Neck, Shoulder & Arm Pain

 Neck pain also known as cervicalgia is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population complaining about neck pain at some point in their lives.

The lower neck and upper back support your head and it is these areas that neck pain starts. Joints in the neck also create a supportive structure for the head to sit on and also allow most movements of the neck and head.

Discomfort from neck pain may include the whole structure of the neck: bones (vertebrae), the disks between the bones, muscles and ligaments. If your neck pain involves nerves, you may feel numbness, weakness or tingling as well as pain in your shoulder, arm or hand.

Neck pain, often with referred shoulder and arm and hand pain, can be caused by injury, trauma, anxiety, stress, awkward sleeping positions and prolonged, herniated discs. Whiplash, muscle strain or tension, and now nearly universal poor posture at computer keyboards are common causes.

Prevent neck pain:

· Learn stretching exercises for your neck and upper body. Spine and Disc Center will intelligently teach you specific exercises.

· If you work at a computer you should move and mobilize your neck every half hour.

· Using a headset helps, especially if answering telephone calls is a major part of your daily activity

· Sleeping conditions: your mattress needs to be firm enough and your pillow needs to support not only your head and neck but also your lower back and pelvis comfortably. We help you with our huge experience and impartial advice.

For minor causes of neck pain:

· Give yourself a rest from your normal physical activity for a few days – this will help reduce inflammation and calm symptoms.

· Gently stretch the neck muscles doing slow range-of-motion exercises, side to side and up and down.

Sudden intense ‘acute neck pain’ due to a locked facet joint or a trapped pinched nerve may result in protective muscle spasm and referred pain to the head, shoulder, upper middle-back (between the shoulder blades) or into the arm, depending on which nerve or muscles are inflamed.

There may be underlying problems such as slipped disc or bulging discs, osteoporosis (brittle bones), excessive curvature of the spine (scoliosis) and, very rarely, structural damage due to tumors or infection. Car accidents involving whiplash injury can result in acute or chronic neck pain which takes many months to improve with careful treatment.

Treatment only occurs after a full patient history, physical examination, review of family and social histories and a thorough health check of the relevant body systems have been completed.

Tests resulting from this process may include ordering X-rays, CT or MRI scans

Treatment may consist of a combination of modalities listed below that we have found successful in our clinic:

· Chiropractic- specific, gentle spinal manipulation to mobilize and rehabilitate spinal joint function and posture.

· Physical medicine modalities such as cold laser, dry needling, massage, exercise and rehabilitation

· Medical Acupuncture

-Therapeutic Massage helps cure chronic back, neck and shoulder pain

· Postural treatment and rehabilitation – Advice on ergonomic seating, sit/stand desks, screen height & position

A combination of these various approaches varies from patient to patient. We always take into consideration your comfort, preferences and past experience as well as your response to treatment and observations made during the course of treatment.