neck
Neck pain is one of the most common conditions treated in an outpatient physical therapy clinic. While ‘neck pain’ is a broad term, this diagnosis is commonly seen on a written referral from a referring physician. Neck pain can be caused by a multitude of structures, with joints and muscles being the most common. Often, you will hear patients complain of a stiff neck or painful muscles without any specific injury. In Houston, patients frequently complain of a “crick” in their neck.
Injures We Treat the Most
Cervical Spondylosis
Also known as neck arthritis, this condition involves wear and tear of the discs and vertebrae in the neck, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
Cervical Radiculopathy
This condition occurs when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated, often due to a herniated disc or bone spur, causing pain, weakness, and numbness that can radiate down the arm.
Cervical Disc Herniation
When the discs between the vertebrae in the neck bulge or rupture, they can press on nerves, causing pain, numbness, and weakness in the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands.
Neck Strain
Commonly referred to as a “pulled neck muscle,” this can occur due to overuse, poor posture, or sudden movements, resulting in pain and limited range of motion.
Whiplash
Typically caused by sudden jerking movements of the neck, such as in car accidents, whiplash can result in neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and sometimes dizziness or blurred vision.
Cervical Stenosis
This condition involves the narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck, often due to age-related changes or conditions like arthritis, leading to nerve compression and symptoms like neck pain, tingling, and weakness.
Muscle Spasms
Sudden, involuntary contractions of neck muscles can cause significant pain and stiffness, often triggered by injury, overuse, or poor posture.
Cervical Osteoarthritis
Similar to spondylosis, cervical osteoarthritis involves degeneration of the cervical spine, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
cervicogenic headache
Cervicogenic headaches are a type of headache that originates from issues in the cervical spine (neck). They can sometimes act similar to a tension-type headache or migraine. These headaches arise from abnormalities or dysfunction in the cervical spine, such as misaligned vertebrae, muscle tension, or irritated nerves. Symptoms: Cervicogenic headaches typically cause pain on one side of the head, often starting in the neck and radiating to the back of the head, temples, forehead, or behind the eyes. The pain is usually dull or aching and may be accompanied by neck stiffness or limited range of motion.
Get Relief Now
If you or a family member are dealing with any of the above and the symptoms have not improved in more than three weeks, chances are you would greatly benefit from at least one formal visit with a licensed physical therapist. While most aches and pains do improve on their own, persistent issues often require formal evaluation from a musculoskeletal expert.