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Is Neck Pain Causing You Discomfort? Physical Therapy Can Offer Relief
Physical Therapy Can Help Relieve That Pain in Your Neck!
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), approximately one-third of the population will experience neck pain in any given year. It can get worse if left untreated, and in severe cases, surgery may even be needed.
Your neck is an integral area of everyday movement, and sharp pains can prevent you from functioning properly in your day-to-day life. Neck pain also causes debilitating and extremely uncomfortable sensations, especially if the pain stretches from your neck down to your shoulders.
Fortunately, many people are able to find relief from their neck pain every year through the help of physical therapy.
Whether your neck pain shows itself as difficulty when trying to sit up straight in your chair at work or tilting your head down to tie your shoes, physical therapy can help get you back to a normal, pain-free function.
Our Morgan City and Thibodaux physical therapy practice is dedicated to providing you with the relief you need. Request your appointment to get started on the first steps toward recovery.
Are you experiencing any of these symptoms?
When someone experiences neck pain, it typically runs from the base of their skull to the top of their shoulder blades, finally settling in the back of the neck.
The pain can vary in severity, from a constant dull ache to sharp and stabbing pains. Neck pain can sometimes include additional symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Loss of sleep due to pain and discomfort.
- Numbness or tingling into the upper extremities.
- Headaches.
- Arm weakness.
- Inability to fully stand up or sit up straight.
- Stiffness and muscle tightness in the upper body.
- Discomfort and pain when remaining in the same position for too long.
There are a number of reasons why neck pain may occur. The best way to be 100% sure of why you’re experiencing neck pain is to see a therapist for an appointment.
Causes of neck pain
Neck pain is most commonly caused by an injury to the tissues or bone structures in the neck; however, certain degenerative conditions can also lead to neck pain.
Some common conditions that give you a pain in your neck include:
Nerve compression
If you have a herniated disc in your neck, or narrowing of the foramen (space where the nerves exit the spine), the nerves that branch out from your spinal cord can become compressed. In some cases, nerve pain can even extend from the neck all the way down to the hands and fingers — a condition known as “radiculopathy.”
Muscle strains
The muscles in your neck can become strained by overuse. Even something as simple as sitting at your desk all day with your neck craned toward the computer screen can lead to a strain in your neck muscles.
Illnesses
Certain diseases and ailments can result in neck pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis, or cancer.
Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that result in neck pain, typically sustained by an automobile or high-impact sports collision. This is known as a “strain” injury, causing the head to whip rapidly back-and-forth, thus affecting the soft tissues in the back of the neck.
Joint degeneration
Conditions such as osteoarthritis can also reduce the cartilage between the vertebrae in the neck, also resulting in neck pain. Much like any other joint in your body, the neck joints can erode with age, causing pain.
Physical therapy for neck pain
Did you know that physical therapy is one of the best methods for treating neck pain?
At Core Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, our physical therapists will conduct an initial physical evaluation to analyze the range of motion in your neck, as well as any limitations you have due to your pain.
Next, they’ll make a diagnosis that will determine the make-up of your treatment plan. Together you will work to understand the goals and expectations of each step in your individualized treatment plan, with the main focus being overcoming neck pain and recovering as quickly as possible. If they need to speak with your doctor about your treatment, they will do that as well.
Treatments for your neck pain will most likely include manual or “hands-on” therapy, which consists of special techniques designed to reduce the stiffness of your neck and improve its range of motion.
Our Morgan City and Thibodaux physical therapists will also provide you with targeted exercises that will strengthen, build, and improve the muscles and tissues in your neck.
We will focus on improving your posture to aid in the recovery of your neck muscles, as well as avoiding re-injury in the future. Additional treatment services may include ice and heat therapy, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation, as our physical therapist deems fit.
Kick the pain in your neck goodbye
Don’t let your daily discomfort be a pain in the neck any longer.
Call our office at (985) 384-1999 to speak with one of our licensed Morgan City and Thibodaux physical therapists today and click here to request your initial appointment!
We will help you get started on the road toward long-lasting pain relief.
