I have had two patients come in over the last week with very severe neck pain, where they could barely move their head. I imagine the average person would question whether osteopathy would help in these cases…
I treated both patients with soft tissue techniques, gentle stretching and manipulation. I kept the treatment relatively gentle due to the amount of pain they were both in. I recommended they alternate between applying heat and ice to the area to help reduce the inflammation.
They both came back within the week for a follow-up treatment. It was interesting to note that they both felt sore for a few days after initial treatment, but by the time they saw me for the follow-up they both felt significantly better (“1 million percent better” was one response!).
Seeing an osteopath for severe neck pain is a smart choice, because the cause of the pain generally doesn’t show up on an x-ray. On the rare occasion that there is a more serious condition causing the pain, we can refer you for scans or further investigation. So don’t hesitate to give us a call, no matter how bad your pain in the neck is!