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Category: Neck Pain

  • These problems could be behind your lower neck pain

    These problems could be behind your lower neck pain

    Feeling pain in the lower part of your neck? Discomfort in this area can be very problematic. In fact, it can make it harder to do any task that requires lifting your arms or turning your head. Fortunately, physical therapists can help you figure out what issue is behind your pain. 

    Neck pain is one of the most common issues Americans face; medical research reports that up to 50% of people experience neck pain every year. Uncovering the cause of your neck pain doesn’t have to be a chore. Physical therapists can assess your neck and reveal the source of your lower neck pain, and they can also help you treat your neck pain effectively. 

    Three common issues that can cause lower neck pain

    The cervical spine extends from just below your skull to about shoulder height. This area and its associated structures is commonly referred to as the neck. There are many neck problems that can cause pain near the base of your cervical spine. Common issues that often lead to pain in this part of the neck are: 

    1. Muscle strains — You have many muscles that run the length of your neck. Some of these even extend into your shoulders, chest and upper back. Overstretching one of your neck muscles in just the right place can lead to pain at the base of your neck. Such an injury is called a muscle strain. 
    1. Herniated cervical discs — There are seven vertebrae in your neck, which are called C1 through C7. These vertebrae each have a fibrous disc between it and the next vertebrae. The outer covering of these disks can be damaged, and their inner material can poke out or herniate. In turn, a herniated cervical disc can lead to pain and other symptoms. 
    1. Cervical radiculopathy — Many nerves branch off the spinal cord in your neck. These nerves run into the shoulders, upper back and other areas of the body. Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck is pinched. This condition can lead to pain that radiates from the neck into other parts of your body. 

    What can your physical therapist do to treat lower neck pain?

    Physical therapists are adept at using many therapy techniques to reduce neck pain. In addition, they excel at combining therapy techniques together to help you get the highest level of pain relief. Some of the therapy techniques your therapist may use to treat your neck pain include: 

    Panther Physical Therapy offers treatment for lower neck pain

    Don’t continue to suffer from lower neck pain. Our Panther PT team is ready and willing to help you find effective treatment for your pain. We’ll start your therapy process with a free screening, which is intended to reveal the cause of your pain. Then, our physical therapists will build you a therapy plan that’s designed to fit your unique needs. Additionally, we offer virtual therapy and at-home care services that allow you to treat your pain from the comfort of your home. 

    Contact our team today for more information about our neck pain treatment services or to schedule your initial appointment.

  • Three ways physical therapy can benefit those with neck arthritis pain

    Three ways physical therapy can benefit those with neck arthritis pain

    The neck contains many soft tissue structures and joints that can wear out as you age. When this happens, it’s often referred to as cervical osteoarthritis. This condition can lead to pain when doing normal daily activities. 

    Millions of Americans will end up having to deal with neck osteoarthritis at some point. In fact, medical studies report that more than 85% of people over 60 have this condition. One way you can treat the symptoms of neck osteoarthritis is to work with a physical therapist. These medical professionals can even help you reduce your neck osteoarthritis pain. 

    Three of the benefits physical therapy can offer for your neck osteoarthritis pain

    A physical therapist is trained to treat issues with the human musculoskeletal system. This includes issues like osteoarthritis that are affecting your neck. There are many ways that your physical therapist can help treat your neck osteoarthritis pain and other symptoms. Common ways your therapist can help you include: 

    1. Reducing your pain — Pain is the most debilitating symptom of arthritis. It can make even turning your head a task you try to avoid. However, physical therapists have access to techniques that can help decrease your neck pain. One study found that a combination of manual therapy and therapeutic exercises helped 75% of patients achieve significant neck pain reductions in just one week. 
    1. Improving neck function — Addressing decreased neck function is also a common goal of physical therapy for neck arthritis. Manual therapy is one way that physical therapists can help meet this goal. It involves techniques where therapists use their hands to manipulate and mobilize the neck. A study on patients who had manual therapy found that it helped 70% of them achieve significant increases in their ability to do normal daily activities. 
    1. Improving your posture — Poor head and neck posture can magnify cervical osteoarthritis symptoms. A physical therapist can take steps to help address this type of poor posture. For one thing, they can suggest ergonomic changes you can make at home or at work. Your therapist can also show you how to do postural exercises designed to help you maintain better posture. 

