Has your neck pain become so intense that you’re having difficulty sleeping? The American Physical Therapy Association says as many as 30 percent of the adult population suffers from neck pain for at least part of every year. If the pain involves the nerves that extend throughout the body from your neck, it can be truly debilitating.

It can result in pain in your shoulders, back, arms and even in your hands. Neck pain can also lead to frequent headaches. If it is causing you to lose work or if you can no longer enjoy many of your favorite activities as a result, it’s time to think about working with a physical therapist to improve your condition. Contact our highly trained physical therapists at Catalyst PT to learn more about how we can alleviate your neck pain.

What is Neck Pain?

It is normally felt in the back of your neck, between the base of your skull and your upper shoulder. The pain reduces the range of motion in the neck, preventing you from looking from side to side or up and down. It can range from a sharp, stabbing sensation to a dull throb, but it is never pleasant. You will likely have difficulty with everyday activities, like driving, working in an office or exercise because of neck pain. You may have difficulty standing or sitting up straight because the pain is so intense. The good news is that physical therapy is the most recommended treatment for neck pain. This means most cases won’t require surgery.

Causes

This pain can be caused by a sudden injury or by certain lifestyle choices. Here are some of the most common causes:

  • Car accident
  • Falling down
  • Sports-related injury
  • Poor posture
  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • Prolonged office or computer work
  • Repetitive lifting

Neck pain that involves damaged or injured nerves, known as radiculopathy, is a more serious condition. Your physical therapist will work closely with your doctor to ensure the right course of treatment for this type of injury.

Physical Therapy for Neck Pain

Your physical therapist will recommend a customized regimen to help you recover from neck pain and get your life back. The goal is to speed your recovery and avoid activities that could cause the neck pain to flare up again. Your personalized physical therapy plan will utilize various manual therapy techniques, including myofascial therapy. It might encourage one of our specialty services, like dry needling. This can help improve your mobility and help with pain relief. Your plan will include exercises that you can do at home and during your therapy sessions. You will also receive a lot of helpful advice, which will include some or all of the following:

  • Identifying and avoiding activities that make the neck pain worse.
  • Go for short walks throughout the day, to reduce pain and stiffness.
  • Perform the recommended at-home neck exercises that your physical therapist will prescribe.
  • Apply moist heat or ice packs at the recommended times throughout the day, to reduce stiffness and pain.
  • Avoid soft, comfy furniture. These are great, but they won’t do your neck any favors while it’s healing!
  • Learn proper “body mechanics.” Your therapist will teach you proper ways to lift objects and perform activities without causing further neck pain or injury.

The specific physical therapy exercises that will be recommended for you will largely depend on the cause of your injury. If a traumatic neck injury, such as one from a car accident, is the source of your neck pain, it could be a long and slow road to recovery. The great news is that even with serious neck injuries, such as this, physical therapy is still the optimal treatment program. Only in the most severe cases, such as radiculopathy or a spinal injury, is surgery recommended.

Choose Catalyst Physical Therapy

You should not suffer from neck pain or try to deal with it on your own. Physical therapy has a proven track record of improving the symptoms and helping patients get back to a normal life, even after a serious neck injury. Get neck pain relief with the help of physical therapy. Contact Catalyst PT to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist at Clearwater, Palm Harbor, & St. Petersburg, FL centers.