The Back Pain and Neck Pain Clinic is one of the specialty clinics at Specialist Pain Physio.
Back and neck pain are very common in modern society and thanks to a great deal of research we have a much better understanding of the causes of pain and the influences upon the pain. This knowledge is vital for successful management of back and neck pain as treatment and interventions can target the most appropriate source(s).
In many cases back and neck pain improves with time and appropriate guidance. Often reassurance that there is nothing serious underlying the pain, pain-relieving treatments and encouragement to keep moving will facilitate recovery. However, there are situations when the pain can persist whether it follows an acute injury (sports injury, whiplash injury) or begins insidiously without any obvious injury and gradually worsens over time.
The start point of a back or neck pain can be sudden from an injury (e.g./ sports injury, a fall, car accident) or when a threshold is reached gradually whereby the brain kicks in a host of protective and restorative responses including pain. This gradual onset can be as a result of repetitive strains placed upon the tissues in combination with other health related factors (e.g./ general tissue health, exercise levels, stress, anxiety). The body and brain will manage many problems without our knowing and when it reaches a stage when further action is required, the brain creates the experience of pain to motivate some action. This maybe to seek help, take a painkiller or rest. That is the essence of pain, similar to thirst and hunger; it is a motivator for action to help with survival. Of course this is all very useful in the early stages of an injury when the tissues are healing; however this becomes less useful when the tissue have actually healed.
The general advice with back pain is to remain tolerably active and this is for a good reason. The tissues need movement for normal health and any imposed immobilisation will have negative effects. Clearly there are times when it is very difficult too move and a balance of movement and rest is required. Bed rest is no longer advised on the basis that immobilised tissues become stiffer, more painful and there can also be sensory changes such as pins and needles and altered awareness of the affected body part. It becomes very difficult to start moving following a period of inactivity.
Similarly neck pain can occur with injury (e.g. whiplash, sports injury) or be more gradual. In the case of the latter scenario there can be a postural contribution and factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, stress and workplace ergonomics.
Back pain and neck pain can be managed effectively with a programme that includes education to enhance understanding of how the spine can be self-managed, exercise and pain reliving techniques. The exercises are designed to normalise movement and control of movement. They also increase the individual's confidence in using the spine.
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