    Discover treatment for neck osteoarthritis pain at Rehab Access PT

    Ready to find treatment that can decrease your neck osteoarthritis pain? Our physical therapists at Rehab Access Physical Therapy are prepared to help you treat all of your symptoms. We offer free screenings intended to confirm that your symptoms are being caused by neck osteoarthritis. Also, our team excels at building customized therapy plans designed to reduce arthritis pain and help you manage it in the future. Even better, you can get our help from home by using our virtual therapy service. 

    Contact our team today for more information about our arthritis treatment services or to schedule an initial appointment.

  • What physical therapy methods are used for a pinched nerve in the neck?

    What physical therapy methods are used for a pinched nerve in the neck?

    There are many physical therapy methods that can be used for treating a pinched nerve in the neck. In fact, physical therapists will typically use a combination of therapy methods that is unique to each patient.

    A pinched nerve in the neck is also called cervical radiculopathy. Medical research indicates that about 2 in every 1,000 people develop cervical radiculopathy every year. This condition is most common in people who are between 40 and 50 years old. Physical therapy can offer many benefits for people who have a pinched nerve in their neck. One of these benefits is helping to reduce your cervical radiculopathy symptoms. 

    Three physical therapy methods used for reducing symptoms of a pinched neck nerve

    Out of all the possible physical therapy methods used for decreasing pinched neck nerve symptoms, here are three that are used more often: 

    1. Manual therapy — Therapists can use their hands to mobilize and manipulate your neck. Techniques that do so fall into a category called manual therapy. Manual therapy methods can be helpful for cervical radiculopathy patients. One study reports that 57% of the patients who had manual therapy for this condition had successful outcomes. 
    1. Therapeutic exercises — Your physical therapist can also show you therapeutic exercises that can help your cervical radiculopathy symptoms. These exercises can include stretches and neck strengthening movements. 

    Such exercises can help patients increase their neck function. A study on cervical radiculopathy shows that therapeutic exercises helped improve neck function scores by nearly 25 points on a 100-point scale in just four weeks. 

    1. McKenzie Method® — This therapy technique focuses on helping patients learn about their condition. It also aims to help them address their symptoms and prevent their issue from recurring. One symptom of cervical radiculopathy that the McKenzie Method can help with is headaches. 

    A study on this technique found that 80% of cervical radiculopathy patients in the study had headaches before being treated. This percentage dropped to slightly over 3% after three weeks of using the McKenzie Method. 

    Continuum Wellness offers effective physical therapy for a pinched nerve in the neck

    Experiencing pain, loss of function and other symptoms from a pinched nerve in your neck? Our physical therapy team at Continuum Wellness is ready and willing to help you reduce your symptoms. Our physical therapists can perform a free screening of your neck to confirm that you have cervical radiculopathy. 

    Then, they can build you a personalized therapy program designed to offer benefits like: 

    • Reducing pain.
    • Improving neck function.
    • Decreasing headaches.
    • Reducing your risk of future pinched nerves.

    We even offer virtual therapy and at-home care services that allow you to get treatment for your symptoms right in your home. 

    Contact our team today for more information about our cervical radiculopathy treatment options or to schedule your initial appointment. 

  • Am I at risk for pain in my neck and shoulder that radiates down my arm?

    Am I at risk for pain in my neck and shoulder that radiates down my arm?

    Almost anyone can feel pain in their neck and shoulder that radiates down their arm. However, there are certain people who may have a higher risk of developing this type of pain. 