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Headaches Getting In The Way of Your Routine?
Physical Therapy Offers a Solution for Headaches.
Do you suffer from chronic headaches or migraine-related pain? If so, you might wonder exactly what contributes to your pain. Poor posture, stress, and other factors can cause you to experience weakness, strain, and injury to the neck muscles and joints. This pain radiates up into the scalp, side of the head, and even the forehead, depending on the area of the neck involved.
Headaches are the third most commonly reported source of pain across the world, so rest assured that you’re not alone if this is something you’re dealing with.
Most of the time, the common reaction is to take some form of pain-relieving medication. It’s true that physical therapy isn’t normally someone’s first thought when they have a headache, however, it can really help.
Medications may help to relieve pain in the short-term, but if you are constantly suffering from headaches or migraines, pain relief drugs will not provide you with the same long-term effects that physical therapy will.
If you are in Morgan City and Thibodaux and suffer from headaches, don’t hesitate to contact us. Whether they are acute and temporary or constant and chronic (such as migraines), headaches can all be treated with physical therapy at Core Physical Therapy & Sports Performance. Call our clinic today at (985) 384-1999 for more information and to set up an appointment.
Do you have one of these headaches?
A greater majority of headaches are attributed to cervicogenic headaches, meaning that they are related to the neck in some form.
However, many people may not know this, but there are actually different types of headaches that all develop from different causes. The three main types of headaches include:
Musculoskeletal headaches
A traumatic injury to the neck, such as whiplash, is a common cause of musculoskeletal headaches. With neck injuries such as whiplash, the muscles and connective tissues in the neck can become torn or strained. This can lead to agonizing pain felt in the head, as well as in the face, shoulders, or neck.
Musculoskeletal headaches occur when there are significant amounts of tension in the neck. This is typically a result of physical imbalances, weaknesses, or damage, although emotional tension (such as stress) can also be a contributing factor.
Tension headaches
Tension headaches are caused by a strain on the “dura mater,” which is a sensitive membrane that envelops the brain. The dura mater lies in close proximity to small muscles at the base of the skull that goes into spasm when the dura mater becomes strained, thus sending pain signals to the brain and causing your headache.
This is the most common form of headache, and these can occur due to repetitive motions or poor posture in the neck/head. If you’ve ever noticed someone holding their head at their desk at work, it’s most likely due to one of these!
Cervicogenic headaches
Professions that require a down-turned motion of the head or neck are the most prone to developing cervicogenic headaches. This may include hairdressers, long-haul drivers, chefs, nail artists, jewelers, etc.
Cervicogenic headaches are related to neck pain, involving the top three vertebrae of the neck. These headaches can develop as a result of certain conditions, such as a concussion or arthritis, but work-related strain can also trigger a cervicogenic headache.
How can physical therapy give me relief from headache pain?
Choose PT states that physical therapy has been shown to help manage chronic headache pain in the following ways:
- It can decrease or resolve the intensity, frequency, and duration of headaches.
- Physical therapy can help you cut back on the need for medications.
- Therapy can improve function and mobility.
- It can improve the ease of motion in the neck.
- You can experience an overall improved quality of life.
At Core Physical Therapy & Sports Performance in Morgan City and Thibodaux, we are dedicated to providing you with the best treatments for your headaches. At your initial appointment, one of our highly trained physical therapists will conduct a physical evaluation and ask you questions about your health history and symptoms, in order to determine what type of headache you are experiencing and where the pain is stemming from.
A treatment plan will then be designed specifically for you and your recovery, most likely involving targeted exercises, manual therapy, and patient education to help reduce the number of headaches you end up experiencing in the future.
Remember that no two patients are alike, and neither are two treatment plans! The only way to find out what a therapist will recommend for your headache pain is to request an appointment with one.
Ready to find relief?
At Core Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, our treatments for headaches focus on relieving pain, improving posture, and strengthening muscles in the neck and upper back.
These will all help in making your daily life much more comfortable and bearable – without the pain of headaches! Call (985) 384-1999 to speak to one of our Morgan City and Thibodaux physical therapists, or click here to request your appointment.
