What it is
Non-specific neck pain is pain or discomfort in the neck or shoulders, sometimes spreading into the arms, where no single cause can be found. It usually comes down to how the neck is used and held, and it can spread up into the head. A tension headache is felt on both sides of the head, face or neck, like something pressing on your head or being tightened around it. In my experience the two often travel together, especially in people who spend the day at a screen.
Your first assessment
I take a case history, examine you, and check for signs of anything that needs a GP instead. X-rays and scans are not routinely needed for neck pain; it is diagnosed from your story and the examination. For headaches, it helps if you can tell me when they happen and what seems to set them off, so keep a note for a week or two if you can.
What a plan usually involves
Keep moving and get back to normal life, including work, as soon as you can; a neck collar restricts movement and can prolong the problem. Every plan I build combines hands-on treatment with movement-based rehabilitation and education, and for a neck the hands-on work goes alongside exercise, not instead of it. After your first appointment I give you a realistic estimate of how many sessions you may need.
When a doctor needs to be involved
If something about your symptoms worries you, see a GP or call 111 first.
No GP referral needed. If your assessment shows you need imaging, an injection or a specialist opinion, I refer you directly to a sports and exercise medicine doctor, and your osteopathic care continues with me.