    Pain that starts in the neck and shoulder before radiating down the arm is typically caused by cervical radiculopathy. This condition is more commonly called a pinched neck nerve. A study of cervical radiculopathy reveals that this issue affects 6.3% of the general population over their lifetime. Physical therapists can help you learn if you might be at risk of developing cervical radiculopathy. In addition, these specialists can help you treat the pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down the arm that this condition can cause. 

    Common risk factors for cervical radiculopathy

    There are many factors that can increase your risk of cervical radiculopathy. Having one or more of these risk factors may mean you’re more likely to develop pain in the neck and shoulder that radiates down your arm:

    • Age — The risk of pinched neck nerves increases as a person ages. Generally, the risk is highest when you’re between the ages of 40 and 59. 
    • Doing repetitive neck movements — Years of repetitive neck movements can wear out structures in the neck. In turn, this makes cervical radiculopathy more likely. 
    • Working with vibrating equipment — The vibrations caused by certain work equipment, such as jackhammers, can lead to a greater pinched nerve risk. 
    • Repeatedly overstressing your neck muscles — Activities like weightlifting can put a lot of stress on your neck muscles. Over time, this can increase your risk of pinched neck nerves. Forward head posture can also cause neck muscles to be overstressed and increase your risk of this condition.

    What can physical therapists do to help treat cervical radiculopathy?

    Physical therapists are often able to reduce pain in your neck and shoulder from cervical radiculopathy, and they can also help you stop pain from radiating down your arm. These are two common goals of customized therapy plans for a pinched neck nerve. 

    A few of the therapy techniques your unique plan may include are: 

    Peak Performance offers effective treatment for cervical radiculopathy

    Tired of feeling pain in your neck and shoulder that radiates down your arm? Our Peak Performance team offers effective physical therapy that can help treat your cervical radiculopathy symptoms. 

    We’ll start by doing a free screening on your neck to confirm this issue is causing your symptoms. Then, our physical therapists can build you an individualized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and prevent pinched neck nerves in the future. We can even help you get therapy from home thanks to our virtual therapy service. 

    Contact us today for more information about how we can treat a pinched neck nerve or to schedule an initial appointment.

  • Four tips for how to sleep with a stiff neck and shoulder

    Four tips for how to sleep with a stiff neck and shoulder

    Nobody is a stranger to a sore or stiff neck or shoulder. Mild soreness and pain is a normal part of life that may occur from overexertion or sitting with poor posture for too long. However, when your neck and shoulders are frequently stiff, it can be hard to get a good night’s sleep. 

    By making some simple adjustments to the way you sleep, you may be able to get a good night’s rest and also help reduce neck and shoulder pain.

    How to sleep with a stiff neck and shoulder

    1. Change your position — Poor sleeping position might not only make it hard to sleep with neck and shoulder pain, it may also be the cause of your pain. Avoid sleeping on your stomach because it forces you to turn your head for hours at a time, which strains your neck and shoulders.

      Instead, sleep on your back or on your side. Make sure your spine is aligned and supported to help reduce and prevent a stiff neck and shoulder.

    2. Use a better pillow — A pillow that is too flat or too big will cause your neck to be out of alignment while sleeping. You’ll wake up with a stiff neck and shoulder on a regular basis.

      Find a pillow that provides the right amount of support you need to keep your neck aligned with your spine.

    3. Stretch and exercise — Stretching and exercising on a regular basis can help keep your muscles strong and flexible to help prevent stiffness. Stretching before going to bed and when waking up can help reduce stiffness in the neck and shoulder when sleeping.
    4. Visit a physical therapist — Your stiffness may be connected to an injury or a chronic medical condition that requires professional treatment. Physical therapists can examine your neck and shoulders to identify the cause of your pain and stiffness. They can guide you through a personalized treatment routine to help you manage your pain, improve your range of motion and perform simple tasks, such as getting a good night’s sleep.

