At Walker and Hall we know through personal experience how neck pain in all its forms can have an enormous effect on the every aspect of your life e.g., from caring for yourself and family, to work, to sports and leisure activities and even just on your concentration.
The most common types of neck pain we treat are
Stiff and painful necks – also known as cervical spondylosis and arthritis
Sudden neck pain arising from joint or intervertebral disc origin
Trapped Nerve
Whiplash Injuries
If your condition is not listed above please contact us
We have extensive experience in treating these conditions and managing your recovery.
To see how Walker and Hall can help you please see below:
Stiff and painful neck (also known as Cervical Spondylosis and Arthritis)
A stiff and painful neck (often given the diagnosis of Cervical spondylosis) is basically ‘wear and tear’ of the bones and discs in the neck. It is a normal part of ageing and does not cause symptoms in everybody.
Anatomy
The neck comprises 7 bones (vertebrae) numbered 1 to 7 from the top down. The first two are different from the others and are responsible for the movement of the head on the neck. Problems with these two bones can often lead to headaches (click here to see how Walker and Hall can treat your headaches). The remaining 5 bones are joined to each other with two joints at the back (facet joints) and a disc in the middle at the front (intervertebral disc). Ligaments and muscles pass between adjacent bones and over the neck as a whole to provide support and movement. Behind the disc is the spinal cord, this is a large structure that is made of nerves which pass messages from your brain to the whole of the body. At each level in the neck pairs of nerves emerge from between adjacent bones and pass into the arms, these nerves send messages to the muscles to cause movement and provide sensation to the skin. Uniquely for the spine, in the neck a major blood vessel called the Vertebral artery passes throught the bones. This artery is repsonsible for providing blood to the back of the brain.
Causes of a stiff and painful neck
In the case of Cervical spondylosis the symptoms are caused by age related “wear and tear” in the vertebrae and discs. This is nothing unusual and depending upon your life style, occupation and sporting activities, this “wear and tear” can begin to develop from the age of 30.
As we get older the edges of the vertebrae start to develop small rough areas called osteophytes and the intervertebral discs become thinner, this is called degeneration. As the degeneration progresses these rough areas of bone begin to press upon the ligaments, muscles and nerves in the neck and you begin to experience pain and stiffness.
Signs and Symptoms of a stiff and painful neck
- Neck stiffness, particularly on waking and then getting worse towards the end of the day
- Neck pain, most commonly felt over the back of the neck but sometimes over the front as well. It may just be in the neck but may also be referred into the shoulders, shoulder blades and arms as far as the fingers (arm pain is common if the condition involves pressure on the nerves in the neck). It may be one side of the neck with the symptoms spreading into one arm or over the neck a whole and spread into both arms. It is often made worse with movement. It often “comes and goes”, sometimes being associated with a particular activity following which your neck feels painful. In a few people the pain will become chronic (persistent).
- Headaches, often felt at the back of the head at the base of the skull but may also spread over the top of the head to the forehead.
- Pins, needles and numbness in part of the arm or hand. This is caused by irritation of a nerve as it leaves the neck.
- Weakness in the arm or hand. This may be the result of pressure on a nerve(s) in the neck and may also be associated with a loss of reflexes in the arm. Pressure on a nerve in the neck is known as a “trapped nerve” or ‘cervical radiculopathy’.
How can Walker and Hall help you
A thorough musculoskeletal examination is required to determine which structure(s) in the neck are causing the stiffness and pain. This is essential if the optimum recovery is to be achieved and to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Following the diagnosis a treatment plan is devised and discussed with you.
The types of physiotherapy treatment used at Walker and Hall for a stiff and painful neck include:
- joint mobilization techniques to improve the range of movements
- joint manipulation techniques to improve the range of joint movements
- traction
- soft tissue massage to reduce pain and muscle spasm
- electrotherapy (e.g. Ultrasound, Interferential Therapy) to reduce pain and muscle spasm
- postural education including the use of a lumbar roll for sitting
- the use of an appropriate pillow for sleeping
- a home exercise programme to improve flexibility, strength (particularly the deep cervical flexors) and posture
- anti-inflammatory advice
- activity modification advice
Sudden Neck Pain (Also known as Acute neck pain, Wry Neck or Torticollis)
Sudden neck pain is very common and often occurs after a particular incident e.g., sleeping awkwardly, overstretching the neck or twisting to look over the shoulder when reversing a car. It comes on quickly and can be very painful, however if treated correctly it responds very well to physiotherapy.
At walker and Hall we know through personal experience how painful and disabling acute neck pain can be.
Anatomy
The neck comprises 7 bones (vertebrae) numbered 1 to 7 from the top down. The first two are different from the others and are responsible for the movement of the head on the neck. Problems with these two bones can often lead to headaches (click here to see how Walker and Hall can treat your headaches). The remaining 5 bones are joined to each other with two joints at the back (facet joints) and a disc in the middle at the front (intervertebral disc). Ligaments and muscles pass between adjacent bones and over the neck as a whole to provide support and movement.
