Myth Busting: Structural Problems Causing Neck Pain

Online, March 4, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Dr. King's recent posting of research regarding neck pain not being caused by structural problems is sure to be controversial since many doctors are trained to blame neck pain on spinal degeneration.

Structural problems causing pain is a convenient and easy diagnosis to make because pictures of spinal degeneration can be pointed to on an x-ray or MRI image and named as the cause for pain. However, research has proven that structural problems are NOT the cause of most neck pain.

Confusion ensues about this topic because many times structural problems are found in conjunction with neck and other spinal pain problems making doctors assume that this is the source of discomfort. This type of thinking has been around so long and is so prevalent that it is hard to change the mentality of most doctors about what causes neck pain. Fortunately, there is a lot of research now showing that structural problems are usually not the cause of neck pain.

A study published in Spine Jan. 2003 concluded: "...there is no difference in reported pain and disability levels between those with and those without evidence of cervical spine [neck] degeneration."

The New England Journal of Medicine in July 1994 reported finding spinal disc bulges and protrusions, in other words 'structural problems', on MRI images in sixty-four of ninety-eight men and women who had NEVER had back pain.

The University of Copenhagen compared x-rays of patients with low back pain with those who had no low back pain and found no difference in the levels of degeneration or structural problems.

Don't let the words 'low back' and 'spine' in some of these studies throw you off. The neck is still a part of your spine so the data is relevant. And, what the data shows is that many of the structural problems that chiropractors and medical doctors blame for neck pain are really NOT the cause.

Dr. King's online references to research and information can be found here:
http://www.conquerneckpain.com/mythbusting-structural-problems-causing-neck-pain/