Neck Pain
Neck pain is pain or stiffness in the neck that can spread into the shoulders, upper back or down the arm. It often comes from desk posture, phone use, sleep position, whiplash or wear in the neck, and physical therapy aims at the cause rather than only the sore spot. We treat neck pain at our Edgemere and Physicians clinics in El Paso, Texas.
What is behind a stiff neck
The same sore spot can have very different causes, and the treatment follows the cause.
Desk work, tech neck and text neck
Hours at a screen or looking down at your phone strain the neck muscles. Tech neck and text neck describe a head that drifts forward and a neck that works harder to hold it up.
Whiplash
A car accident or a sudden impact can strain the soft tissues of the neck and bring stiffness and headaches. If an accident is involved, see auto accident care.
Wear in the neck
Osteoarthritis, disc changes and spinal stenosis can stiffen the neck and sometimes press on nerves.
Stress and tension
Stress often shows up as tight muscles in the neck and shoulders.
The occasional crick in neck
Waking with a crick in neck is usually a muscle that was held in one position all night. A day or two of gentle movement often settles it. If it keeps coming back, something is making your neck work too hard, and that is worth an exam.
Hands-on first, then the exercise that keeps it better
After a movement and strength exam of your neck, shoulders and upper back, we usually start with manual therapy and gentle joint mobilization to ease stiffness. Then we build up the deep neck muscles and the muscles between the shoulder blades, because weak support is a common reason a stiff neck keeps returning.
Dry needling can help release tight muscle knots in the neck and shoulders, and neuromuscular re-education retrains how the muscles work together. At our Edgemere clinic we also have the multi-cervical unit, which records neck movement and strength so we can see what changes from visit to visit.
Neck pain that travels
Arm pain, numbness or tingling
A pinched nerve in neck, called cervical radiculopathy, can cause neck pain radiating down arm into the hand. We test the nerve roots in the neck and, if needed, EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies nerve testing is available at our clinics. Tingling in the hand can also come from the wrist, so see Carpal Tunnel.
Neck and shoulder pain
The neck and shoulder share muscles and nerves, so neck and shoulder pain is often one problem. We check both, and the shoulder pain page covers the joint itself.
Headaches and jaw pain
Neck problems can set off headaches at the base of the skull, covered in Headaches & Migraines, and add to jaw pain, covered in TMJ / Jaw Pain.
Set up your workstation so your neck gets a rest
Small changes help: put the top of your screen near eye level, keep the keyboard close enough that your shoulders can relax, raise your phone toward your face instead of lowering your head to it, and stand up and move often. We go through your own desk, car or workday and give you a few exercises you can do on the job.
If you had a head injury along with your neck pain, our Concussion program checks the neck as part of its testing.
See a doctor or go to the ER first if you have
- Neck pain after a fall or a crash
- Dizziness, vision changes or trouble speaking when you move your neck
- Arm weakness that is getting worse
- Fever with a stiff neck
Texas allows direct access to physical therapy, so in many cases you do not need a referral to start. Call us and we can help verify your insurance requirements before your first visit. Most insurance coverage is accepted.
Neck pain care in El Paso, Texas
Call or request an appointment at our Edgemere or Physicians clinic and we will start with what your neck is doing.
We see patients at our Edgemere and Physicians clinics in El Paso, Texas.