Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common complaint and can be attributed to a number of conditions. Neck pain can also cause loss of motion that holds you back from living your life.
Neck pain is a frustrating and difficult symptom of a variety of different conditions and injuries. Severe neck pain can make moving around, working out, or simple activities like going work or walking near impossible. While neck pain can have a variety of causes like a pinched nerve, carrying a heavy backpack too long, or whiplash from a traumatic injury, seeing a physical therapist can be an excellent route towards healing. A physical therapist will provide expert advice on stretches and exercises that can provide relief and strengthen your neck. Beyond assistance with pain relief, physical therapy can also be a helpful tool in learning how to prevent reinjury.
Types of Neck Pain
While there are a large variety of causes of neck pains, there are also a variety of types of neck pain. One of the most common types are muscle pains or spasms. These can be caused by overuse or strain on the neck muscles but they can also be caused by too much stress whether it's mental or physical. Another type of neck pain, which is especially common in patients with arthritis, is facet pain. This can happen when the joints that are part of the vertebrae in your neck wear down the cartilage or are strained too much and cause pain with almost any neck movement. Nerve pain is another common kind of neck pain and it can be very sharp and severe and it can even radiate into your shoulders and back. Nerve pain can be caused by a bad sleeping position or some serious medical conditions so if it persists it is important to seek medical care.
Neck Pain Exercises
Exercising and stretching your neck can be a helpful step towards pain free movement.They can help strengthen your neck muscles and prevent reinjury as well as help improve your mobility and range of motion. Some easy exercises such as shoulder rolls and side to side rotations can be done at home with ease. Some more technical exercises such as resistance exercises and scapula stretches should be done under the instruction of a trained professional such as a doctor or physical therapist.
Find Neck Pain Solutions In Oklahoma City
At Physical Therapy Central we provide attentive care and offer personalized solutions for your neck pain. Neck pain can be a debilitating symptom and we are here to help you heal and regain your strength and motion.
Oklahoma Neck Pain Relief FAQs
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The duration of pain can depend on several factors: prior history of the condition, the severity of symptoms, age, general health status, and how quickly you seek care after the onset of pain. Our goal at Physical Therapy Central is to provide each and every patient with a thorough evaluation to determine the best course of action for each individual’s neck pain relief.
If you have additional questions that you would like to ask a Board Certified Orthopaedic Specialist, feel free to e-mail us at [email protected].
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It certainly can. Spinal nerves can be impinged by several factors such as arthritis, age-related disc wear-and-tear, and/or herniated or bulging discs caused by trauma or degeneration. Spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spaces in which the nerves travel, can also cause pain in your arms and shoulders. Less common but more serious would be a benign or malignant tumor which could be impinging the nerve root.
A skilled physical therapist will be able to differentiate which type of pain you are having during your evaluation.
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It sounds simple, but the easiest thing to avoid is the trigger that may be causing your neck pain. Some people may know the exact trigger – long hours on the computer or breastfeeding, which causes them to look down for long periods of time. Others may not know what is causing their pain but, generally speaking, long periods of time in one position should be avoided. Sleeping on your stomach is an example of a position that can compromise your neck for an extended period of time.
Our joints do not like to be still for any long period! Synovial fluid needs to flow in and around our joints in order to keep inflammation and pain under control. Gentle and non-aggravating range-of-motion exercises are typically recommended, and ice and heat can be used as needed. We also recommend taking a good look at your workspace and sleeping positions and seeing if you can make any tweaks to prevent further or future pain. We do not recommend keeping still… sitting is the new smoking!
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Generally speaking, if you have experienced any type of spine pain that has persisted for more than 5-7 days, it would be beneficial to see a skilled physical therapist for a proper evaluation. This can help determine your source of pain and whether or not you would benefit from physical therapy or if you need to be referred on for advanced imaging.
We recommend seeing a PT first because research has shown that the sooner you seek care from a qualified PT, the better outcomes you’ll have and the less expensive your overall cost of care will be. There has been a lack of research correlating early imaging results and improved outcomes.