Treatment for Headaches and Neck Pain in Berkeley Heights

Headaches can originate from many different issues, including problems with the neck. It’s essential to get to the bottom of the causes of your pain to create a customized treatment plan that works for you.

Common Types of Headaches and Neck Pain

• Cervicogenic headache: tension shoots up from the cervical spine inside the neck. The source of this concern is usually one side of the neck, head, face, or any combination of these areas

• Sharp neck pain: consistent, sharp, stabbing pain that usually occurs in the lower neck

• Radicular pain:  radiates along the nerve from the neck out into the shoulder and arm, creating a burning or searing sensation

Common Physical Therapy Treatments

Your physical therapist will want to conduct a thorough examination to determine the cause of your pain. Then they will develop strategies to reduce pain and/or stiffness so that you can begin an exercise program. This exercise program involves head and neck treatments that strengthen and stretch the neck. The physical therapist will also want to improve neck range motion and develop strategies to prevent pain from recurring.

Common treatments may include:

• Stretching 

• Simple neck movements

• Heat or ice packs

• Passive motions to move your spine

• Core strengthening exercises 

Methods and strategies will vary from one person to another, and a customized treatment will be put in place based on your needs. Physical therapy aims to improve range of motion, reduce pain, and help you avoid medications and surgery.