Common Symptoms of Neck Pain?

• Pain (can be different degrees), burning, aching, sharp / catching pain on movements

• Can be intermittent (occasional) or constant

• Stiffness (reduced movements either due to pain or joint restriction / locking)

• Referred pain

• Headaches

Muscle pain

Muscle strains, sprains, and tears are a common source of neck discomfort. Healthy muscle tissue is made up of numerous muscles fibers that come together to create one single unit; these fibers contain myofibrils - which hold the contractile proteins responsible for muscular contraction.

Overextending a muscle can result in small tears in the tissue layers, weakening it and causing pain. The more extensive the strain is, the greater inflammation in that area - can result in increased swelling, soreness and longer recovery periods. If left untreated, overtime the strained or sprained neck muscles can form hard knotty trigger points which are sensitive to touch and can bring on more muscle pain symptoms.

Muscle spasm

Have you ever awoken to a sudden sharp, painful cramp in your neck? Chances are it's the result of an involuntary and often abrupt muscle spasm. Such contractions can cause difficulty moving your head to one or more directions, as well as tightness and discomfort throughout the entire area.

When this happens in your neck, you may find even simple tasks difficult! 

While the source of muscle spasms is often unknown, they can be caused by an injury to a muscle or to a spinal disc, neurological (nerve) issues, and even emotional stress.

Facet Joint Pain

The facet joints are the connecting points between two vertebrae in your spine.

Pain originating from this area can be described as aching, deep and sharp; and is often exacerbated with neck movements or after extended periods of stillness (such as first thing in the morning). Furthermore, it may even radiate pain to the shoulders or upper back, causing discomfort all over your body.

Acute injury or arthritic decline are common triggers for such pain - making this seemingly small anatomic region an important factor!

Nerve Pain

Each vertebra has an outlet for one or more nerves that branch from the spinal cord.

If inflammation or harm is near these exits, it may pinch, impinge, or irritate nerve roots; ultimately causing pain that could be described as sharp or dull that can be intermittent or constant -- maybe even accompanied by burning sensations or pins and needles!

Movements may aggravate this pain and if certain nerves are affected then you might get pain radiation down your arm.

Referred Pain

Referred pain is an unpleasant sensation that occurs in one area of the body but might be caused by another area (e.g shoulder pain during a heart attack).

Your neck can do the same thing and send signals to another area of the body, so it's imperative to determine what exactly is causing this pain in case it is being referred from elsewhere in the body.

Your therapist can help you determine the underlying cause of your neck pain.

Headaches

A Headache is defined as pain in the head (front, back or sides) and can be caused by muscle tension or spasms, accompanied by tenderness or stiffness in the neck area / joints.

Movement can make the headache pain worse, leaving you debilated and unwilling to move.

At Brunswick Chiro we are experienced at treating headaches and can help you get out of this vicious cycle!

Whiplash

Whiplash is a serious neck injury that can be occur from a sudden and forceful back-and-forth motion of your head (hyperflexion or hyperextension), similar to a cracking whip. It's most commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents; however it may also arise due to sports injuries or falls. Although whiplash shares similarities with other forms of neck strain or sprain tensions, it has its own distinct characteristics which make it more severe than others. Other symptoms you can get with whiplash include: headaches, Dizziness, Jaw (TMJ) pain & ringing in ears (tinnitus).

Warning Signs to Look Out For with your neck pain

As mentioned previously your neck pain can come in many forms, from an aching discomfort to the sensation of nerve pain, and even headaches. It's important to be aware that pain is an indication that something is wrong and you should seek help immediately to alleviate your pain and discomfort and protect your health in the long run.

During your appointment, we will perform:

A Medical History: You 

will be asked questions about your symptoms (onset, severity, history) or what other treatments you have tried. As you can see this information is vital to giving us clues on how to proceed.

Once all the information has been collated, a treatment and management plan will be completed to suit your individual case and needs.

Our chiropractors, osteopaths, massage therapists and myotherapists are all qualified professionals who offer neck manipulation treatments. Not only that, these professionals can provide personalized advice on lifestyle habits and exercises to help keep the condition from worsening or returning.

Neck pain shouldn't be ignored – so if you're worried about yours don't hesitate to speak with a professional about getting on the road to better health. There is no need to suffer any longer.

Some common techniques we can use for neck pain are:

• Neck joint manipulations - such as adjustments or HVLA or joint mobilisations

• Muscle energy technique or stretching

• Dry needling

• Cupping

• Massage / Myofascial release

• Activator or drop piece

• Posture and exercise advise