Neck pain arrives in two broad ways. Suddenly, where you wake up unable to turn your head, which is alarming and usually settles faster than you expect. Or gradually, building through a busy few months until you notice you are permanently stiff and getting headaches.
Both are treatable. Neither usually indicates anything sinister, though the neck produces more anxiety than the back because of what is passing through it.
More information
Is it my neck or my shoulder
A genuinely common confusion, because the neck refers pain into the shoulder blade and upper arm, and the shoulder refers pain into the neck. As a rough guide, pain travelling below the elbow, or pins and needles into the hand, more often starts at the neck. Getting this right matters, because months can be spent treating the wrong structure.
Desk related neck pain
The posture conversation is usually oversimplified. There is no single correct way to sit, and no evidence that a slightly imperfect posture causes damage. What does cause trouble is staying in any one position for hours without moving, combined with neck and shoulder muscles that have never been asked to be strong. So we treat the pain, then address movement breaks and strength rather than selling you a perfect sitting position.
What treatment involves
Hands on treatment to settle pain and restore movement, specific exercise, and advice on the things that are keeping it going. Most neck pain responds well and reasonably quickly.
When to seek medical advice
Neck pain after a significant injury, with fever and a stiff neck, with weakness or clumsiness in the hands, or with unsteadiness on your feet needs medical assessment rather than physiotherapy first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my pain coming from my neck or my shoulder?
Is my posture causing my neck pain?
I woke up unable to turn my head. Is that serious?
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