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Learn about the common causes of neck pain, when to see a specialist and what treatments are available.
Many people will experience some degree of neck pain at some stage in their lives, although this will often be mild or will resolve naturally over time. For neck pain that does not go away or gets worse, it is a good idea to get a medical assessment to make sure it's not being caused by a serious underlying problem, particularly if your neck pain is limiting your movement or significantly affecting daily life.
Neck pain can have many causes, including a problem in the shoulder, a pulled muscle in the neck, osteoarthritis, poor posture or a nerve becoming trapped in the spine. If you are worried about your neck pain and what's causing it, one of our experienced consultants can help you to find the root of the problem.
Book online or call today and you could be having your initial consultation at a Circle Health Group hospital within 48 hours. Our specialists offer fast diagnosis, rapid access to the treatment you need, and the reassurance of aftercare so you know you're supported through recovery too.
Don't wait for neck pain treatment. Go private with Circle.
So how common is neck pain? Here, we will have a brief look at some studies and surveys that help give an idea of the number of people affected by neck pain.
NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has some fascinating statistics about neck pain:
In 2017, Public Health England carried out a survey of adults with chronic (i.e. long-term) pain, and 24% of those surveyed said they experienced pain in their neck or shoulder.
In a study for NHS Health Scotland, it was estimated that 101,000 individuals in Scotland were living with neck pain. In the same study, they calculated that 32,472 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) were lost to neck pain in Scotland each year.
Using just these figures, it is clear that neck pain is a significant problem across the UK.
Neck pain can affect every aspect of daily life and may limit the activities you can do. For example, you may:
If your neck pain has an obvious cause, like doing too much gardening or sleeping with your head at a funny angle, you probably will not worry too much about it. You may assume the pain will settle down and wear off naturally over a few days.
If you have neck pain that has started unexpectedly, with no obvious cause, you may be more concerned about getting medical advice.
You may have pain only in your neck, or spread more widely to your shoulders, back or arm.
Your spine comprises a series of small bones (vertebrae), discs, nerves, joints, ligaments and muscles. In addition to being the central support structure of the body, it is incredibly complex.
Your neck is found at the uppermost part of your spine. Referred to as the cervical spine, this consists of 7 vertebrae (referred to as C1 - C7). These vertebrae are linked by facet joints, which enable your neck to move in any direction as you look down, up or sideways. The vertebrae support your head and provide protection for the spinal cord, and each one is separated by an intervertebral disc made of cartilage.
Given the complex structures within the neck, it is no wonder that neck pain is a common problem. Many problems in the neck are mechanical in origin, caused by 'wear and tear' degeneration. However, very rarely there may be a link to a more serious condition that shouldn't be ignored.
Sometimes it will be obvious why you have pain. For example, if you are playing football and get knocked over by a sliding tackle, you may end up falling onto your arm and/or shoulder. If after the fall you have pain in your shoulder and neck, it is highly likely that the impact is responsible. (See also 'Whiplash' below.)
This could be included under the 'Trauma or injury' bullet point above but has been given its own section for clarity.
Whiplash is a common cause of neck pain. Its name is due to it being caused by a fast 'whip-like' movement of your head and/or neck to the front, side or back. Whiplash usually occurs in a road traffic accident, after having a nasty fall or trip (often onto a hard surface like a pavement) or following a collision while playing contact sports.
Any time your head and neck are subject to a sudden, violent movement, whiplash may develop.
Whiplash involves widespread and ongoing pain in the neck, spine and (sometimes) the shoulder. Unlike other injuries, it doesn't normally involve any obvious physical damage to the bones, muscles or ligaments and so treatment tends to be by physiotherapy. The speed somebody recovers from whiplash varies but it can take several months.
If you do a lot of activity in a short space of time, or do more activity than you are used to, you may damage a muscle, ligament or tendon in or around the neck. Even simple activities like gardening or painting can end up causing neck pain, as can many sports and exercises, particularly those involving weights or lots of shoulder movements.
As you age, your joints experience natural 'wear and tear'. Certain conditions such as osteoarthritis can contribute to that happening more quickly than normal.
