Neck Pain and Headaches

Neck pain and headaches can be debilitating, affecting many things you do throughout the day and often affecting your sleep. It can start up out of the blue or build up over time.

Pain in the neck, also called the cervical spine, is very common. It can manifest as pain located in your neck, shoulder blade, or down your arm, even without neck pain present. The pain can then affect your ability to work, sleep and complete the things you like to do.

Common complaints we hear are pain with:

  • Turning your head or looking up

  • Driving

  • Sitting at a computer

  • Reading

  • Sleeping

  • Sitting, doing nothing!

  • Pain shooting into the arm

Common Diagnosis We Treat:

  • Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

  • Stenosis

  • Spondylosis

  • Slipped Disc (Disc Herniation)

  • Pinched Nerve (Radiculopathy)

  • Headaches

  • Arthritis

  • Cervicogenic Headache

  • Trigger Points

  • Whiplash

  • Post Surgical

There’s good news! Research has shown that Physical Therapy can be helpful in the treatment of all of these conditions!

Neck Pain Tips

Not a One Size Fits All Approach: 

One thing to consider is that not all neck pain is the same, therefore not all neck pain can be treated the same. It requires a thorough evaluation and treatment specific to each individual's specific problems.


Imaging Can Be Deceiving

Almost every MRI will show something “wrong.” This is especially true the older we get. But just because the MRI showed “fill-in-the-blank” does not mean you are doomed to a life of pain. Arthritis does not show up overnight, and therefore does not become painful overnight either. More importantly, all of these imaging findings are also found in people who do not have any neck pain at all.


Using the Evidence: 

We use the most up-to-date research and technology including hands on manual therapy and exercise. 



References

 
  1. Bertozzi L, Gardenghi I, Turoni F, Villafañe JH, Capra F, Guccione AA, Pillastrini P. Effect of therapeutic exercise on pain and disability in the management of chronic nonspecific neck pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Phys Ther. 2013 Aug;93(8):1026-36. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20120412. Epub 2013 Apr 4. PMID: 23559524.

  2. Miller J, Gross A, D'Sylva J, Burnie SJ, Goldsmith CH, Graham N, Haines T, Brønfort G, Hoving JL. Manual therapy and exercise for neck pain: a systematic review. Man Ther. 2010 Aug;15(4):334-54. PMID: 20593537.

  3. Gross AR, Paquin JP, Dupont G, Blanchette S, Lalonde P, Cristie T, Graham N, Kay TM, Burnie SJ, Gelley G, Goldsmith CH, Forget M, Santaguida PL, Yee AJ, Radisic GG, Hoving JL, Bronfort G; Cervical Overview Group. Exercises for mechanical neck disorders: A Cochrane review update. Man Ther. 2016 Aug;24:25-45. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2016.04.005. Epub 2016 Apr 20. PMID: 27317503.

  4. Racicki S, Gerwin S, Diclaudio S, Reinmann S, Donaldson M. Conservative physical therapy management for the treatment of cervicogenic headache: a systematic review. J Man Manip Ther. 2013 May;21(2):113-24. doi: 10.1179/2042618612Y.0000000025. PMID: 24421621; PMCID: PMC3649358.

  5. Matsumoto M, Fujimura Y, Suzuki N, Nishi Y, Nakamura M, Yabe Y, Shiga H. MRI of cervical intervertebral discs in asymptomatic subjects. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1998 Jan;80(1):19-24. doi: 10.1302/0301-620x.80b1.7929. PMID: 9460946.

  6. Brinjikji W, Luetmer PH, Comstock B, Bresnahan BW, Chen LE, Deyo RA, Halabi S, Turner JA, Avins AL, James K, Wald JT, Kallmes DF, Jarvik JG. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Apr;36(4):811-6. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4173. Epub 2014 Nov 27. PMID: 25430861; PMCID: PMC4464797.