Important foundational information about head and neck pain

Who out there hasn’t experienced head and neck pain? The sobering answer is that very few people make it through life without experiencing one or both of these types of pain.

It’s estimated that neck pain affects more than 21% of people annually, and headaches will affect 96% of people in their lifetime. When your pain is severe or lasts for a long time, you may need professional help. Physical therapists can help reduce your head and neck pain. They can also discuss the symptoms that accompany these forms of pain with you. These specialists can also help you learn about common causes of your head and neck pain and therapy techniques that can treat them.

Symptoms of neck pain

Neck pain is usually related to strain or overuse. This kind of pain is mild and should last for no more than a few days. However, some neck pain can be related to something more serious. Pay attention to these symptoms to know when you should seek help for your neck pain:

Dull and achy or sharp pain that is severe or lasts for long periods of time
Pain that increases when holding your neck in a specific position
Limited motion of the head and neck
Tightness in the muscles of your neck that may spread into your shoulders
Headaches

Symptoms of head pain

Headaches and other types of head pain can occur for many reasons, but not all these reasons are emergency situations. Neck pain can be related to more serious conditions, though. Some of the signs that can indicate you need professional help include:

Pain that is severe or lasts longer than a few days
Feeling weak or numb on one side of your body
Vomiting and nausea
Fainting
Difficulty speaking, seeing or walking
Fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher

Causes of neck pain

Minor neck pain may be caused by poor posture or sleeping in an awkward position, but chronic neck pain can be caused by:

Strains — Although poor posture can cause short-term neck pain, it can also lead to chronic pain. Too many hours with your head down looking at a computer screen or your cellphone can strain the muscles and cause pain in your neck.

Arthritis — Arthritis breaks down the cartilage in your joints, including those of your spine, which causes pain and loss of mobility.

Herniated discs — The discs between your vertebrae can balloon out, or herniate. A herniated disc can put painful pressure on the nerves in your spine.

Traumatic injury — A hard impact or whiplash can cause injury to your spine or the muscles and ligaments in your neck, resulting in pain and loss of mobility.

Severe illness — A serious disease like meningitis or cancer can cause neck pain.

Causes of head pain

Some headaches are minor and require no more than rest and pain medication, but other cases of neck pain are related to serious causes, such as:

Diagnosing neck pain and head pain

A medical professional can examine your symptoms and perform some tests to analyze the cause of your neck pain or head pain. Some of the tests that physicians use to diagnose your condition include:

X-rays
CT scan
MRI
Blood analysis
EMG – electromyography, which measures nerve function

Treating neck and head pain

As mentioned before, neck pain and head pain are often connected with one another. The inability of your neck muscles and ligaments to support your head can put pressure on the nerves, which can lead to headaches. There are eight nerves that spread from your spinal cord throughout your head and neck and shoulders, so it’s likely that discomfort to one of these nerves can affect your head and neck.

Treatments for neck pain and head pain can include:

Manual therapy — Manipulating the neck through hands-on therapy, movement or trigger point therapy.

Targeted exercises — Specific therapeutic exercises to help strengthen muscles around your neck will help you regain your muscular endurance for everyday life.

Ergonomics recommendations — If you have a job that requires you to sit at a computer or otherwise exacerbate your neck pain, your physical therapist may suggest modifications that can be added to your daily routine. Such modifications may include a new ergonomic desk and chair that can help reduce injury risk.

Treating neck and head pain at Advent Physical Therapy

Need help treating neck and head pain? Our Advent Physical Therapy team is here to help you. We offer free screenings intended to pinpoint the root cause of your pain. Additionally, our physical therapists excel at creating personalized therapy plans designed to reduce pain and prevent its recurrence.

Things keeping you at home? No problem! Our team offers therapy services that you can use from home, including at-home care and virtual therapy sessions. Even better, it’s not necessary for you to get a doctor’s referral before coming to see us.

Contact our team today for more information about how we can assist with your head and neck pain or to schedule an initial appointment.