There are a number of different treatments you can use instead of subjecting your neck to a twist by a chiropractor. There are alternatives to neck adjustments based on conventional medicine as well as unconventional medicine. Some of the alternatives are as basic as taking over-the-counter remedies for pain, and others are based on alternative forms of medicine such as acupuncture. As MayoClinic.com notes, there is a risk of suffering a stroke from chiropractic neck manipulation, so you would be wise to consider the alternatives.
Massage
Massage is used for neck and back pain, headaches, muscle and joint pain and soft tissue injuries, which could also serve as a list of conditions that neck adjustments address as well. Massage can decrease swelling, improve joint mobility, reduce muscle spasms and tension, and reduce pain, according to MayoClinic.com. Massage has few, if any, side effects and offers you an alternative to neck adjustments that soothes and relaxes the body as well.
Medications
Medications for neck pain range from opiates, such as codeine, to muscle relaxers to antidepressants. Injections of cortisone are sometimes prescribed, although the drug tends to work for short periods of time. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs often are recommended for minor neck pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is another alternative to chiropractic treatment. Acupuncture is useful as a pain reliever for a number of conditions. As with massage, you receive an added benefit with acupuncture, since it can reduce stress and enable your body to relax. Few side effects are associated with acupuncture treatments.
Osteopath
Instead of a chiropractic neck adjustment, you might want to consider seeing an osteopath for neck pain or headaches. Osteopaths are medical doctors who believe that manipulations of the body can bring it back into alignment. To an extent, that makes osteopaths similar to chiropractors. Unlike chiropractors, however, osteopaths are oriented to treat the entire body and the manipulation techniques used by osteopaths tend to be more gentle.
