Neck Pain Relief Device Recalled – ShoulderFlex Massager Poses Risk of Strangulation.


The FDA recalled a neck pain relief device recently after reports that the neck massager posed a serious risk of death or injury. The ShoulderFlex Massager was recalled by its manufacturer back in August 2011 but the Food and Drug Administration is concerned that many of those who bought the device remain unaware of its potential risks, including the risk of strangulation when using the device for neck pain or back pain whilst lying down. Read more

Stiff Neck Pain Treatment Using Muscle Relaxants

stiff neck muscle relaxers massage

Muscle relaxants may help where massage, heat therapy, and NSAIDs have failed.

Physicians increasingly prescribe muscle relaxants for chronic neck pain, but have they informed you of the potential side-effects of these drugs, or considered all possible causes of your neck pain before handing over a hastily scribbled prescription?

In this post we’ll take a quick look at some of the more commonly prescribed muscle relaxants for neck pain and back pain, discuss their uses, side-effects, and possible interactions, and offer brief guidance on staying safe when using muscle relaxants for chronic pain. Read more

Chronic Neck Pain – Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Using Mindfulness Training

chronic neck pain relief mindfulness training for rheumatoid arthritisCoping with chronic neck pain may be made easier with mindfulness training if we generalize the results of a recent pilot study into the use of the therapy for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The randomized study found that group-therapy using mindfulness techniques helped patients manage daily symptoms of chronic joint pain more effectively and reduced feelings of stress in comparison to the control group. What does ‘mindfulness’ mean though, and how can you incorporate it into your neck painmanagement regime? Read more

Pain Medications Linked to Rare Birth Defects

NSAID birth defectsNSAIDs, including commonly used neck pain medications, have been associated with a small to moderate increase in the risk of a number of birth defects according to new research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The scientists found that prenatal use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications did not cause a major increase in risk but were connected with a small increase in the incidence of oral clefts, neural tube defects, anopthalmia, and a number of other abnormalities. Those taking medications for chronic pain may wish to revise usafe of these drugs prior to conception in order to ameliorate risk. Read more

Physical Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease in the Neck

Degenerative disc disease physical therapyOne of the most commonly prescribed treatments for degenerative disc disease in the neck is physical therapy. After degenerative disc disease (DDD) has been diagnosed, a physician usually will initiate a course of conservative treatment, which may include pain medication and other methods. The patient also is likely to be referred to a physical therapist, who will provide training to help improve overall health, as well as guidance to manage specific symptoms through exercise, stretching, weight training, and other low-impact physical activity.

Read more

A Bulging Disc in the Neck – The Connection Between Mind & Body


Bulging Disc in the NeckIf you suffer from a bulging disc in the neck, you know all too well that this condition can have both physical and emotional consequences. Because the connection between the mind and the body is very strong, a physical injury or other health condition can often cause anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, depression, irritability, and other forms of psychological distress.

One possible biological theory for this is that physical pain and our emotions share the same neural pathways, so pain signals from a bulging disc can also interfere with the way your brain regulates your emotions, possibly causing you to feel sad or depressed in response.
Read more

Epidural for Neck Pain Safer Using Ultrasound

epdiural neck injections using ultrasound

Epidural neck injections appear safer using ultrasound to avoid nerve or blood vessel injury.

Epidural steroid injections for neck pain are not always a preferred treatment as there are concerns about accidental damage to the complex structures in the cervical spine. Lumbar epidural steroid injections are more common for pain relief however and are also often used to determine the exact site of nerve irritation prior to back surgery. Recent research suggests that ultrasound guidance can reduce the risks associated with epidural steroid injections in the cervical spine and so many neck pain sufferers may now consider this a viable treatment option. Read more

Neck Pain, Depression, and CBT

neck pain depression cbt

Could CBT break the vicious cycle of chronic neck pain and depression?

Neck Pain and depression are often interlinked with some studies showing a four-fold increase in the risk of depression in those with chronic pain. The connection between the two conditions is often extremely complex, involving the immune system, endocrine system, and neurotransmitters, as well as psychosocial factors and other problems that may go unrecognized and, therefore, unaddressed. Many patients feel that their doctor has simply given up on identifying the cause of their pain if they suggest that it has a psychological root but oftentimes this is the case and may provide the answer where countless medications, physical therapies, and even neck surgery have failed to resolve the chronic neck pain. Read more

Exercise for Fibromyalgia – New Research

exercise for fibromyalgia

Low-intensity water therapy for fibromyalgia can help with pain relief.

Exercising with fibromyalgia can be both difficult and rewarding so whilst many patients understand that living with fibromyalgia might be easier with regular exercise it is often hard to get going when fatigued and in pain. Research by Georgetown University scientists presented at the Society for Neuroscience’s latest conference might help provide a little extra motivation for patients however as they reveal that six weeks of aerobic exercise helps relieve pain in patients discontinuing their analgesics medications. Fibromyalgia and neck pain are connected in some patients although such pain should not simply be attributed to fibromyalgia without proper investigation; in some cases neck pain may be due to an additional problem such as spinal stenosis which could be treated using alternative interventions to those suitable for fibromyalgia. Read more

Spinal Manipulation More Effective than Medication for Neck Pain

spinal manipulation therapy for neck painA new study carried out by researchers at Northwestern Health Sciences University has found spinal manipulation therapy better for neck pain relief than medication. Publishing their results in the Annals of Internal Medicine’s January 2012 edition, the researchers have stressed the findings are not applicable to all patients and that individual treatment protocols are always warranted. The big surprise from the study was that home exercises for neck pain were also more effective than neck pain medication, meaning that many patients could treat themselves without the side-effects of popular drugs. Read more