What Is Causing My Neck Pain? How Osteopathy May Be Able To Help

Dr Alanah Hayes-OSTEOPATH B.SC(Clin.), M.H.S.(Osteo), M.A.O.A.

Did you just wake up one morning and your neck started hurting for no apparent reason? Or did you just get home from work and you’re just about ready to call it a day because your neck pain is stopping you from completing your normal activities? Times of stress, injury, sleeping poorly or in a bad position and long hours at a desk or spent driving can all be culprits to causing and aggravating neck pain.

Neck pain can be a dull ache or a sharp pinch. It can be a constant presence, or it may come and go. It can cause stiffness and reduced mobility, and may even have your neck stuck in a certain position! Pain can be present in different parts of the neck such as the upper neck, lower neck, one side, both sides or alternating sides, and may even give you head pain or headaches. Neck pain can also cause referral into the upper back, shoulder blade, shoulder tip, arm, forearm and hand regions. The cause can be a variety of issues which is not limited to but may include,

· Muscle spasm or strain

· Muscle weakness or degeneration

· Bone spurs in the neck

· Disc bulge or disc degeneration

· Nerve impingement

· Arthritis

· Other spinal conditions

As osteopaths, we diagnose and treat neck pain on a daily basis. With your consent and permission, we take a thorough case history, a full examination, perform special tests and treat appropriately. Our treatment is hands on and uses evidence based techniques to help your pain. Our approach to treatment is holistic where we not only treat the area of pain but also the underlying cause of the pain. We always love to explain to you what we have found with the muscles and joints to clarify our diagnosis of what we believe is happening, why it has happened or why it may continue to happen if it is something ongoing. We can also prescribe rehabilitation advice and exercises, or strengthening and stretching programs to help your pain. If required, We may also refer you to relevant specialists to help further assist with the management of your neck pain.

Be sure to book an appointment online or over the phone with one of our osteopaths at Western Region Health today.