Neck pain is any pain experienced in your neck and can also radiate down your shoulders, arms and back. It is fairly common and can be due to a wide range of causes. Some neck pain will settle after a couple of days, pain that persists longer could be a sign of an underlying issue.
Neck pain can develop suddenly; from an injury. Or it may develop slowly over time; from years of poor posture or wear and tear. The most common causes:
-The neck becoming locked in an awkward position while sleeping
-Bad posture – sitting at a desk for a long time
-A pinched nerve
-An injury – e.g. whiplash from a traffic accident or fall
If you think you have whiplash click here to see our whiplash specific page.
Symptoms associated with neck pain:
– Stiff Neck
– Sharp or stabbing pain in one spot
– Soreness or tenderness in a general area
– Pain that radiates down into the shoulders arms or fingers; or radiates up into the head
If you have any of the following symptoms it is best to get your neck examined by a professional:
– Tingling, numbness, or weakness that radiates into the shoulder arms or fingers
– Trouble with gripping or lifting objects
– Problems with walking, balance or coordination
– Loss of bladder or bowel control
At Comfort Health a typical appointment involves a detailed assessment of your injury, diagnosis, a bespoke treatment suiting your needs, and a series of comprehensive exercises and advice to help you manage your injury. We also look at your medical history and training habits.
If you’re suffering with headaches and referred pain.
There are several special tests that can be performed to help classify and diagnose your symptoms.
Treatment will vary depending on the severity of the neck pain and the cause. Which is why we always conduct a full assessment prior to starting any treatment. A physiotherapy appointment combines various techniques such as massage and specific exercises to help ease the pain and correct the cause. Sometimes the use of acupuncture can be beneficial.
Other treatment can be:
– Heat/cold treatment packs on your neck
– Mobilisation techniques through the neck and shoulder region
– Using a low firm pillow
– Taking paracetamol or Ibuprofen or an Ibuprofen gel on your neck
At Comfort Health we offer a range of treatments from Sports Massage, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture and Cupping which can all help when struggling with neck pain. All of our practitioners are very experienced in this area, you can see our whole team here.
If you feel like you could benefit from a treatment from one of our practitioners – Click Here and book in today.