Professional Care PT. Relieving Neck Pain

F I ND I NG EFFECT I VE REL I EF FROM NECK PA I N

It is incredible to realize how common neck pain is — more than two-thirds of U.S. adults will develop neck pain at least once in their life, and the reasons for the neck pain are as varied as the population of the nation itself. Injury, muscle strain and even stress can cause significant pain in the neck and upper back. If you aren’t careful, a neck injury can lead to chronic pain, or even chronic headaches like migraines. There are several different ways to relieve neck pain, but the best treatment for your personal needs depends entirely on the type of injury that you’ve experienced. If your neck pain develops gradually over time, then it may be a result of degenerative disc disease. When this develops, you may experience chronic neck pain as a result of fluid-filled sacs that are becoming weakened over time as a result of stress and strain. Physical therapy can help alleviate this particular pain by helping restore blood circulation and improving range of motion in the neck. Sometimes, neck pain develops after a particular injury due to athletics or accidents. When this occurs, your pain could be a result of a muscle strain. Traditional methods like hot and cold therapy and targeted physical therapy treatment can do a lot of good to alleviate this pain. However, attempting exercises on your own could also result in further pain. In some cases, mechanical neck pain can develop as a result of a change in the neck joints. This may develop as a result of a collapsing disc, causing the space between bones to become narrow and causing bones to strike one another, resulting in pain. When this isn’t addressed, mechanical neck pain can spread, causing the pain to become more severe.

Finally, neck pain is sometimes caused by radiculopathy, which refers to pressure or irritation in the nerves of the neck, which alters the electrical signals in the neck, causing you to feel more pain throughout the day. Physical therapy can help reduce the pressure and irritation surrounding the nerves, often offering immediate relief from pain and discomfort. It is important not to assume that your neck pain is being caused by any one of these issues. Always work with a licensed and experienced physical therapist to determine the precise cause of your pain and discomfort. Is Your Neck Pain Caused by Sleep Issues? There is one more factor that often is not spoken about, but it’s a frequent cause of neck pain and discomfort: sleeping issues. Sometimes, sleeping in a certain position or sleeping on a mattress or pillow that is too soft or too hard will lead to neck pain. Oftentimes, this pain will appear to be chronic, as the sleeping issue is likely something that you experience day after day, causing the pain to return regularly. It may be helpful to rule out sleeping concerns as a reason behind your neck pain by assessing your sleeping conditions and making any changes that you think may be necessary. Adjust how many pillows you sleep on, the position you sleep in or even your mattress! Our team at Professional Care PT would love to help you live your highest quality of life. Contact us today to begin your new chapter toward becoming a healthier you!

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