Pain radiating out from the neck is best treated with physical therapist directed care and if you are looking for a neck pain expert in Visalia, we can help.
When it comes to a search for a neck pain expert in Visalia, there are options. But, who should you choose?
A medical doctor may be hard to get in to see, may run expensive tests, and the treatment is usually drugs.
Some chiropractors will suggest you “realign your spine” with repeated treatment sessions. You may end up thinking (or you are sold the idea that) the only way to treat the pain is with a chiropractic adjustment.
A Model of Treatment Based on Current Best Research and Common Sense
The physical therapists at Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy approach, who are also neck pain experts in Visalia, identify the root causes of your pain – muscles, joints, poor posture/body mechanics, and additional factors that may make you more sensitive to pain (this is called a biopsychosocial approach to the treatment of pain).
We Treat the Cause Then Teach You How to Care for Yourself
The spine contains nerves that send messages to and from the brain and all other parts of the body. For this reason, any time one of these nerves is affected, it can lead to problems not only in the spine, but in other body parts as well. One condition that involves spinal nerves is called cervical radiculopathy, in which pain and other symptoms radiate out from the neck to other areas of the body.
The spine is made up of 24 bones called vertebrae that are stacked on top of one another. Together, these bones connect to create a canal that protects the spinal cord from damage. The uppermost portion of the spine that begins at the base of the skull is called the cervical spine. It contains nerves that carry messages between the brain and muscles in the shoulders, arms, and hands. This is achieved through nerve roots that travel through the spinal canal and branch out through openings in the vertebrae called foramen.
A Specific Kind of Neck Pain – Cervical Radiculopathy AKA, a Pinched Nerve in the Neck
Cervical radiculopathy, which is also referred to as a pinched nerve, occurs any time one of the nerve roots in the neck is compressed or pinched when it branches away from the spinal cord. This is caused by any condition that injures or irritates nerves in the cervical region, including a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. In most cases, patients with cervical radiculopathy experience a burning pain that starts in the neck and travels down the arm. This pain can get worse from turning or straining the neck. Other symptoms include tingling, as well as weakness or loss of sensation in the shoulders, arms, or hands.
Some cases of cervical radiculopathy will get better on their own over the course of a days or weeks, but this not true for all patients. When the condition fails to improve, targeted interventions are needed. Physical therapy is a movement-based intervention that can effectively train patients to overcome their limitations by practicing specific exercises and changing the way they move in daily life. A typical physical therapy program for cervical radiculopathy will include the following:
- Manual (hands-on) therapy
- Cervical traction to reduce pressure on the nerve
- Laser therapy for pain relief
- Stretching exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Posture education
- Functional training
Physical therapy has been supported in the medical research as a beneficial treatment for cervical radiculopathy, with one study called a systematic review and meta-analysis identifying three powerful studies that evaluated the use a manual therapy technique (cervical spine manipulation) for this condition. Analysis of these studies led to the following conclusion:
There was evidence from three trials of moderate quality that supported cervical spine manipulation in treating people with degenerative cervical radiculopathy.
If You are Looking for a Neck Pain Expert Near Me, Click Here to Contact Us
Thus, if you are currently experiencing persistent pain or any other symptoms radiating down your arm that have not improved, it’s a good thing you searched for a neck pain expert in Visalia. We strongly recommend seeing one of our physical therapists soon to be evaluated. Following this approach will help you get started on an effective, personalized treatment plan and a path to less pain and better functioning right away.
