Neck Pain and Headaches

In addition to low back pain, neck pain and headaches are frequent complaints of patients presenting for medical care. It is hard to enjoy any given day or night if every time you turn your head, you have a pain in the neck.

There are many possible causes of neck pain:

• Poor posture. We all slump to some degree. Do it too long or too excessive and you will likely develop neck pain/or headaches.
• Whiplash injuries or other strains or sprains. These must be fully rehabilitated to avoid chronic neck pain.
• Prolonged sitting, especially if it is at a computer terminal. Leaning forward and “peering” into a computer screen causes much strain to the neck. Certain adjustments in your workstation and chair may be necessary to reduce the “peer” pressure on your neck.
• Wear and tear (overuse). It is difficult to age gracefully. Through the years our joints begin to wear out. This often happens in the cervical spine. Certain exercises and “tricks of the trade” are useful in reducing pain in the neck.

Evaluation and Treatment

Your physician must rule out medical causes for head and neck pain. Evaluation of pain, spasm and limited motion will help guide the physician in deciding the proper course of treatment.

Physical Therapy treatment is often prescribed. Therapy modalities (machines) such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation combined with moist heat or cold pack are often used. These help break the "pain-spasm" cycle and start the road to recovery.

Hands-on treatment of manual therapy, massage and stretching help restore full available motion. Exercises to correct posture and to both strengthen and relax the muscles will help make sure the symptoms are controlled, not just temporarily hidden.

If you would like to set up an appointment for physical therapy (physician referral required) please call 708-709-6534.

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