Physiotherapists in East Dulwich treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

The Causes of Neck Pain

The neck is a strong structure, being part of the mechanically strong and durable spinal column, formed by the individual vertebrae which are bound together by the disc outer walls and large numbers of ligaments. The neck has some large powerful muscles and some smaller postural ones to maintain itself within safe limits. Disc problems or trapped nerves are uncommon in neck problems and surgery for neck symptoms is much less common than for back problems. As with mechanical low back pain, MRI scans and x-rays are not particularly helpful in normal neck pain and can even be confusing.

MRI scan reports often reveal .degenerative changes. in the discs or joints of the cervical spine, which sounds serious but is present in the necks of many people who do not have neck pain. These changes are time related and do not reflect ongoing damage in the spine. One of the frustrating aspects of neck pain is that the physiotherapist and the doctor are unlikely to be able to put their finger on the exact cause of the pain, but this is very common and not a cause for alarm. Most neck pain is thought to come from the joints, ligaments and muscles in the cervical spine.

Managing Acute Neck Pain

Most neck pain episodes which come on suddenly (acute neck pain) are managed by the sufferer independently and this is the best approach. The initial approach is to take some painkillers to reduce the pain levels to a more manageable state. Painkillers cannot abolish the pain completely, but simply allow the person to get moving and stay active in the early period rather than being forced to rest. It is quite safe to take the recommended painkillers, they don.t mask the pain so much that a person can damage themselves without knowing. It is important to take the drugs appropriately.

It is recommended to take the painkillers every four to six hours as advised in the instructions and to do this for several days, even if the person feels better now and then. Stopping taking them too soon means the pain flares up again at some point, inhibiting movement and recovery. Taking the painkillers regularly allows the build up of the drug levels in the blood which keeps the pain suppressed. People often stick it out until the pain becomes more severe but this is unhelpful as it is harder to relieve a pain than to prevent it developing.