Neck pain can be caused by a problem elsewhere in the body, commonly the shoulder. This is known as referred pain. Examples of referred pain are:
Mr Nick Fernandez, a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, has been diagnosing and treating neck pain for many years. He knows the value of ruling out referred pain:
"You have to be careful when you're examining a shoulder to check that the pain isn't coming from the neck. Giveaway signs would be slightly abnormal distribution of pain, numbness, tingling and/or some neck pain or stiffness.
"If somebody has shoulder and neck pain, I'd want to exclude a cardiac cause. If the blood supply to your heart isn't brilliant, you may get pain that goes up into your neck and your shoulder."
Whether you know what has caused your neck pain or not, expert assessment can bring you peace of mind about suitable treatments. Your Circle Health Group consultant will help you get the answers - and pain relief - you need.
Mr Fernandez advises seeing a doctor for assessment if your neck pain is severe, has come on suddenly and for no obvious reason, or has been going on for more than a few weeks.
If you have any concerns about neck pain, a private consultation with a specialist at your local Circle Health Group hospital is a sensible option. Why not book your consultation today?
When you meet your consultant at Circle, they will talk with you in detail about your symptoms. To help them get the information they need, they may ask you questions like:
Your initial consultation will usually involve moving your head and neck (and shoulder if you have pain there also) into different positions to help them see where and when you have pain.
Additional tests may be needed to help confirm the cause of your pain, and these could include:
Every Circle Health Group hospital offers fast access to any diagnostic investigations needed, and our on-site radiologists are able to provide prompt reporting of any scans.
Once any results are back and a diagnosis has been confirmed, your consultant will discuss treatment options with you to determine the best way forward.
Sometimes, something as simple as resting your shoulders and neck can ease symptoms. This is often the case if your neck pain has been caused by overuse.
Paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen will often help to reduce pain in the neck or shoulder. Before you take any medication, you should always check it is safe for you to do so. If you have any queries, please speak with a pharmacist or doctor for help and advice.
Stronger pain medication may be prescribed by your consultant if appropriate.
Many neck problems are caused by damage or imbalance in the muscles and other soft tissues in the neck.
A physiotherapist can tailor an exercise programme for you to help strengthen and stabilise your neck and shoulder muscles. A course of physiotherapy can often reduce neck pain and improve mobility in and around your shoulder and neck.
Neck (and shoulder) pain is often caused by poor posture. Sitting with your shoulders slumped forwards and back hunched can, over time, cause problems with neck muscles, spinal nerves and more.
A physiotherapist can help to improve and correct your posture. Whether you have forward head posture or a hunched back, they can tailor a programme of exercises and stretches just for you. As your posture improves, your neck pain may also improve.
If your neck pain is being referred from your shoulder, a corticosteroid injection into the shoulder may help ease your pain. The corticosteroid provides pain relief and acts as an anti-inflammatory. The effects will wear off over time.
Surgery will not be needed for most people with neck pain. For more serious causes of neck pain, such as a herniated cervical disc, surgery may be advised. Your consultant will discuss this with you if surgery would be an option.
If you have private health insurance, the cost of your neck pain treatment may be covered by your policy. You should speak directly to your insurer to find out.
If you are paying for your own treatment, we will put together a fixed-price package once you have your diagnosis. This does not include your initial consultation or any diagnostic tests, but it does include all treatment and follow-up appointments, as well as six months of aftercare if you need it.
We offer flexible payment options that allow you to spread the cost of treatment over a period of one to five years, so you'll pay monthly instead of all at once - making private healthcare affordable.
If you are struggling with pain, stiffness or another issue in or around your neck, it is sensible to see a specialist for assessment and advice. We can help you get the support you need without delay.
When you choose to go private with Circle, you'll benefit from:
It is quick and easy to book a private consultation at your local Circle Health Group hospital. Consultations are available Monday - Friday, and many Circle Health Group hospitals offer evening and Saturday clinics too.
If you would like to see a specific consultant, this is easy to arrange. This may be because they have been recommended to you by a friend or family member, or because you have seen them previously and would like to see them again.
Book online today or give us a call on the number above.