Understanding Nicole’s Neck Pain

One of the most common things we hear from our patients is that their pain started for “no apparent reason.” Like Nicole, people will wake up with a crick in their neck or notice a stiffness turning when driving in the car. It is also common for people to notice tightness in their upper back and neck after a long day.

So, what is actually the source of the pain? In most cases, there is an issue with the neck joints or the neck muscles due to prolonged positions. Our neck joints don’t like remaining in any position for extended periods. In Nicole’s case, she first noticed her pain in the morning, which may have been related to her neck position while sleeping. It is also important to note that in Nicole’s case, the first sign of any issue was in the morning when she woke up, unrelated to stress. 

As Nicole’s day progressed, her pain got worse. But this also was more likely related to how she held her neck while driving or sitting at her computer. In both cases, her posture, specifically how she held her neck, seems to have contributed to her pain. Prolonged sitting can lead to a forward head position, resulting in tension to soft tissue (i.e., muscles, tendons, and ligaments) or negative changes to our blood flow. 

The muscles of our neck function best when we move them. So, holding her head in one position likely led to irritation of the muscles and affected her ability to move her neck, which in turn caused stress.  

Stress “contributes” to neck pain because, when we experience stress, our bodies naturally respond by tensing up as a protective measure. This tension can lead to discomfort, particularly in the neck and upper back region. Research studies have found that individuals with higher stress levels reported increased neck pain as compared to those with lower stress levels. This is why we say “contributes” to, but not the cause of, neck pain.

Separating Muscle and Joint Pain: The Key to Lasting Results

Do you notice tightness in your upper back and neck? Is it more tight on one side than on the other? The location and characteristics of your neck pain are valuable clues for our skilled McKenzie trained therapists at Key Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre to identify the likely culprit for your pain, which helps us guide you to lasting relief.

Ready to unlock the secret to lasting relief from neck and upper back pain? Don’t ignore those subtle signs — reach out to our skilled physiotherapists today, and let us help you resolve your pain once and for all!

Neck Pain — Muscle vs. Joint

It can be difficult for people to determine where their pain originates. One of the most common reasons people describe their pain is “no apparent reason.” It often seems to come out of the blue or while doing the same everyday things you usually do. 

You can use these clues to point you in the right direction:

• Pain on one side = joint pain. Although this, and all other clues, is not 100% true, it is a good starting point. Muscle tension tends to be on both sides of the neck and equally distributed, whereas joint pain is typically one-sided. 
• Difficulty or inability to turn = joint dysfunction. Muscle tension tends to make movement uncomfortable or to feel tight on the opposite side of where you’re turning towards (pain on the left when turning right). Joint dysfunction usually causes the inability to turn or the sensation of a blockage when turning to the same side as the pain (pain on the right when turning right).
• Pain that travels = joint. Muscles tend to feel tight and sore in the muscles themselves, compared to joint pain, which travels from the source of pain up into the head or down into the shoulder blade or upper shoulder area. 

These clues can help us determine what is causing your pain, but the best way to get lasting relief is to schedule an appointment with one of our McKenzie therapists!