Neck Pain Treatment Warwick & Leamington Spa
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends manual therapy (including osteopathy) for neck pain treatment. This could be for neck pain caused by postural issues, muscle strain, sports injuries or a build up of tension from stress, anxiety or depression.
At our Warwick clinic we often see patients who have woken with neck pain and stiffness after “sleeping awkwardly”. The pain is usually one-sided and they are unable to fully turn their head or look over their shoulder. This can impact things like driving, working, going to the gym and other exercise.
Neck pain and stiffness can be localised, but may also affect other areas. It can radiate to the base of your skull head causing headaches, or to your upper back causing pain between the shoulder blades. If there is a pinched or trapped nerve root in your neck, you may also experience burning or shooting pain into your arm or hand, as well as tingling, pins and needles, numbness or weakness. Nerve root irritation is usually caused by a bulging disc, arthritis or ‘wear and tear’ to the facet joints at the back of the spine.
What Causes Neck Pain?
- Lifestyle factors eg. sleeping position, prolonged computer use
- Postural issues
- Stress, anxiety or depression
- Disc bulge or prolapse
- Muscle strain
- Whiplash
- Osteoarthritis
- Age-related wear and tear to the neck joints
How can Osteopathy Treatment Help Your Neck Pain?
We do a thorough assessment to work out the cause of your neck pain. Osteopathic treatment may include soft tissue massage and mobilisation of the neck and spine. The aim is to reduce pain, improve ease of movement and increase resilience to further episodes of neck pain. An osteopath will also give you advice on lifestyle, posture and exercises to do at home. In some instances, you may be referred to your GP for a scan, X-ray or other tests to rule out possible underlying conditions which may require medical intervention.
★★★★★ “I went to Emma with neck pain. I couldn’t turn my head. Walked out feeling new and much relief. Emma really knows her stuff. Highly recommend!” D.G. (construction worker)
How many Osteopathy Sessions will I need for Neck Pain?
The majority of people benefit from between 1 and 4 sessions for neck pain treatment, whereas others may need more. Longer-standing issues often require more treatments. Sometimes after the initial course of treatment we may discuss having a maintenance or top up treatment at regular intervals to prevent future flare ups. This could be monthly or every 3-4 months, depending on your circumstances.
Treatments are generally weekly but we will advise if you would benefit from coming more or less frequently. We can give you a better indication of the number and frequency of sessions needed, after your full examination at the first appointment.
Should I use Ice or Heat for my Neck Pain?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Some people find ice helpful in the first 24–48 hours after a sudden injury or flare-up, while others prefer the relaxing effect of heat for muscle tension and stiffness. The best option often depends on the cause of your neck pain and which provides the most relief. We explain when to use each in more detail in our blog post on using ice or heat for pain.
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