Neck Pain

Neck pain or stiff neck is a common problem. It is more frequently seen in women than men. And most people will experience pain in the neck at some point in their life.

What does neck pain feel like?

Pain is generally located in the neck area, as well as stiffness in the neck muscles.
The pain may radiate down to the shoulder or between the shoulder blades.
It may also radiate out into the arm, the hand or up into the head, causing a one-sided or double-sided headache.
The muscles in the neck are tense, sore and feel hard to the touch.
The pain at the base of the skull may be accompanied by a feeling of weakness in the shoulders and arms.
There may be a prickly or tingling sensation in the arms and fingers.

What Causes Neck Pain?

Some people suddenly wake up one morning to find their neck twisted to one side and stuck in that position. This is known as acute torticollis and is caused by injury to the neck muscles. The exact cause of acute torticollis is unknown, but it may be caused by bad posture, sleeping without adequate neck support, or carrying heavy unbalanced loads (for example, carrying a heavy bag with one arm). Acute torticollis can take up to a week to get better, but it usually only lasts 24 to 48 hours.

Sometimes neck pain is caused by the “wear and tear” that occurs to the bones and joints in your neck. This is a type of arthritis called cervical spondylosis. Cervical spondylosis occurs naturally with age. It does not always cause symptoms, although in some people the bone changes can cause neck stiffness. Nearby nerves can also be squashed, resulting in pain that radiates from the arms, pins and needles, and numbness in the hands and legs. Most cases will improve with treatment in a few weeks. Many people suffer neck pain in Reading due to their poor sitting posture at their desks.

Who Gets This Condition?

Whiplash from a Road Traffic Accident
Anyone with Poor Posture
Anyone Sleeping without adequate support
Older people with Cervical Spondylosis
Anyone with a “pinched”nerve in the neck
Any age with sudden Torticollis

Further Causes of Neck Pain?

Whiplash is a neck injury caused by a sudden movement of the head forwards, backwards or sideways. It often occurs after a sudden impact such as a road traffic accident. The vigorous movement of the head overstretches and damages the tendons and ligaments in the neck. As well as neck pain and stiffness, whiplash can cause tenderness in the neck muscles, reduced and painful neck movements, and headaches.

Neck pain caused by a squashed nerve is known as cervical radiculopathy. It’s usually caused by one of the discs between the bones of the upper spine (vertebrae) splitting open and the gel inside bulging outwards on to a nearby nerve. The condition is more common in older people because your spinal discs start to lose their water content as you get older, making them less flexible and more likely to split.

Chiropractic and Osteopathic Treatment for Neck Pain

Chiropractic and Osteopathy can give fast, effective relief from neck pain. With our unique vision of the body as a whole, our team of Reading Chiropractors and osteopaths aim to restore function via specific joint manipulation, massage and other therapies. We use a variety of manipulative techniques (meaning done by hand) for the management of neck pain as there is a difference between every patient presentation each chiropractor and osteopath see. Both Chiropractic and osteopathic care is safe, gentle and effective.

If you have any questions please contact our clinic in Caversham, Reading today on 0118 946 2100 and ask to speak to one of our Reading Osteopaths or Chiropractors. Reflex Spinal Health have helped many people to resolve neck pain and Feel Alive!

Neck Pain

What Causes Neck Pain?

Who Gets This Condition?

Further Causes of Neck Pain?

Chiropractic and Osteopathic Treatment for Neck Pain

Reflex Spinal Health

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