Common causes I see
Desk and laptop posture, waking with a “cricked” neck, whiplash after a car accident, and the slow stiffening that comes with age and wear in the joints of the neck. Sometimes a nerve in the neck is irritated, which can send pain, pins and needles or numbness into the arm.
Treatment
I work on the muscles of the neck, shoulders and upper back, and use gentle mobilisation to restore movement in stiff joints. The middle of the back is often part of the problem, so I treat that too.
I will look at your desk set-up and sleeping position with you and give you two or three exercises you can do in a few minutes a day.
Headaches that start in the neck
Tension-type headaches and cervicogenic headaches come from the joints and muscles of the upper neck. They tend to build through a long day at a desk or behind the wheel. I check how your neck moves, the muscles at the base of the skull and your posture, and ask about screen time, sleep and stress.
Migraine is a separate condition. Some people with migraine find that easing neck tension helps, but your GP should be your first port of call for migraine.
What you can do at home
- Raise your screen so the top is at eye level.
- Take a short break from the screen every half hour.
- Gentle neck turns and shoulder rolls through the day.
- One supportive pillow is usually better than a stack.
- Drink enough water through the day.
- Keep a note of when headaches start to spot patterns.
See your GP or get urgent help if you have
- Neck pain after a fall or blow to the head
- Weakness, clumsiness or numbness in both arms or hands
- Severe headache with a stiff neck, fever or a rash (call 999)
- Dizziness, double vision or difficulty speaking or swallowing
- A sudden, severe headache, the worst you have had (call 999)
- New headaches that are getting steadily worse, or headaches with changes in vision or speech
If you are not sure, call NHS 111. Clare will always tell you if she thinks you need to see a doctor rather than an osteopath.