Neck Pain

Get long term relief from severe neck pain!

1 in 3 people in the UK reports neck pain every year. And the number keeps increasing steadily due to increased use of phones, bad posture and injuries.

Mild pain or soreness in the neck region due to strain might go away in a couple of days. But if your neck pain persists for more than a few days, you have to observe if you have any of the following neck pain that: 

Persists for several days without relief

Spreads down arms or legs

Accompanied by headache, numbness, weakness or tingling

When you have one or more of the above neck pain red flags, it’s advisable to visit your doctor. The above neck pain red flags mean that your neck pain is related to the bones, nerves, or an injury in the discs of your  cervical spine.

Do not be afraid. Most neck pain symptoms can be addressed with just physical therapy, posture correction and simple medication. The neck pain symptoms are a call from your body for your attention.

Simple exercises and posture awareness alone go a long way in addressing your neck pain and strengthening your neck!

Severe Neck Pain?

Feel free to talk to me. I will be happy to answer all your questions and concerns.

Make your appointment today!

0203 1500 259

What causes Neck Pain?

Neck pain or stiffness happens mostly because of muscle tension and strain, caused by our activities and behaviours such as:

  • Poor posture while sitting, standing & walking
  • Sitting & working at a desk for too long without changing position
  • Sleeping with your neck in a bad position
  • Jerking your neck during exercise

Neck pain due to injuries:

The neck is particularly vulnerable to injury, especially in falls, car accidents, and sports, where the muscles and ligaments of the neck are forced to move outside of their normal range. If the cervical vertebrae (neck bones) are fractured, the spinal cord may also be damaged. Neck injury due to sudden jerking of the head is commonly called whiplash.

Neck pain due to other problems in the spine:

Issues in the spine can cause severe neck pain that require might require serious attention before any long term damage is caused. You should take your neck pain seriously if the pain is due to any of the following conditions in the spine:

As you age, the cervical discs can degenerate. This is known as spondylosis, or osteoarthritis of the neck. This can narrow the space between the vertebrae. It also adds stress to your joints.

When a disc protrudes, as from a trauma or injury, it may add pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots. This is called herniated disc, also known as a ruptured or slipped disc.

Spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal column narrows and causes pressure on the spinal cord or the nerve roots as it exits the vertebrae. This can be due to long-term inflammation caused by arthritis or other conditions.

The neck pain caused by spine issues can also be treated with physical therapy and spinal injections, or in some rare cases minimally invasive spine surgery may be needed. Whatever the case, complete pain relief from your neck pain is 100% possible!

All you have to do is visit your spine doctor when your neck pain persists for more than a few days, and make some small changes in your lifestyle under his/her guidance.

London neck pain specialist Dr Mangattil Rajesh is all about healing and long term pain relief. He genuinely cares about spinal health as a way forward towards healthy & stress-free life.

If you are suffering from severe neck pain, book an offline/online consultation today in London with Mr Rajesh at 07956 318 383! or schedule a call.

Diagnosis for Neck Pain

An accurate diagnosis is important to determine the source & causes of your neck pain so that it can be effectively treated. An experienced spine consultant would know how to read the minute details and diagnose your condition precisely.

Consultant Spine Surgeon Mr Rajesh will use one or more of the following diagnostic procedures to pinpoint the cause of your neck pain caused by a possible pinched nerve in your neck.

Physical Examination:

Specialist physical assessment of your spinal joints, ligaments & muscles helps Mr Rajesh understand where the pain is. He will be able to assess the cause and extent of your neck pain with these examinations.

You may need other tests:

MRI Scans:

Consultant Spine Surgeon Mr Rajesh will need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to look at your neck muscles, soft tissues, ligaments, black disc, disc prolapse and spinal stenosis. This information along with your story will help Mr Rajesh decide and recommend the best plan of action.

MRI scan is the best investigation to get information on the soft tissues.

X-Ray:

Standing X-rays from your front and the side will give Mr Rajesh a good assessment of your spinal alignment, if there are some spinal curvature, scoliosis or fractures.

CT scans:

Computerised Tomography (CT) is not needed routinely as it brings in the risk of significant radiation. But it is very useful to look at the extent of damage to your bones in your spine. It therefore gives valuable information of the structure and shape of the spine.

Blood tests:

Blood tests are not routinely needed in the investigation of neck pain. These are useful if the you have fever, infection or suspicion of inflammation.

