Frustrated by neck pain? read on…

Jane (not her real name), a woman in her sixties, came into the clinic after a week of significant neck and right arm pain. 

The pain was impacting everything from driving to working to sleeping.

In addition to neck pain, Jane was experiencing significant pain across her right shoulder and into the forearm, occasionally accompanied by pins and needles.

To add insult to injury Jane was unsure what she could have done to possibly make her neck so irritated; all things considered she was in a fair bit of strife! 

During her initial consultation with Brad, one of our physiotherapists, Jane went through a comprehensive assessment. 

The purpose of such an assessment is to identify what the issue is, why it has developed and how to resolve it effectively and efficiently.

For Jane this was exactly the case.

Assessment revealed that one of the joints in Jane’s neck had become inflamed as a result of some floor based exercises she had done two-days prior to the onset of symptoms.

The inflammation in the neck had made the adjacent nerve sensitive giving rise to the arm symptoms. 

Having established the issue and its cause, Jane and Brad were able to move onto resolving the issue.

In this instance a multifaceted approach was required, initially using some hands-on techniques and neurodynamic exercises to alleviate symptoms and assist with settling down the nerve pain.

After 2-weeks of treatment Jane had significant reductions in pain and a complete abolishment of pins and needles.

The next 3-weeks focused on restoring pain-free range of motion at the neck while simultaneously building strength and endurance in the surrounding muscles to prevent any similar episodes going forward.

After 5-weeks of working through her management plan, Jane was completely symptom free and enjoyed increased range of motion at the neck.

Most importantly, Jane was able to establish a level of regular exercise above what she had previously thought possible enabling her to maintain a great level of strength and mobility. 

Great work Jane! 

Take Care

Brad

BSc Physiotherapy (Distinction)

ASCA Strength & Conditioning Coach