It’s quite common to experience neck pain which could be brought about by different factors. You might wake up with a headache and neck pain because of sleeping in an awkward position or an uncomfortable pillow or mattress. Coquitlam Physiotherapy can help you in that department.
You may even experience it while watching a movie on Netflix or doing homework. If you have held your neck in the same uncomfortable position for an extended period of time then you would naturally feel neck pain or soreness at some point. Other factors that could cause neck pain are the following:
- Accident or Injury
- Stress
- Sleeping in an awkward position
- Cervical spondylosis or herniated disc
- Poor neck posture
- Whiplash
Non-Specific Neck Pain
You might have been just sitting around engrossed in a good book or playing video games and it strikes without warning. Neck pain or a stiff neck could happen with no apparent reason at all which makes this non-specific because you can’t quite put your finger on any trigger points for the pain.
This type of neck pain is very common and would just naturally dissipate after a few days. You would need to rest for a bit but do gentle stretches to mobilize your neck.
For pain management, you can take over-the-counter pain medications. However, if the neck pain persists for days or weeks and your symptoms are aggravated then you would need to consult your physiotherapist or doctor about it.
How to Diagnose Neck Pain
Diagnosis for neck pain is fairly simple and in most cases, won’t need any screening tests. Diagnosis would mainly be symptoms-based.
Although, there are some instances that your doctor would request for diagnostic examinations like MRI scans, X-rays, and blood work. These specialized tests would usually be to rule out any neck pain anomalies or other diseases that could be causing neck pain symptoms.
Coquitlam Physiotherapy – How to Manage Neck Pain
Self-help treatments for neck pain would usually work if nothing serious is causing chronic pain. However, when inflammation, fever, numbness, or chills are present then this would warrant a visit to your physician right away.
This busy generation is sleep-deprived. There’s just too much to do and so little time to do everything. You end up sleeping late hours or skipping it altogether. Your neck pain can be easily fixed by taking a pause from your busy lifestyle and allocating more time for rest as your body signal an ache for it.
OTC medications like NSAIDs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can help relieve pain and inflammation. This is recommended as a short-term treatment for neck pain.
A short course of 5 to 10 days should do it. However, if symptoms don’t clear up or don’t improve then you can try another course. Avoid ibuprofen and paracetamol if you’re pregnant, ulcer, or have cardiovascular problems.
Anti-inflammatory medications in gel or cream form can also help soothe and relive persistent neck pain. However, if the pain persists after several days or weeks then you might need physical therapy or other treatments. A stronger painkiller could also be prescribed to relieve the unsettling pain.
Get Your Groove On with Coquitlam Physiotherapy
It’s really impossible to self-diagnose or let alone, try to treat neck pain on your own. Dealing with neck pain need not be a painful ordeal with Coquitlam Physiotherapy. The experts on physiotherapy along with medications, medical interventions, therapy, or rehabilitation can help you deal with the root cause of the pain.
If you have been experiencing neck pain which limits your movements and causes extreme fatigue or weakness then there could be an underlying medical problem that triggers the onset of neck pain. It could be a structural problem such as a damaged spinal disc or any muscle or nerve problem underneath.
While a rest period is helpful to regain muscle strength or heal swollen muscles or ligaments in your neck, too much rest or being immobile for days could further weaken your muscles. Your neck muscles need to be exercised. If you are feeling stiffness and pain then mild stretches would help you get moving without much strain.
Skilled medical practitioners of Coquitlam Physiotherapy can help you manage your neck pain symptoms and avoid complications or persistent neck pain from disrupting your life.
Gentle neck movements and other muscle-strengthening programs combined with chiropractic medicine, yoga, or Pilates can help you restore muscular strength and get you in top shape in no time.
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