Have you ever woken up with neck pain for no reason at all?

Posted on March 19, 2019 by - Physiotherapy

No Reason Neck Pain

First; don’t panic!

Second; see your Physiotherapist.

Before you rush off to break the bank, decking yourself out with a top of the line, brand new mattress and pillows, have a consultation with your physiotherapist. Not only will they be able to accurately diagnose what is going on after completing a thorough assessment, they will be able to effectively direct you with evidence-based and scientifically supported management strategies to assist you back to your normal daily activities, getting you back to what you enjoy most! Your physiotherapist will also be able to assess whether you need to see your doctor, or if you need any scans, to ensure that you don’t have to wait for any relief and ensure that you are not burdened with any unnecessary scans or costs.

 

Neck pain is a very common complaint

Neck pain accounts for around 25% of all outpatient visits to physiotherapy.1-2Neck pain is also the kind of problem that comes and goes. Many studies have shown that most neck pain resolves well with physiotherapy but that for many people, it can persist over time, with recurrence rates between 50-85% of people reporting recurrence 1 to 5 years later.3There are many reasons for this tendency for neck pain to persist including such modifiable risk factors as smoking, physical activity levels, sedentary lifestyle, beliefs, individual coping strategies, expectations and even your level of work satisfaction. These are just some of the factors that can influence whether or not an acute episode of neck pain emerges into a chronic condition.4

Your physiotherapist can assess all of the relevant factors involved with your condition and design individualised treatment and ongoing management strategies to help reduce the risks of recurrence.

Neck pain can present in a myriad of ways. Pain and tightness can develop over a period of time, other times you can just wake with sudden and severe neck pain and movement limitation for no apparent reason. Neck pain can be associated with pain referring into the chest, the shoulder blade or down your entire arm. This can also be associated with other symptoms such as pins and needles, numbness or weakness in the arm. Some neck pain can be associated with, and cause headache or pain behind the eye.

Some causes of neck pain are apparent after an obvious trauma or car accident. Other times, it may be brought on by incidental, sudden or abrupt movements, after heavy lifting, or after holding an awkward posture for a sustained period of time. The onset of pain may occur immediately after the abrupt movement or upon waking the next morning.5

Neck pain can result in significant limitations of movement which can impact everything from your ability to drive, to how easily you can complete basic daily tasks. The impact of neck pain on ones’ quality of life is always significant and will be specific to the individual given their lifestyle, demands of life and activity goals.

 

Physiotherapies for neck pain

Fortunately, physiotherapy has been proven to be a safe, effective and cost-effective approach to managing and treating neck pain.

Physiotherapy management typically consists of education, reassurance, ergonomic and postural advice, exercise, massage and manual therapy.2   Once your physiotherapist has made a diagnosis, they will be able to guide you on safe movements, advise you on what activity you should do and what you should avoid. They will implement a thorough regimen of treatment to best reduce the risks of recurrent neck problems, to assist with your pain and to facilitate your return to normal activities.

It is paramount that you visit a physiotherapist for early and accurate diagnosis of the condition and to facilitate a swift and safe return to normal activities. Your physiotherapist will be able to determine whether any tests or imaging is required and will refer you to your general practitioner, or suggest a specialist referral if it is indicated. Your physiotherapist can help avoid waiting for doctor appointments and undergoing unnecessary scans.

 

References:

  1. Vincent K, Maigne JY, Fishhoff C, Lanlo O, Dagenais S. Systematic review of manual therapies for nonspecific neck pain. Joint Bone Spine. 2013; 8: 508-15
  2. Hidalgo B, Hall T, Bossert J, Dugeny A, Cagnie B & Pitance L. The efficacy of manual therapy and exercise for treating non-specific neck pain: a systematic review. Journal of Back and Muscoloskeltal Rehabilitation 30. 2017; 1149-1169
  3. Haldeman S, Carroll L, Cassidy JD, Schubert J, Nygren A, et al. The bone and joint decade 2000-2010 task force on neck pain and its associated disorders: executive summary. Spine. 2008; 33: 5-7
  4. Lau HMC, Wing TT, Lam TH. The effectiveness of thoracic manipulation on patients with chronic mechanical neck pain- a randomised controlled trial. Man Ther 2011; 16: 141-7.
  5. Brukner P & Khan K & colleagues. Clinical Sports Medicine, 4th Ed, p.333, 2012