Expert: Scott F. Gillman, DC, DACBSP - 11/17/2011

Question
Hi..i have been having neck pain now from the start of this year (2011) and have been at 2 different physios. the first physio massaged the effected area and put some electric spasm type suction machine on the effected area..after 4/5 visits my neck pain kept coming back. the second physio was saying my neck was out of alignment and would jolt my head and neck left and right to align the joints again..my neck did feel fine for about 3 weeks and same neck pain came back, went back and physio jolted my neck back in again....but within one week my neck pains are back again as now 17th November 2011. ny neck pain consists of sore up the back of my neck to me head and having a sore head at the back, it is mostly sore at the base of the neck/top of my back and over to the left side of my shoulder sort of slightly below the base of the neck line in my left shoulder region...please advise.Thanks Kevin.

Answer
Kevin,

Bag the physios because the electric stimulation does not fix neck pain, and secondly they should not be "jolting" your neck without a whole lot of training.   Find a good quality doctor of chiropractic who can also provide some soft tissue therapy (see www.grastontechnique.com) and also provide more skilled neck joint manipulation, and then advise on home exercises.    Also, with a doctor of chiropractic you should get a physical examination that will help rule out the likelihood that you have an irritated cervical disc that is driving your pain into the shoulder area.   Most likely there is no need for x-rays unless something very unusual is found, and even so MRI is used if there there is suspicion of more serious underlying problems.    For most folks with the symptoms you describe, which are very common by the way, a short course of highly skilled joint manipulation along with soft tissue therapy can provide good alleviation.   And, with the right exercises and home-care (e.g. proper ergonomics - not sitting 8 hours at a computer), it is often you will get resolve.  

'Hope this was helpful.

Dr. G'