substantially reduce the symptoms of...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Mar 26, 2011, 10:42 am
I have talked many times on the neck pain support blog about injuries that can occur as a result of a car accident or a traumatic injury. Specifically if not treated properly this pain can become chronic. A new study shows that individuals with poorer health or psychological issues may be prone to ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Mar 15, 2011, 9:56 am
At the Neck Pain Support Blog we get a lot of inquires into choosing the right pillows. People are pretty specific about their needs. Some people are looking for a pillow that will help them breathe better, others want their spouse to stop snoring ! Some like sleeping on their side, some on their ba...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Mar 9, 2011, 11:52 am
That’s the Man Purse, by the way.  I was flipping channels yesterday when I happened to catch the news clip on how the murse (man purse) might contribute to back pain.              What I can say is that definitely carrying a large, heavy bag or heavy back pack can agitate...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Mar 7, 2011, 10:25 am
Technology these days can have a negative effect on our sleep. Wheter it's the sound of a text message going off when you just got to sleep, or you just can't fall asleep because your mind was racing on the internet right before bed. Whatever the case, you need to be aware of this more recent prob...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Mar 2, 2011, 3:47 pm
Recently i had a phone call from desperate woman who was suffering from neck pain. In fact she had severe neck pain with numbness and tingling into the hands/arms.She had a cervical MRI to show exactly what is going on. A cervical disc herniation at C4/C5 was seen on the MRI. The patient had seen h...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Feb 10, 2011, 10:30 am
They say: “Motion is Life.” This is because every joint in the body should be able to move. Movement allows for inflammation to dissipate out of a region. It allows for water, nutrients and oxygen to move into areas also. The spine is a series of joints between each vertebrae; that’s 24 sp...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Feb 1, 2011, 5:01 pm
First off, what exactly is occipital neuralgia? This is a pain and spasm associated with the occipital region of the head and the occipital nerves. The occipital nerves originate in the upper cervical spine. The occipital muscles are at the base of the skull in the back of the head. ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 26, 2011, 11:14 am
Actually, alcohol can hinder sleep in a few different ways. First, it is shown to reduce your REM sleep. This stage of sleep has been shown to be very important in brain function. Simply, we need to get REM sleep or else we harm our central computer; the brain! Second, it may cause you to dream. Thi...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 20, 2011, 10:42 am
Here’s a list of some migraine symptoms:Visual disturbances Nausea or vomiting Dizziness evere pain often described as a pounding headache Sensitivities to smells, noises, or lights Migraines can be from the same cause as a traditional headache. Migraines, however...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 15, 2011, 2:43 pm
Everyone is affected differently by caffeine. Some people can enjoy a nice cup of coffee right before bed with dessert, and be fine for sleeping. Others (like me) are very careful about how much caffeine we ingest during the afternoon. I once had a large cold thai coffee at a Vietnamese restaurant t...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 4, 2011, 11:36 am
I was playing basketball when I reacted quickly to catch a pass. I remember turning my head real fast to see the ball coming and that’s when my neck just tightened right up. It was sore for the rest of the game but I still played. I stayed in the shower for a few extra minutes letting the hot w...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Jan 1, 2011, 5:48 pm
If you have trouble sleeping at night, wake up feeling agitated and not fully rested, make it a goal to get a better nights sleep. Look at your mattress, and also at the pillow you are using under your neck each night. Just like you check your fire alarm batteries each year, take a closer look at ...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Dec 17, 2010, 12:10 pm
A recent study shows that women have more stress-related neck pain than men – and age or occupation does not play a role. The University of Gothenburg in Sweden’s, Anna Grimby-Ekman and colleagues were surprised to find neck pain is more common in women in a group of young university students. N...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Dec 12, 2010, 10:31 am
            This is true sometimes, however, it usually returns.  The scary thing is that when it does return, it’s usually worse.  The reason is that the underlying problem that caused your pain is still there. Let’s say that a spinal shift has caused an irritation to y...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Nov 26, 2010, 4:57 pm
            What this means is that part of the disc is either degenerated, bulged out, or both.  You see, when a disc degenerates, (in other words arthritis) the disc flattens and breaks down.  This can be much like a flat tire; it flattens and bulges out.  Since that material bulges...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Nov 6, 2010, 6:50 pm
"I woke up this morning with a bad pain in my neck, which I think is a kink. Any time I turn to the left, it hurts. I was wondering anyways to heal this kink. How long does it take before it will go away?" This is the topic of todays blog because I hear a question like this almost regularly. Essenti...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Oct 31, 2010, 7:47 pm
Many patients suffer from chronic neck pain. In fact the figure is 30% to 50% of adults in the general population. What types of treatment are they seeking? A recent Duke University and University of North Carolina (UNC) study reports in the November issue of Arthritis Care & Research that drugs and...
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N J. posted an article on Neck Pain Support - Oct 19, 2010, 9:02 pm
Amid the endless pronouncements about social media -- often shortened to "social" these days by consultants trying to sound like they know what they are talking about -- is the...
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