Looking for Neck Pain Relief?
Physical Therapy at Cedar Hill Physical Therapy Can Help
Finding Relief Doesn’t Have to Be a Pain in the Neck!
Your neck is an essential part of everyday movement, and severe pain can prevent you from functioning normally. Neck pain can be debilitating and extremely uncomfortable, especially if it extends from your neck to your shoulders.
Whether your pain is preventing you from sitting up straight in your chair at work or causing you to tilt your head down to tie your shoes, physical therapy can help you get back to normal, pain-free functioning.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), one-third of the population will deal from neck pain in any given year. If left untreated, it can worsen, and in severe cases, surgery may even be required.
However, there is some good news on the horizon—every year, many people find relief from their neck pain with the help of physical therapy!
Our physical therapy clinic in the Summerfield/northwest Greensboro area of North Carolina is committed to providing you with the assistance you require. Schedule your appointment today to get started on the road to recovery!
Common symptoms of neck pain
Neck pain typically runs from the base of a person’s 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. This pain can sometimes include additional symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Stiffness and muscle tightness in the upper body
- Arm weakness
- Loss of sleep due to pain and discomfort
- Inability to fully stand up or sit up straight
- Numbness or tingling into the upper extremities
- Headaches
- Discomfort and pain when remaining in the same position for too long
There are many reasons why neck pain may occur, so slow down before you go Googling!
The best way to be 100% sure of why you’re experiencing this pain is to see Paul the Physical Therapist for an appointment.
How can physical therapy help me find neck pain relief?
Physical therapy is one of the most effective methods for treating neck pain. Paul the Physical Therapist at Cedar Hill Physical Therapy and Wellness Center in Greensboro, NC will conduct a thorough physical evaluation to assess your neck’s range of motion, as well as any limitations you may have as a result of your pain.
Following that, he will make a diagnosis that will determine your treatment plan. You will collaborate to understand the goals and expectations of each step of your personalized treatment plan. The main goal is to get rid of the pain in your neck as quickly as possible. Paul the Physical Therapist will also collaborate with your primary care physician or specialist if necessary!
You may be wondering what treatments are most likely to be included in your treatment plan. Our physical therapist in Greensboro will give you specific exercises to strengthen, build, and improve the muscles and tissues in your neck. Paul the Physical Therapist uses the McKenzie Method and manual or hands-on therapy. Manual Therapy consists of specific techniques designed to reduce stiffness and improve the range of motion in your neck. The McKenzie Method is a comprehensive and logical step-by-step process to evaluate and treat spinal and extremity disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The McKenzie Method assessment helps in determining which specific exercises work best for you and which ones you should avoid.
We will also concentrate on improving your posture to aid in the recovery of your neck muscles and to prevent re-injury in the future. Paul the Physical Therapist does not utilize modalities such as hot packs or cold packs, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation. While these modalities may provide short-term relief of your symptoms, they do not address the underlying cause of your pain. Paul the Physical Therapist likens these things to taking an over-the-counter pain medication. Ideally, the exercises you’ve learned to do will provide you with control of your pain.
What could be causing your neck pain?
Injuries to tissues and bone are the most common reason for this pain, however, certain degenerative conditions can also lead to neck pain.
Some common conditions that give you pain in your neck include:
Illnesses
Certain diseases and ailments can result in neck pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, arthritis, and meningitis. However, in most cases there is no serious underlying pathology or disease process occurring.
Muscle strains
Certain diseases and ailments can result in neck pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, arthritis, and meningitis. However, in most cases there is no serious underlying pathology or disease process occurring.
Compressed nerves
If you have a herniated disc in your neck, or a 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 down to the hands and fingers. If these symptoms correlate with the presence of diminished deep tendon reflexes, weakness, and/or loss of sensation in a specific pattern it is likely due to “radiculopathy.”
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.
Degenerative joint conditions
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. For some people, this may cause pain. However, studies have shown that people without neck pain can have arthritic changes in their neck. This is important to remember, because many people when they are told they have “arthritis” in their neck wrongly believe that this will lead to a lifetime of pain that will only get worse as they get older. At the end of a successful course of treatment for an “arthritic neck”, Paul the Physical Therapist likes to remind his patients that they are now older than they were when they started treatment (hopefully only by a few days or weeks at most) but their “arthritis” is better!
Find relief with Cedar Hill Physical Therapy and Wellness Center today
Your neck pain may be taking over your life, but it doesn’t have to. Call us today at (336) 644-9661 to speak with Paul the Physical Therapist or click here to request your first appointment!
We will assist you in getting started on the path to long-term pain relief.
Your Next Steps…
Request An Appointment
Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!