Doctor Recommends Neck Surgery....But She Said No! Woman In Her Early 40s Overcomes Neck Pain and Numbness Without Pills (Learn How)

Dealing with chronic neck pain is very common for many people.

Some choose to ignore it, others use medication, and others “just deal with it”.

That is…. Until the pain becomes so unbearable that it’s impossible to ignore!

We hear this story all the time, and it’s what eventually caught up to Jill in her early 40’s.

Suddenly one day waking up and having excruciating neck pain with numbness, tingling, and shooting pain running down the arm.

She could not sleep, drive, focus, work, or do simple daily tasks around the house. Medication didn’t even dull the pain the slightest.

Being scared that she did something serious, she did what anyone would do…

Went to her Doctor, who recommended a neurosurgery consult. An MRI was ordered and she was diagnosed with a cervical disc herniation. The Surgeon then said “Surgery is the only thing that will help.”

Not comfortable with having surgery, Jill decided to seek out care from someone else. Luckily On Track Physio was her first stop!

Our approach is very different then many others out there, which is why we can get results even when a surgeon says her “ONLY option is surgery”….

Today Jill no longer experiences neck pain!

She has lost over 50 lbs with a new fitness routine, and is in the best physical shape of her life. To stay on top of the issue and protect herself from anything like this from occurring in the future she continues to see On Track Physio less than once a month to just check in and get a “tune-up”.

Much like a car needs an oil change, even though the body no longer experiences pain. It does well getting the occasional tune up to make sure everything is operating well!

Listen to Jill’s Story below:

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*** If you’d like to find out exactly how we can get results for you. Then we suggest starting with a FREE Discovery session just like Jill did.

5 Ways to Defeat Neck Pain and Stiffness if you Work at a Computer All Day

Do you spend most of your day working in front of a computer?

If you answered yes, then you'd be like most other Americans. Chances are you are also spending a lot of time on your phone as well. 

As a result many people will encounter some sort of achy or stiff neck that may or may not become painful. Below are 5 solutions that one should consider when experiencing neck pain and stiffness. 

1) It's never to late to address the issue, but the sooner you start the better.

I can't tell you how many people I have seen that come to see me for neck pain which has been going on for months to years at a time. I'll then ask them what they have been doing to resolve their pain on their own. The answer I usually get is: "nothing", "medication", or "hope it just went away."

If you get one thing out of this, remember that it is never to late to start addressing the issue yourself. On the flip side, the sooner you start doing something for you pain, the sooner it will go away. The problem is that most individuals do not know where to start or a reliable system of addressing their issues so they fail to start in the first place.

The purpose of this post is to eliminate this fear.

2) Ice early, heat usually works better later

This is probably the question I get asked the most. Should I ice or should I use heat? The simple answer is that you are probably overthinking it and use whichever feels better. Ice tends to dull the pain the best from 0-48 hours after the injury. After that, heat or a topical cream such as icy-hot seems to do better. It is important to realize though that both of these provide temporary relief by altering sensation, it is not a permanent or long term solution. Some type of movement based activity is and will always be long term solution to getting you back to what you enjoy the most.

3) Early Movement 

Piggy backing off the last statement made in point #2, movement will be your long term solution. The trick is finding the point of entry that is least provocative to your symptoms and building upon that motion throughout the days and week/s.

Two very simple exercises which can often be used early on are:

4) Soft Tissue Work

A lot of tension is usually held in the muscles that surround the neck for a number of reasons such as work, posture, exercise, taxes, and the boogey-man. Point being is that life in general can at times be taxing for everyone. When gone undressed these muscles become overactive and facilitate further stress in an already stressed out environment. So some type of soft tissue technique can often be effective. At On Track Physical Therapy we perform various hands on massage and myofascial techniques. Some other unique techniques we offer that can be very useful at times are: Cupping and Dry Needling (click the links to learn more about these modalities). I want to reiterate the fact that movement will always be the long term solution. All of these techniques just mentioned are most useful when followed up by some sort of movement based activity such as the ones listed in #3.

5) Breathing

If every thing you have tried thus far has failed to work. MRIs, Injections, X-rays, manipulations, and all the things listed in #1-4 have not made a difference. This may be your missing link. However, it's not as simple as just breathing. Let me explain, I'll try not to get to sciency on you.

Very stressful environments tend to push us toward inhalation. Think about walking on a tightrope or near the edge of a cliff. You tend to tense up and hold your breath. Unfortunately many of us tend to do this throughout the day without even realizing it because of daily stressors.

The main muscle of breathing is the diaphragm. It attaches to your ribs and low back. You breathe around 22,000 times per day. If it's done repetitively in a state of inhalation (or stress). Then it can start to alter one's spinal alignment causing compensation patterns all the way up through the neck. Another way people compensate is to use muscles of their neck to help with breathing. Think about someone who just got done running. They have their hands on their head and you can see all their neck muscles helping them breathe. While this may be necessary at times when working out, it should not be the case at rest. However it is very common to see people compensate with their neck when they breathe at rest. This can be addressed through a series of various exercises specific to how the individual may present in the clinic. 

Would you like some help to recover faster? On Track Physical Therapy can help get you back to the things you enjoy most! 

Sports Specialist Physical Therapy Clinic| Ann Arbor, Mi | FREE Discovery Session|

About the Author: Dr. Greg Schaible is a physical therapist and strength coach specializing in athletic performance. He attended The University of Findlay as a student athlete. As an athlete he competed in both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field where he earned honors as a 5x Division II All-American and 6x Division II Academic All-American. In 2013 he completed Graduate School earning his Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). Greg is the owner of On Track Physical Therapy in Ann Arbor, Mi. Follow On Track PT and Performance on Facebook.

Quick Postural Fix

The median nerve series is a simple, quick set of exercises that anyone can perform as a preventive and postural correction. This exercise is very beneficial for anybody who does a lot of work at the desk, computer, or in a seated position for a prolonged period of time. 

Neck Pain Relief Exercise

Ann Arbor, MI - Many people will describe neck pain from "sleeping wrong on their neck." Many times this produces a sensation of the neck being "locked" or very painful and limited to one side. A simple solution that often can be done on your own is slack some of the neck tissue on the same side you are experiencing limited motion. Often times you will then notice an increase in your range of motion. Repeat this often throughout the day. Note: This exercise should not be performed if you are experiencing numbness or tingling into your hands. This often is a much more significant issue that should be addressed by a trusted health professional. As always if you fee increased pain or discomfort stop the exercise and again, consult with a healthcare provider. 

Sports Specialist Physical Therapy Clinic| Ann Arbor, Mi | FREE Discovery Session|

About the Author: Dr. Greg Schaible is a physical therapist and strength coach specializing in athletic performance. He attended The University of Findlay as a student athlete. As an athlete he competed in both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field where he earned honors as a 5x Division II All-American and 6x Division II Academic All-American. In 2013 he completed Graduate School earning his Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). Greg is the owner of On Track Physical Therapy in Ann Arbor, Mi. Follow On Track PT and Performance on Facebook.