Neck Pain
Neck pain is really common, in fact it has been reported that 9 out of 10 people will suffer from some sort of neck pain by the time they are 60. Majority of neck pain is termed mechanical neck pain which can arise from an injury but can equally come on from no particular cause. Symptoms that can be associated with neck pain are stiffness, reduced movement, headaches, pain in the top of the shoulders or upper back, tingling and numbness. JW Physiotherapy can assess where the problem is and all the different factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. It is only in rare cases that neck pain requires further investigations such as an x-ray or MRI but JW Phyiostherapy can advise on this.
Some Common Neck Conditions
- Whiplash
- Arthritis - often called spondylosis on xray or MRI
- Nerve root impingement or compression
- Cervicogenic headaches - a headache that is arising from your neck
- Mechanical neck pain - this can arise from any of the structures of the neck
- Rheumatoid arthritis - this is an inflammatory condition that can affect the neck
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the head is thrown forwards, backwards or sideways violently. It is normally associated with car accidents but can happen from a fall or a blow to the head. It is important to see your GP if you have had an injury or if the injury was severe, epecially if you have had a head injury, to attend A&E.
The best advice is to keep the neck moving and continue all your normal activities. A neck collar is NOT recommended. You may require some pain medication and therefore it is best to talk to your GP or pharmacist about this. Physiotherapy is great to aid recovery and help progress exercises to get back to your normal function.