A guide to neck pain and what to do about it

Neck pain is a very common symptom that many people experience through their lives. Often it can be short lived discomfort that resolves by itself but in some cases people suffer with neck pain for months or years. This can become increasingly disruptive to daily life and activities.

Neck pain can be felt in many different forms. It may be felt down the back of the neck, or on the sides of the neck; sometimes at the base of the neck radiating out towards the shoulders or into the upper back between the shoulder blades. Some people may have arm pain in addition to neck pain. And very often we find pain at the base of the skull, which can also cause headaches and pain behind the eyes.

Neck pain can either occur from direct injury to the neck through something like a whiplash, or a strain or impact from sport or physical work; or it can appear with no obvious cause, people often say that they “slept funny” or have a “trapped nerve”. Each presentation of neck pain can give us clues as to which structures in the neck are causing the pain, and what changes may need to occur in the associated tissues to see healing occur.

What causes neck pain?

There are multiple structures in the neck that can cause pain, these are some of the most common:

Facet Joints

• Produces local neck pain, and can refer pain to the head or shoulder area
• Commonly injured in events such as whiplash
• Most painful when rotating the head or looking up

Cervical Musculature

• Upper traps and levator scapulae commonly produce pain due to postural dysfunction and overuse. Commonly felt across the shoulders and back of the neck.
• Scalenes produce pain around the side of the neck. Can be very tender on assessment.
• Suboccipital muscles stabilise the upper neck. Commonly produce pain at the base of the skull. Referred pain to the forehead, and above or behind the eye. Commonly associated with migraines.

Cervical Nerve Pain

• Commonly associated with pain radiating into the arm or hand (radiculopathy)
• Usually linked to disc bulge or degenerative changes in the lower cervical vertebrae

Upper Cervical joints

• Often linked to headache disorders
• Can mimic or coexist with suboccipital muscle pain
• Common after whiplash or other direct or indirect neck injury

What should I do about neck pain?

If you start experiencing neck pain there are a few simple things you can do yourself to manage it in the initial stages. Many times acute neck pain will resolve within a few days but there are things you can do to help. However, if your neck pain is severe or is due to a direct injury to the neck you should consider consulting a professional as soon as possible.

Firstly, keep it moving. Gentle movement through different ranges of motion can help to desensitise the muscles and joints as well as promote blood flow. When moving the neck a little pain is okay, it doesn’t mean there is tissue damage. If the pain is severe, seek advice from a professional and avoid the movement.

Secondly, heat or ice. The use of warm compress or ice packs is often debated. As a general rule, whichever you find more soothing is usually best. Ice is better for bringing down inflammation and may be better in cases of direct injury to the neck especially soon after the injury. Heat is better for promoting blood flow later in the healing process or in chronic cases with no clear cause. Use common sense and if something aggravates the pain then stop doing it.

Third, if the neck pain persists beyond a week or two, or if the pain started from a direct injury to the neck; then it is time to seek advice from a professional such as a Chiropractor who can help to identify the root cause and help to resolve the issue.

What not to do if you have neck pain…

 DO NOT crack your own neck deliberately or “self-adjust”. Although this may feel good in the short term it actually has potential to exacerbate the issue and slow down long term recovery.

In the short term cracking your own neck can aggravate the facet joints which can cause the pain to come back quicker. In chronic cases of self neck cracking, it may contribute to hypermobility in the joints and ligaments, which can lead to further issues and make managing the issue more complicated.

Who can help you relieve neck pain?

At Top Chiropractic our team of Upper Cervical Chiropractors work exclusively with the neck. We frequently deal with clients who have experienced neck injuries or have chronic neck pain and other associated disorders. Using our unique approach to analysis including 3D imaging we can help to identify the root cause of the issue and put a plan in place to help correct it. If you think our approach may be right for you or if you want to find out more, why not book a complimentary 15 min call with one of our Chiropractors.