Patient Information
Understanding Neck Pain | The Importance of Proper Diagnosis
First, let’s talk about some common causes of neck pain. The most common cause is poor posture, whether it’s from sitting at a desk all day or carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder. More recently, staring down at a smartphone has become a very common cause of poor posture. Other common causes include injury, arthritis, and nerve damage. If you’re experiencing neck pain, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis so you can understand what’s causing it and how to treat it.
When should you seek attention for neck pain?
If you’re experiencing neck pain that is severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms or legs, you should seek attention right away. You should also seek attention if your neck pain is accompanied by a fever, or if you’ve had an injury to your neck.
In my multidisciplinary practice, we understand that finding the least invasive solution that offers the longest lasting results is essential. That’s why we offer a one-stop clinic that includes a free 10-minute chat, a scan, and a formal face-to-face consultation. Having the scan before the formal consultation saves patients time and money but also allows us to get a clear understanding of what’s causing your neck pain and how to treat it.
What sets this practice apart from others is a unique approach of working with a network of trusted practitioners in different disciplines. This allows us to offer comprehensive packages of care (with one of my recognised physiotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic partners), ensuring that whichever practitioner is best suited for my patients, their care is still under my oversight.
In addition to seeking professional help, there are some measures you can take to alleviate neck pain and prevent it from recurring. These include:
- Maintaining good posture while sitting, standing, and sleeping
- Keep the centre of your computer or hand held device monitor at eye level.
- Exercising regularly to strengthen the muscles in your neck.
- Neck movements in all directions, consider using light tension bands.
- Stretching your neck muscles before and after physical activity
- Avoiding activities that involve repetitive motions or prolonged periods of time
- Reducing stress, which can contribute to tension in the neck
- Using a supportive pillow when sleeping that maintains good alignment of the neck
Avoid any manipulations or “manual therapy” without a scan!
Often slipped discs causing pressure on the spinal cord or nerves do not always cause symptoms of nerve dysfunction (e.g. weakness, tingling or numbness) but only pain. Undergoing certain manipulations or “manual therapy” by some practitioners can put patients at risk of injury to the spinal cord or nerves and therefore paralysis. This is why a scan before any such treatment is essential! The practitioner partners recognised by my practice are guided by my interpretation of each patients scan, therefore tailoring the treatment to each patients individual needs.
If you’re experiencing neck pain and are looking for a solution that offers the longest lasting results, we invite you to find out more about our clinic by clicking the button below.
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