Neck Pain

Neck pain is any pain arising in the front or back of the neck, and may spread into the shoulders, upper back and/or head.
Neck pain has numerous causes. Sometimes these are easy to identify, such as a fall, a car accident, or something hitting you in the head! However, most of the patients we see in clinic tell us their neck pain has come on gradually and built up over time. Often this is related to some restricted movement in the joints and increased muscular tension around the neck and upper back. This can be related to spending long periods of time in sustained postures, such as working at a desk, driving, or re-painting the ceilings! Often, we find there is not one singular culprit, but lots of small contributing factors which, on their own, are no problem, but when combined may cause tension and pain to build up.
Sometimes, neck pain is associated with pain, pins and needles, numbness and/or weakness radiating into either one or both arms and hands. This may indicate that a nerve is being irritated somewhere – this can occur anywhere along the nerve’s path, from your spine to the tips of your fingers. If this is the case, your Chiropractor will use a combination of orthopaedic and neurological examination to determine the most likely cause of your symptoms.
Self help for neck pain
There are lots of things that you can do to help your neck pain. Staying as mobile as you can is key. If you have to do a lot of desk work or driving, changing your posture and sitting position regularly (every 30-60 minutes) can really help to reduce neck tension.
If you’re struggling with a lot of pain and restricted movement, over the counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can be helpful to alleviate pain and make movement more comfortable. Always check with your GP or pharmacist if these are safe for you to take if you are unsure. Ice packs or heat packs such a microwaveable heat bag or hot water bottle applied to the area for 15-20 minutes can also be useful.
Chiropractic Treatment of Neck pain
Here at Gloucester Chiropractors we use a combination soft tissue work including massage, dry needling (a form of medical acupuncture, joint mobilisation and/or manipulation, education and home exercises. This combination of treatment has been shown to be effective in the management of neck pain.
If, after a thorough history and physical examination, we feel that Chiropractic care is not suitable for you, or that additional investigations such as blood tests, x-rays or MRI scans are required, we will discuss this with you and refer you appropriately.