What Causes Neck Pain?

Neck Pain is caused by any injury or irritation to the pain sensing fibers of the neck or from referred pain from related joints and organs.  Causes include:

1

Mechanical

Muscle Sprain/Strain- Soft tissue injury (e.g. whiplash) causing muscle pain and stiffness
Trigger Points- Hypertonic bands in muscle belly with characteristic radiation pattern
Fracture, cancer, or infection of the bone.
Somatic Dysfunction
Facet Arthritis- Due to arthritic changes on the facet joint. Can cause sharp pain with radiation that is typically worse with extension.
2

Neurologic Myelopathy- Disturbance of the spinal cord

Usually from narrowing around the cord from degenerative changes in the discs, vertebrae/facets, and ligaments
Symptoms are often bilateral and non-localized. Difficulty with manual dexterity, diffuse hand numbness. Upper motor neuron signs.
3

Neurologic Radiculopathy- Related to spinal nerve causing radiating pain

Usually from disc herniation or vertebral foramina stenosis
Pain is classically sharp and electric
Typically get neurologic deficits along that level
4

Neurologic Referred

Cardiac
Pulmonary
GI

How Can OMM Treat it?

Osteopathic Manipulation is an excellent first line treatment for most neck pain that isn’t due to fracture, neurologic process, or systemic illness.  It has been shown to be  more effective than medication for acute/subacute neck pain.  The goal is to remove mechanical restrictions in the bones, fascias, muscles, and nerves related to the neck.

Ideally, all osteopathic treatments will address the more dominant restrictions in the body to restore optimal function.  Additionally, one should consider evaluation and treatment of the cranium, cervical and thoracic spines, upper ribs, scalenes and other muscles of the neck, shoulders, and the organs near the diaphragm.

The combination of OMT and lifestyle modifications (exercises, stretches, and ergonomics) is often the most direct treatment approach to get to the cause of the patient’s neck pain.

Resources

Here we will be adding links and resources for you to gain more information on the osteopathic approach to neck pain.