    Visit Panther Physical Therapy for stiff neck and shoulder pain treatment

    Do you have trouble sleeping due to a stiff neck and shoulder? Physical therapy can help reduce shoulder and neck pain, so you can enjoy more of your favorite activities and get a better night’s sleep. Our team at Panther Physical Therapy can examine your neck and shoulder and work on a treatment that can help you reduce your pain and stiffness, especially while sleeping. Contact our team for more information about how to sleep with a stiff neck and shoulder or to schedule an initial appointment.

  • What causes muscle pain in the front of the neck?

    What causes muscle pain in the front of the neck?

    When most of us think of pain in the front of our neck, we think of a sore throat. While this is certainly common, it’s not the only reason you may have pain in the front of your neck. If you have pain in this area of your neck and it’s not a sore throat, it’s likely to do with your muscles.

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    Possible causes of muscle pain in the front of the neck

    There are a number of conditions that can affect the muscles in the front of your neck. In many cases, you may experience some mild soreness or a cramp in this region from overexertion or poor posture. However, if you have long-lasting or intense pain in this area, it may be connected with one of the following:

    • Strain — A strain is a stretched or torn muscle. It can occur in your neck for several reasons, including traumatic injuries or poor posture. One example of strain in the neck is called text neck, which is what occurs when you spend hours every day looking down at your smartphone.

      You can reduce your risk of strain by keeping your neck straight and taking frequent breaks to move around if you sit all day at work.
    • Whiplash — Whiplash is an injury to the muscles, ligaments and tendons in your neck that occurs when your head jerks forward and backward suddenly. This motion is common in car accidents when your vehicle suddenly stops but your head and neck keep moving forward. This can affect many areas of your neck, including the muscles toward the front.
    • Tendinitis — Repetitive activities involving the neck or shoulder muscles can irritate the tendons in these areas. This can lead to tendinitis, which is a painful form of inflammation in your tendons. Tendinitis can affect the tendons near the front of your neck, which causes tendon and muscle pain.

    Visit Franklin Rehabilitation for neck pain treatment

    Do you have front of the neck muscle pain that makes it difficult to move your neck? Our physical therapists at Franklin Rehabilitation can examine your condition and guide you through a treatment to help with the pain.

    We always personalized treatments to the needs of each client, but you can generally expect your treatment to include:

    • Gentle stretches 
    • Light exercises
    • Soft tissue mobilization
    • Joint mobilization
    • Posture guidance

    Contact our team today for more information about front of the neck muscle neck pain or to schedule an initial appointment.

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  • What is causing my neck and jaw pain?

    What is causing my neck and jaw pain?

    It’s normal to have mild soreness in your neck or jaws at some point in life. However, if you have long-lasting or intense pain in both of these areas at the same time, there may be an underlying condition that requires professional treatment.

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    What causes neck and jaw pain?

    There are a variety of conditions that cause neck and jaw pain. However, when you’re experiencing pain in both of these areas at the same time, it’s commonly connected to one of these conditions:

    • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction — TMJ dysfunction is one of the most common culprits of co-occurring neck and jaw pain. You have a TMJ on each side of your jaw right below the ear. These are the tiny joints that connect your jaw to the rest of your skull. Irritation from an injury or chronic condition can cause pain in the TMJ joints. Often, long-lasting neck pain can spread into the TMJ and cause TMJ dysfunction.
    • Neck tension — Tension in the neck muscles feels more common than ever thanks to a phenomenon known as text neck. We spend so much time looking down at our smartphones that it causes tension in the neck muscles. Tension in the neck can cause pain to spread into the jaw as well and cause headaches.
    • Strain — Strain in your neck from overexertion in physical activity or from poor posture can cause neck pain. This pain can spread into your jaw, as well as causing headaches.

    Treating neck and jaw pain

    Treatments for neck and jaw pain vary depending on the cause and severity. Physical therapists can examine your condition and review other factors, such as age and medical history. Using this information, they can put together a personalized treatment routine to help treat neck and jaw pain, improve your range of motion and prevent future pain.