Causes of Acute Neck Pain
There are two main types of acute neck pain i.e., acute neck pain involving the facet joints and acute neck pain involving the intervertebral discs.
Facet joints. This type of neck pain is particularly common and often occurs suddenly when you wake up. The causes may include a restless night’s sleep, an uncomfortable or unfamiliar pillow or waking suddenly in the night. It is most common in younger people, ranging from young children to people in their thirties. Should it occur in older people, it tends to have a more gradual onset with the facet joints becoming stiff over time.
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Facet Joint Neck Pain
- Pain, generally located in the middle or side of the neck that is affected. The onset of pain is sudden. The pain does not extend beyond the shoulder joint.
- Loss of Movement, the neck is generally fixed in an unusual position, most commonly bent forward and rotated away from the side of pain. All movements aggravate the pain.
- Muscle Spasm, this is a tightening of the adjacent neck muscles and further limits movement.
How Walker and Hall can help you
A thorough and accurate musculoskeletal examination is required to determine which facet joint(s) is causing the problem.
Following the diagnosis a treatment plan is devised and discussed with you.
The types of physiotherapy treatment for acute neck pain include:
- joint mobilization and manipulation techniques to unlock the facet joint
- soft tissue massage to reduce muscle spasm
- electrotherapy (e.g. ultrasound & Interferential therapy) to reduce pain and muscle spasm
- postural education including the use of a lumbar roll for sitting
- the use of an appropriate pillow for sleeping
- exercises to improve flexibility, strength (particularly the deep cervical flexors) and posture
- anti-inflammatory advice
- activity modification advice
Intervertebral discs. This type of acute neck pain is caused by an injury to the intervertebral disc and is often called disco genic neck pain. Usually in this case the injured discs protrudes backwards and presses on the surrounding soft tissues structures including the nervous tissue.
Recovery from this type of acute neck pain often takes longer than the facet joint neck pain because an injury to the disc is more severe.
Signs and Symptoms of Acute Disco genic Neck Pain
- Pain, you tend to experience a gradual onset of dull diffuse pain. Usually in the lower neck, shoulders and chest, and occasionally radiating into the arms.
- Loss of movement, your neck is fixed in one position and difficult to move. You will usually be holding your head and neck away from the painful side to ease the pain. However, the movement is only limited by pain, it is not mechanically blocked as in acute facet joint neck pain.
- Muscle Spasm, a tightening of the associated neck muscles that further limit movement.
- Rarely you may experience pins and needles, numbness or weakness in your arms or legs. If this is the case we recommend that you seek immediate medical attention.
How Walker and Hall can help you
A thorough musculoskeletal examination is required to determine which structures are causing the pain. This is essential if the optimum recovery is to be achieved and to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Following the diagnosis a treatment plan is devised and discussed with you.
The types of physiotherapy treatment for acute disco genic neck pain include:
- joint mobilization and manipulation techniques to unlock the facet joint
- soft tissue massage to reduce muscle spasm
- electrotherapy (e.g. ultrasound & Interferential therapy) to reduce pain and muscle spasm
- Traction to ease the pain
- postural education including the use of a lumbar roll for sitting
- the use of an appropriate pillow for sleeping
- exercises to improve flexibility, strength (particularly the deep cervical flexors) and posture
- anti-inflammatory advice
- activity modification advice
While the time period does vary, it is not uncommon for acute discogenic neck pain to take up to six weeks to treat successfully.
Trapped Nerve in the Neck (Also known as Cervical Radiculopathy)
A trapped nerve in the neck is extremely painful and disabling and can affect every aspect of your life from washing to working and especially sleeping.
Anatomy
The neck comprises 7 bones (vertebrae) numbered 1 to 7 from the top down. The first two are different from the others and are responsible for the movement of the head on the neck. Problems with these two bones can often lead to headaches (click here to see how Walker and Hall can treat your headaches). The remaining 5 bones are joined to each other with two joints at the back (facet joints) and a disc in the middle at the front (intervertebral disc). Ligaments and muscles pass between adjacent bones and over the neck as a whole to provide support and movement.
Between each vertebrae on either side are holes through which nerves emerge. In the lower part of the neck the nerves pass into the arms and are responsible for providing sensation to a particular area of skin and movement in the muscles.
The actual area of the neck or arm where the symptoms are felt can give us an indication of which nerve is trapped (click for a link to a map of the dermatomes).
Causes of a trapped nerve
In our experience the most frequent causes of a trapped nerve in the neck are arthritis (click here to see how we can help treat Cervical spondylosis), a “slipped” or protruded intervertebral disc and trauma, such as a whiplash injury (click here to see how we can treat your whiplash injury) or a sporting injury such as a rugby tackle.
Any one (or combination) of these can cause pressure on a nerve which will lead to pain and other symptoms such as pins and needles, numbness and muscle weakness in the neck and arms.
