Neck Pain? If it hurts I can help...

What is an Osteopath?

One of my favourite definitions is “Someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand, see also wizard or magician”.

While we aren't wizards or magicians, osteopaths are qualified healthcare professionals that spend up to 5 years learning anatomy, physiology, pathology and lots of other 'ologys' so we can find and treat your pain problems in the most effective way. If you are in pain I can help.

The Intro...

Hello and welcome to my first Linkedin newsletter which is all about what to do if you develop a pain in your neck. Future newsletters will cover a range of topics, some short and sweet like this one, and others will be more in-depth. I aim to make them accessible and jargon-free so if there is anything you don't understand I am not doing my job properly!

I hope you like them and feel free to let me know if there is anything you would like to see in a future edition.

The Topic...

If you have ever woken with a sharp pain or a ‘crick’ in the neck you will know how uncomfortable and distressing it can be. There is nothing worse than neck pain and stiffness that is so bad you can’t turn your head so you have to turn your upper body instead (not great when driving!).

There are lots of potential causes of a cricked neck including:

• sleeping with too many/ too few pillows
• spending too much time at your computer with no breaks
• no reason other than bad luck!?

The pain can be due to joint irritation, nerve irritation, muscle spasm or a combination of all three. While it can sometimes feel severe, due to your nervous system going into overdrive, the problem is usually not serious and resolves on its own. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees for how long you will be in pain and it could take a few days to a few weeks to fully recover.

You can often reduce the discomfort with some light, pain-free stretching (discomfort is ok and expected, but pain is not!). A heat pad or gently massaging your neck under a hot shower can help and a short course of paracetamol or ibuprofen can also reduce the discomfort.

Osteopathy can help speed up your recovery by gently moving or manipulating joints and stretching muscles, ligaments and tendons in your neck. You can find out more on my website and if you are still in pain after 4-5 days why not call for a quick chat during a Free 15-minute assessment or you can book an appointment online.

You can get in touch on 01604-532853,?email and book a Free assessment or appointment here.