Neck pain can be coming from a variety of structures such as the discs, spinal nerves,facet joints, spinal joints, muscles and ligaments. The pain may refer up the back of the head, into the shoulder and arm.There may also be pins and needles , numbness and muscle weakness.
It may have been brought on by sleeping awkwardly or from long hours working on a computer or driving a vehicle, or carrying heavy items or children.
I will perform some tests to establish where the neck pain is coming from. A course of treatment will be discussed with you after a diagnosis has been reached. You will be given a combination of osteopathic treatment, exercises, and postural advice.
A 12-week course of spinal manipulation had a statistically significant advantage over medication such as aspirin and ibuprofen in reducing self-reported pain after eight, 12, 26 and 52 weeks, according to the study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Kelston Chorley, Head of Professional Development at the British Osteopathic Association says: “These research findings are positive for individuals, employers and employees. Pain relief medication can be expensive and learning self-massage techniques mean individuals can be empowered to help manage their pain. Further, where medication is ineffective, this can result in ongoing problems that could have been resolved earlier and may even worsen as a result. This can mean people have to take time off work for extended periods. “An osteopath will usually provide some initial treatment to help correct any underlying cause for the condition and will always provide self help strategies or neck pain so patients can manage their condition in the future.”