    Physical therapy treatments for neck and jaw pain often include:

    • Gentle stretches and exercises.
    • Hands-on therapy, including soft tissue and joint mobilization techniques.
    • Posture guidance.
    • Patient education, including nutrition and advice for activities.

    Visit Franklin Rehabilitation for neck and jaw pain treatment

    Are you tired of constant neck and jaw pain making your daily life more challenging? Our team at Franklin Rehabilitation is here to help. We can examine your neck and jaw and provide a treatment that helps manage your condition. Contact our team today for more information about neck and jaw pain or to schedule an initial appointment.

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  • Three ways physical therapists can help you with text neck

    Three ways physical therapists can help you with text neck

    It probably doesn’t surprise you that smartphone use is way up in the U.S. In fact, you may even be reading this post on your phone right now. 

    Smartphones are great in many ways, but they can be bad for your neck. The reality is that spending hours looking down at a phone, laptop or tablet can lead to a condition called text neck. This condition occurs when you keep your neck in a forward-flexed position for long periods of time. In turn, this leads to pain in your neck. One type of medical professional who can help you address text neck is a physical therapist.

    These are three ways physical therapists can help you treat text neck

    There are many options that physical therapists offer for treating text neck. Also, the specific therapy methods they use to treat you could be different from those used for other patients. Each patient experiences the same issue differently. 

    However, there are several general steps therapists can take to treat your neck pain. These steps include: 

    1. Educating you about good posture — Physical therapists are human musculoskeletal system experts; they know what the optimal posture is for your neck. Commonly, your physical therapist will take steps to teach you about good posture. They could also offer advice on how to maintain good posture in the future. 
    1. Helping you find ways to avoid forward-flexing your neck — Meeting this goal is important if you want to avoid text neck in the future. However, you might not know how to meet it. Your physical therapist can show you how to avoid too much forward neck flexion. Some of the tips they could offer are: 
    • Using a holder for your device.
    • Connecting your laptop to a monitor. 
    • Taking frequent breaks from your device. 
    • Doing regular neck exercises.
    1. Strengthening your neck — It’s hard on your muscles when your head is in a forward-flexed position. Tilting your head forward just 1 inch increases the pressure on your neck by about 10 pounds. This extra weight can leave your neck muscles weak and tense. Physical therapists can show you how to do exercises to stretch and strengthen your neck muscles. Such exercises could include: 
    • Chin tucks
    • Head tilts
    • Head circles

    Find help for your neck pain at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy

    Is your neck constantly in pain due to text neck? Our specialists at Excel PT are ready and willing to help you find ways to treat and prevent this condition. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the issues forward head posture has led to. Our physical therapists are also adept at creating individualized therapy plans designed to improve your posture and decrease and prevent pain. 

    Want to treat your pain from home? You can do so with our help, thanks to our at-home care and virtual therapy services. 

    Contact our team today for more information about how we can treat neck problems or to schedule your initial appointment. 

  • Why do I have pain in my neck and shoulder radiating down my arm?

    Why do I have pain in my neck and shoulder radiating down my arm?

    Neck pain and shoulder pain are normal parts of life. It’s not unusual to have a sore neck or shoulder after a long day of physical work or sports activities. However, when you have pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down your arm, you might understandably be concerned.

    Pain in your neck and shoulder radiating down the arm can be related to different conditions, so it’s best to let a health care professional perform an examination to achieve a diagnosis. Usually, this type of pain is related to cervical radiculopathy, better known as a pinched nerve.

    What causes a pinched nerve?

    A pinched nerve refers to a nerve in your neck that has become irritated due to an increase of pressure on it. Muscle tension, herniated discs and bone spurs are just a few examples of conditions that can “pinch” the nerve in your neck. 

    When this affects a nerve ending that extends into your shoulder, you may feel pain, tingling and weakness that radiates through the shoulder and down into your arm. 

