Neck Pain

Managing neck pain

Whatever the cause of neck pain or a stiff neck, the advice is generally the same: carry on with your normal daily activities as much as possible, keep active and take painkillers to relieve the symptoms.

• Take regular doses of paracetamol, ibuprofen, or a combination of the two, to control pain – ibuprofen gel can be rubbed onto your neck as an alternative to taking tablets. Always follow the dosage instructions that come with the medication.
• Try holding a cold pack to your neck – this can help reduce the pain and inflammation. Purpose-made ice packs are available from The Mansfield Clinic.
• Sleep on a firm pillow at night – how many pillows you use is a very individual thing, and the important thing is what feels the most comfortable. Do not lie on your stomach if you can avoid it.
• Check your posture – bad posture can aggravate the pain and it may have caused it in the first place. 
• Avoid wearing a neck collar if possible – there is no evidence to suggest that wearing a neck collar will help to heal your neck, and it is better to keep your neck mobile.
• Avoid driving until the pain and stiffness have gone – it may prevent you turning your head to view traffic, which can be dangerous.
• If your neck is stiff or twisted, try some simple neck exercises – gently tense your neck muscles as you tilt your head up and down and from side to side, and as you carefully twist your neck from left to right. These exercises will help strengthen your neck muscles and improve your range of movement.

If the symptoms do not improve after a few days, or you are worried about it, then you should seek expert advice from The Mansfield Clinic. Dr Allfree will will examine your neck and ask some questions to help rule out any serious underlying damage or condition. He may also prescribe a stronger painkiller, such as codeine, to take with your usual over-the-counter painkillers. If appropriate, he may also treat you with gentle manual therapy such as osteopathy.

If your symptoms are particularly severe or do not improve, Dr Allfree may consider treating you with anti-inflammatory steroid injections around the painful neck joints. This is a very straightforward treatment and can provide quite rapid relief.

A twisted or locked neck

Some people suddenly wake up one morning to find their neck twisted to one side and stuck in that position. This is known as acute torticollis and is caused by injury to the neck muscles. Torticollis can occur after long exposure to a cold draught, or after your neck has been in an unusual position.

Acute torticollis can take up to a week to get better, but usually only lasts 24-48 hours. You may be able to manage your pain at home by following the advice outlined above, but if your symptoms persist for more than 48 hours seek advice from Dr Allfree. He will examine your neck and will recommend appropriate further treatment.

Nerve or bone problems in the neck

Sometimes, neck pain is caused by the 'wear and tear' that occurs to the bones and joints in your neck. This is a type of arthritis called cervical spondylosis. Cervical spondylosis occurs naturally with age. It does not always cause symptoms, although in some people the bone changes can cause neck stiffness. Nearby nerves can also be squashed, resulting in pain that radiates from the arms, pins and needles and numbness in the hands and legs.

Neck pain caused by a compressed nerve is known as cervical radiculopathy. It can sometimes occur after your neck has been held in an awkward position, after twisting or bending your body abnormally, or following the use of vibrating power tools.

Cervical radiculopathy can be very painful, and often the most successful treatment is a steroid injection. If this does not help, you may need to be referred for an MRI scan. This can be arranged for you at The Mansfield Clinic.