Signs and Symptoms of a trapped nerve
These can vary depending upon the amount of pressure being applied to the nerve and may include:
- Pain, either in the neck, arm or both. The location of the pain can often indicate which nerve is being trapped.
- Altered sensation in the neck, arm or both, pins & needles (paraesthesia) or numbness (anaesthesia)
- muscle weakness, often in the arms and hands
- reduced reflexes in the arms
How Walker and Hall can help you
A thorough musculoskeletal examination is required to determine the origin of the pain and establish where possible which nerve is involved. This is essential if the optimum recovery is to be achieved and to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Following the diagnosis a treatment plan is devised and discussed with you.
The types of physiotherapy treatment for a trapped nerve include:
- joint mobilization and manipulation techniques to the neck, upper back and shoulders to reduce pain, muscle spasm and increase range of movement
- soft tissue massage to reduce pain and muscle spasm
- electrotherapy (e.g. ultrasound & Interferential therapy) to reduce pain and muscle spasm
- postural education including the use of a lumbar roll for sitting
- the use of an appropriate pillow for sleeping
- exercises to improve flexibility, strength (particularly the deep cervical flexors) and posture
- anti-inflammatory advice
- activity modification advice
Whiplash Injury
This common expression refers to injuries where the head is “whipped” backwards and forwards (or forwards and backwards) on the shoulders causing trauma to the head, neck and shoulder soft tissue structures. It is most frequently applied to car crashes (RTC – Road Traffic Collisions) where a motorist is hit from behind causing their head to be thrown backwards and then forwards. It is this sudden uncontrolled “throwing” of the head that causes the trauma. However it may also be applied to any injury involving the same type of movement e.g., tackling in rugby, amusement park rides such as rollercoaster and being shaken.
At Walker and Hall we know through personal experience how painful, disabling and inconvenient a whiplash injury can be and it is our aim to restore you to good health / how you were prior to the incident with the appropriate treatment and the minimum of inconvenience.
Anatomy
The neck comprises 7 bones (vertebrae) numbered 1 to 7 from the top down. The first two are different from the others and are responsible for the movement of the head on the neck. Problems with these two bones can often lead to headaches (click here to see how Walker and Hall can treat your headaches). The remaining 5 bones are joined to each other with two joints at the back (facet joints) and a disc in the middle at the front (intervertebral disc). Ligaments and muscles pass between adjacent bones and over the neck as a whole to provide support and movement. Behind the disc is the spinal cord, this is a large structure that is made of nerves which pass messages from your brain to the whole of the body. At each level in the neck pairs of nerves emerge from between adjacent bones and pass into the arms, these nerves send messages to the muscles to cause movement and provide sensation to the skin.
Causes of whiplash injuries
The main causes of whiplash injuries that we treat are motor vehicle collisions and sports injuries.
Motor vehicle collisions, because the body is supported by the car seat and held in place by the seat belt, when you are involved in a collision it is often the head that is left to move uncontrollably on the shoulders. If the collision is from behind (rear end shunt) then the head moves backwards until the back of the head touches the head restraint (assuming it has been set in the right position) and then whips forwards until your chin touches your chest. It is during this movement that the soft tissue of the neck i.e., the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves and occasionally the intervertebral discs, become stretched and cause pain and inflammation.
Sporting injuries, any sport, contact or non-contact has the potential for causing whiplash injuries. Common sports are rugby (during a heavy tackle or in the scrum), Judo and Karate. The movements of the neck are the same as in a motor vehicle accident causing trauma to the soft tissues and causing pain and inflammation.
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain – following a road traffic collision and depending upon the severity of the damage pain can appear within 1 – 2 hours and up to 48 hours after. During the first week it is not uncommon for symptoms to appear and disappear. The pain can be located in the neck, upper back, head, shoulders and arms. It may be on one side only or on both sides
- Loss of movement – as a consequence of the pain the neck becomes very painful to move. This loss of movement may also affect the upper back and the shoulders
- Headaches (anywhere in the head and occasionally behind the eyes – retro-orbital headaches)
- Pins, needles and numbness
- Less frequently tinnitus, nausea, dizziness and blurred vision
How can Walker and Hall help you
A thorough musculoskeletal examination is required to determine the extent of the injuries and identify which tissues have been damaged. This is essential if the optimum recovery is to be achieved and to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Following the diagnosis a treatment plan is devised and discussed with you.
The types of physiotherapy treatment for whiplash injuries includes:
- electrotherapy (e.g. Ultrasound, Interferential Therapy) to reduce pain and muscle spam
- soft tissue massage to reduce pain and muscle spam
- advice with regards to the use of an appropriate pillow for sleeping
- joint mobilization techniques to increase the range of movement
- joint manipulation techniques to increase the range of movement
- postural education including the use of a lumbar roll for sitting
- a home exercise programme to improve flexibility, strength (particularly the deep cervical flexors) and posture
- anti-inflammatory advice
- activity modification advice