    Treatment for pain in the neck and shoulder radiating down the arm

    Treatments for a pinched nerve in your neck vary depending on the cause of the condition. In extreme cases, surgical intervention may be required to correct the issue. However, in many cases, you can get relief with physical therapy.

    Physical therapists can assess your neck, shoulders and arms to identify the source of your pain and work on a personalized treatment. The main goal of most physical therapy treatments is to build your strength and flexibility in targeted areas. This helps to reduce pressure off the irritated nerves and can prevent similar pain from popping up again.

    Physical therapy treatments vary depending on your needs, but usually, they include:

    • Gentle stretches
    • Therapeutic exercises
    • Soft tissue mobilization
    • Joint mobilization
    • Posture guidance

    Visit Rehab Access today for neck and shoulder pain treatment

    Do you have pain in your neck and shoulder that radiates down into your arm? Our physical therapists at Rehab Access can assess your condition and guide you through a personalized treatment to help manage your pain. Contact our team today for more information about pinched nerve pain or to schedule an initial appointment. 

  • Three reasons you’re having burning neck pain

    Three reasons you’re having burning neck pain

    Feeling a burning pain in your neck? The odds are that your pain is caused by a pinched nerve, but there are many reasons why you may have developed this issue. 

    Having a pinched nerve somewhere in your body is pretty common. Medical research shows that 85 in every 100,000 Americans are affected by pinched nerves every year. Fortunately, there are medical professionals who can help you figure out the reason you have burning neck pain caused by a pinched nerve, and physical therapists are just such professionals. 

    Three reasons you’ve developed a pinched nerve and burning neck pain

    Your neck is filled with nerves that run into the shoulder, head and upper back. Compression of one of these nerves can cause burning pain to invade your neck and areas around it. Physical therapists see a lot of people with nerve compression, and there are three reasons that many patients develop this issue: 

    1. Car accidents — The forces that a car accident unleashes can play havoc with your neck. For instance, it can cause your head to whip forward and backward violently, which is called whiplash. It’s common for whiplash to cause neck inflammation and swelling. In turn, this can lead to a pinched neck nerve. 
    1. Poor posture — Not having good head and neck posture can also lead to a pinched nerve. Poor posture increases stress on the neck muscles. Over time, this stress can wear these muscles out to the point that they aren’t supporting the neck vertebrae as well. This can cause vertebrae to shift out of alignment and compress a nerve. 
    1. Osteoarthritis — Your neck is able to bend and flex in part because it has facet joints. However, these joints can wear out as the body ages. When this happens, it’s known as cervical osteoarthritis. Many neck nerves run close to the facet joints, so they’re likely to get pinched as these joints break down and lose their mobility. 

    Peak Performance can treat your burning neck pain

    Eager to find effective treatment for pinched nerves that are causing neck pain? Our physical therapists at Peak Performance can help you find treatment that’s top notch. We offer free screenings that can confirm a pinched nerve is causing your pain. Also, our team excels at building individualized therapy plans intended to reduce pain and decompress the affected nerve. Such a plan can include therapy methods like: 

    Contact us today for more information about our treatment options for neck pain or to schedule your initial appointment. 

  • What to do about the throbbing pain in your neck?

    What to do about the throbbing pain in your neck?

    Feeling throbbing pain in your neck? Do light touches to the neck or head trigger the pain? Does it feel like you have a migraine? Answering yes to these questions could mean you have a condition called occipital neuralgia.

    One study of headache clinic patients reveals that over 15% of those surveyed had occipital neuralgia. This condition tends to start out as pain in the neck, and then the pain tends to move toward the top of the head or behind one eye. It occurs when the occipital nerves that run from the neck into the scalp are damaged or inflamed.

    Treating the throbbing pain in the neck that occipital neuralgia causes can be done in several ways. There are three treatment options in particular that physical therapists offer that can be effective. 

