When Talking on the Phone Gets Painful…

Do you have the kind of job where you spend a lot of time on the phone? How do you usually hold the phone? Do you cradle it between your ear and your shoulder? Perhaps you also experience frequent headaches?

Telephone shoulder!

In a recent study conducted by Surrey University in the UK, 65% of all workers who used the phone for at least two hours a day admitted that they often suffer from headaches. The standard posture that many adopt while on the phone is cradling the phone between their ear and shoulder, so they can use their computers or take notes while they talk. Known as “taco neck” or “phone neck,” this posture is wreaking havoc on their musculoskeletal systems.

More and more research is linking poor workplace habits with chronic headaches. And these headaches have people rushing to their medicine cabinets for pain relievers that may cause even more harm in the long run.

The National Headache Foundation has issued warnings about the frequent use of pain relievers (Motrin, aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen) which are known to cause kidney and liver damage that can be fatal. Scientists have reported that taking the maximum recommended dosage of these medications for long periods can be dangerous and may cause liver disease, and even liver failure, in some users.

If you use the phone for more than two hours a day, consider using the speakerphone feature or investing in a headset. Many studies have shown that chiropractic management of headache pain produce symptomatic relief in up to 98% of cases! And with chiropractic care, there are no adverse reactions, no potential for serious drug interaction problems and no drug-induced drowsiness that affects your ability to drive or work.

If you suffer from frequent headaches, or know someone you work with that does, share this article with them. Just use the “Email and Friend” link below.

Dr. Avise Asks some important questions of interest to Auburn residents - Chiropractor Auburn Dr. Avise Asks...

What's the difference between chiropractic and medicine?
Medical treatment focuses on the disease or the symptom. Chiropractic focuses on the person with the disease or the symptom. Medical treatment usually involves changing blood chemistry. Chiropractic involves restoring nervous system integrity. Medical doctors prescribe medicine. Chiropractors adjust the spine—a common source of nervous system interference.
What is the purpose of pain?
Pain prompts many Auburn folks to begin chiropractic care. But pain isn't the problem! Pain is just how your body alerts you that a limit has been reached (or exceeded), that something isn't working right and that some type of change is needed. As a chiropractor, my job is finding the underlying cause and recommending the changes needed to bring your body back into balance.