Head and neck pain is not the type of pain that you can push through and deal with for too long. For one thing, chronic pain in the head or neck is often associated with some sort of chronic health concern — one that you need to deal with, not ignore. Secondly, when you are dealing with constant pain in your head or neck, it becomes difficult to concentrate. This can have a negative effect on your personal relationships, your career and more.
NEWSLETTER
LIFE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK
• Understanding Head & Neck Pain • Patient Success Story • Healthy Recipe INSIDE:
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SEPTEMBER 2019
NEWSLETTER
LIFE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A PAIN IN THE NECK
Head and neck pain is not the type of pain that you can push through and deal with for too long. For one thing, chronic pain in the head or neck is often associated with some sort of chronic health concern — one that you needtodealwith,not ignore.Secondly,whenyouaredealingwithconstant pain inyourheadorneck, itbecomesdifficulttoconcentrate.Thiscanhave a negative effect on your personal relationships, your career and more. Themostcommoncauseofneckorheadpain isamuscleor jointproblem. Working with a physical therapist can help you to identify the cause of the troubleandbegintakingstepstocorrectthe issue,allowingyoutofindrelief
from the pain without having to commit to long-term pain management — whichoften includestheuseofpainmedicationsthatarepotentiallyharmful toyourhealthandnot likelytoworkaswellovertime.Unlikepainmedications thatbecome lesshelpfulthe longertheyareused,physicaltherapyprovides long-term relief from pain by correcting the joint or muscle concern with targetedtherapies likeflexibilityexercises,musclestrengtheningtechniques, and guided stretches that target core joints and muscles. Ofcourse,notallneckorheadpain isthesame,sounderstandingthebasics of what you are dealing with is the first step to achieving relief.
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UNDERSTANDING HEAD & NECK PAIN
The benefits of good posture are more than just lookinggood,especiallyasacollegestudentwhere you spend most of your time sitting down at a desk in the library or an uncomfortable chair in a lecture hall. No worries, though, we have your back and we have some tips for you to improve your posture without even trying. 1. Adjust your backpack: One of the reasons your back hurts is because of the weight you carry in your backpack. The gap between your back and your backpack is what causes the stress to your back, though, can damage your posture over time. To fix this, adjust your backpack straps so it can be as close to your back as possible to prevent your spine from curving excessively when carrying your backpack. 2. Unload your backpack: I know, I know, you have a biology exam tomorrow and you need to Head Pain 101: There are a lot of different types of headaches that you may experience, and each can be caused by its own different reason. For example, migraines can be caused by environmental factors, food allergies or even as a result of stress.There are headaches that can develop due to sinus pain and headachesthatwilldevelopwhenyouaredehydrated. There are also headaches that will develop when you are exposed too long to loud noises. There is no singular fix for each of these different types of headaches, which is why attempting to treat every headache you experience with the same medication frequently doesn’t work. One of the most common causes of headaches that are easily treatable with physical therapy is radiating headaches,whicharecausedbystress inthe jointsand musclesoftheneck.Thiscausespaintoradiatefrom thetopoftheneck intothehead,especiallysurrounding the ears. There are a lot of reasons why radiating headachescoulddevelop, includingasaresultof lack ofmovementandstiffness intheneck.Thisbuildupof irritationcanbetreatedwithregularphysicaltherapy, especially through the use of massage and flexibility exercises that target the muscles in the neck.
bring your chemistry book with you so you can do the lab properly. But carrying everything in your backpackand loading itwithheavyschoolsupplies is not good for your back or your posture. Leave the heavy supplies at your apartment and take a good walk home every time you need them (say yes to exercise!) or carry them in your hands. This will -literally- take weight from your back and will improve your posture. 3. Wear both stripes of your backpack: The cool kids walk around campus carrying their backpacks on just one shoulder, but the cool kids also have bad posture and back problems. Do not follow this trend, and use both straps of your backpack so the weight is evenly distributed on your back. NeckPain101: Inmanysituations,painthatdevelops in the neck can be associated with one of two major problems.The first is upper-back pain that begins to radiate intotheneck.Thesecond isarthritis.Physical therapycanbeusedtoaddressbothtypesofneckpain. Cervicalarthritiscausesfrequentaches intheneckand shoulders.Thispain isgenerallyworsewhenthereare sudden changes in weather or at the end of the day, andwhileover-the-countermedicationmaymakethe pain less severe, it won’t eliminate the pain entirely. Thebiggestproblemposedbycervicalarthritis isthat thepainwill typicallycausea lossof rangeofmotion intheneck,whichactually increasesyourriskof injury asaresultofasuddenmovementandcausesregular discomfortandfrustrationasyouarenotabletoutilize your neck in the way you normally could. There are plentyofsituations inwhichpain intheneckasaresult ofcervicalarthritisgrowssosevere that itcancause chronic poor posture and even a reduction in height. Addressing the Core Problem: The majority of neck and head pain can be helped with one simple strategy:strengthbuilding. Itfrequentlyhappensthat
theabsolutecauseofthestartofapain intheneckor head isa resultofpoorpostureorquickenedmotion, and building core strength, as well as strength in the neck, can make a huge difference in your ability to handle tasks without experiencing chronic pain. Keep in mind that the neck and head are sensitive areas,soattempting to treat thepainathomecanbe dangerous and may not be effective. Working with a physical therapist is thesafeway toensure thatyou arepracticingpositivetechniquestofindrelieffrom your aches and pains.
POSTURE TIPS FOR STUDENTS
Source: https://www.uprightpose.com/blogs/news/how-to-improve-your- posture-as-a-college-student
GET YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD! 5 SIMPLE WAYS TO STOP BACK & NECK PAIN WWW.MYFIRSTCHOICEPT.COM
FRUIT ENERGY BOMBS
PATIENT SUCCESS STORY
INGREDIENTS • 1 cup chopped almonds • 1 cup dried figs • 1 cup dried apricots
“From the front desk staff to the highly skilled therapists, especially Ted andDominick, Icannot thank themenough.Youallweresopatientandkind when I needed you the most to get through my shoulder trauma. You all are the bomb! I will recommend First Choice to all my friends and family.” -T.J. “I will recommend First Choice to all my friends and family.”
• 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
INSTRUCTIONS Combinealmonds,figsandapricots inafoodprocessor;pulseuntilfinelychopped. Roll the mixture into small balls and dredge in coconut.To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.
1. Feel free to call us and ask to speak to your therapist. Has Your Pain Come Back? 2. Your therapist can discuss with you why your pain is bothering you again and what you might do about it at home. 3. If further assessment is warranted, your therapist might recommend you come in for an appointment. Call To Talk to Your Therapist Today 321-802-5814
EXERCISE ESSENTIAL Try this movement if you are experiencing neck pain.
LEVATOR SCAPULAE STRETCH
Grasp your arm on the affected side and tilt your head downward into the armpit. Use your opposite hand to guide your head further into the stretch.
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