    Three treatment options you should try for throbbing neck pain from occipital neuralgia

    Physical therapists are musculoskeletal system experts, which means they understand how the neck interacts with the head. This is important for occipital neuralgia patients who are feeling throbbing pain in the neck. Some treatment options that your physical therapist may recommend include: 

    1. Soft tissue mobilization — This is a type of manual therapy focused on muscles, ligaments, tendons and other neck soft tissue. It involves your physical therapist applying pressure with their hands. The goal is to reduce tension in the targeted soft tissue. In turn, this can decrease the pinching of occipital nerves that’s causing your pain. 
    1. Spinal stabilization training — An unstable spine can lead to many issues, including pinched occipital nerves. Your physical therapist can develop a spinal stabilization training program to fit your needs. Often, this plan will involve doing exercises to strengthen your neck muscles. Such exercises can also help reduce neck tension and pain. 
    1. Functional dry needling — Needles aren’t something most people associate with less pain. Yet a therapy method called functional dry needling can reduce neck pain. It does so by targeting myofascial trigger points. The physical therapist places a monofilament needle into the trigger point, which creates a local twitch response that reduces tension. One study shows that functional dry needling reduced neck pain by 33% immediately after the patient’s session. 

    Treat your throbbing neck pain with help from Border Therapy Services

    Suffering from throbbing neck pain from occipital neuralgia? Our physical therapists at Border Therapy Services are ready and willing to help you find ways to decrease your pain. Our team offers free screenings that can confirm that occipital neuralgia is the source of your pain. Then, we can build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and prevent its recurrence. 

    Is your neck pain too bad to go out? That’s OK! Our physical therapists can help you from home by using our virtual therapy and at-home care services. 

    Contact us today for more information about our therapy services for neck pain or to schedule your initial appointment. 

  • Why do I have a throbbing pain in my neck?

    Why do I have a throbbing pain in my neck?

    The answer is that there are many underlying issues that can cause a throbbing pain in your neck, but each underlying issue leads to a condition called occipital neuralgia. 

    Neck pain is very common in the U.S.; it’s estimated that up to 50% of Americans experience it every year. Pain that feels like a throbbing in your neck or the back of your head is likely occipital neuralgia. Physical therapists can help you learn the underlying issues that are causing your occipital neuralgia and pain. These specialists are also able to effectively treat the root causes of neck pain. 

    What underlying issues can cause occipital neuralgia?

    Throbbing neck pain is just one sign that you have occipital neuralgia. The pain of this condition can also feel like it’s shooting from the neck into the head. It can also seem like the pain settles behind one of your eyes, and touching the scalp even lightly can set off your pain. 

    Occipital neuralgia itself is normally a symptom of another underlying issue that causes occipital nerve compression. Some issues that can cause the pinching of this nerve include: 

    How can your physical therapist treat the root cause of your throbbing neck pain? 

    Therapists have many techniques they can use to treat the root causes of occipital neuralgia. However, they’ll have to first identify your underlying issues before they can choose the most effective therapy methods to deal with them. To do this, your physical therapist will comprehensively evaluate your neck. Then, they will build you a therapy plan that could include techniques like: 

    • Soft tissue mobilization to bring pressure and friction to bear on soft tissue tension through your physical therapist’s hands. 
    • Graston Technique® that can break down scar tissue that’s pulling your neck out of alignment. 

    Find help for your neck pain at Panther Physical Therapy

    Ready to start working with a physical therapist to reduce your throbbing neck pain? Our therapy specialists at Panter PT are primed to help you find the help you need. We can evaluate your neck during a free screening and determine the root cause of your pain. Our team can then build you a personalized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and prevent its return. 

    Not sure if you can leave home because of your pain? You don’t have to! Our physical therapists can meet with you in an at-home care or virtual therapy session right in your own home. 

    Contact us today for more information about the treatment options we offer for neck pain or to schedule an initial appointment.

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