Bone density test:

Also known as a DXA (or DEXA) test, is used to determine whether you have osteoporosis or if you are at risk of getting it.

Nerve Conduction studies:

Electromyography (EMG) is used to reveal whether you have a compressed nerve, which may be caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.

Diagnosing the underlying cause of your neck pain at the right time is essential to start your ideal treatment plan!

Treatment for Neck Pain

Spine consultant & surgeon Mr Mangattil Rajesh always begins with using a conservative approach for the management of neck pain, for long term relief.

The first line of neck pain treatment usually consists of non-surgical methods such as physical therapy and spinal injections. Most people with neck pain do not require surgery. Mr Rajesh and his treatment methodologies focus on relieving the pain and keeping you as active as possible through physical therapy and practice.

Experienced neck pain specialist in London, Mr Rajesh understands the underlying causes for neck pain and the various ways it affects the patient. Mr Rajesh creates a tailor-made multi-disciplinary neck pain treatment plan specifically for you. 

The neck pain treatment plan involving one or more of the following:

Medications:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

  • Paracetamol
  • Codine
  • Naproxen

Muscle relaxants like diazepam are also prescribed in some cases to treat muscle spasms and ease nerve-damage pain.

 

Physiotherapy & Exercises:

Mr Rajesh believes in treating most neck pain problems through non-surgical ways such as lifestyle correction, exercises, and physiotherapy as part of his comprehensive neck pain treatment in London.

 

Spinal injections for Neck pain:

Spinal steroid injections are an effective way to offer instant pain relief for your neck pain. Spinal steroid injections are administered into the outermost part of your spinal canal (not directly into the canal). Under X-Ray guidance, Spinal specialist Mr Rajesh would precisely inject a local anaesthetic to treat pain and a steroid to ease inflammation and reduce swelling.

Spinal injections are safe and effective treatments for neck pain due to inflammation caused by arthritis of the facet joints. The spine injection options are:

  • Caudal epidural injection
  • Facet joint injection
  • Trigger point injection

These injections offer immediate relief from acute neck pain. Spine specialist Mr Rajesh takes a multi-disciplinary approach for the management of neck pain. He believes in treating and healing the causes of neck pain without surgery in most cases.

Patients may feel some pressure during the injection but mostly the procedure is painless. Spinal Steroid injections are given into and around the facet joints in your neck to reduce the inflammation. Spinal injection for neck pain treatment in London is done as an outpatient procedure, so you will not need to stay in hospital overnight.

The procedure takes about 15-30 minutes to complete. Mr Rajesh will give you specific post-care instructions to recover faster.

Mr Mangattil Rajesh recommends physiotherapy and will guide you with some mild exercises to get long term relief from your neck pain. A Spinal steroid injection can reduce pain for up to three months. However, it is usually a crucial part of a holistic neck pain treatment programme. The Spine steroid injection reduces the symptoms so that physiotherapy is more effective.

 

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery:

When the neck pain travels down your arm to your fingers, it can be associated with a feeling of pins and needles, tingling and a loss of sensation at the tips of your fingers. MRI scan will possibly show a prolapsed or a slipped disc trapping the spinal nerve supplying your fingers.

Sometimes there is a block in the spinal canal due to disc prolapse or chronic arthritis. Gradually, this will affect the way you walk.  MRI scan will show a blocked spinal canal trapping the spinal cord in the neck called Cervical Canal Stenosis. Your bladder, bowel and sexual function can be compromised. This requires urgent surgical intervention.

Cervical Spine surgery may be recommended in a prolapsed disc or a stenosis to relieve the trapped spinal nerve and spinal cord. Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) is the most common procedure recommended in these situations.

Mr Rajesh is a skilful practitioner of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) procedures such as Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

You’re in safe hands! One of London’s best-reviewed spine surgeons, Mr Rajesh has treated thousands of patients with severe neck pain successfully over the years. He forms a comprehensive neck pain treatment plan personalised for the requirements of each of his patients, with a combination of medication, exercises, spine injection and surgery wherever required.

Get in touch with him today. Mr Rajesh and his team would be happy to help you with your neck pain treatment in London!

 

Recent Google Reviews of Mr Mangattil Rajesh

JolitaV

Mr Rajesh was excellent and I count myself very fortunate that he is my consultant surgeon. I could not have asked for a more courteous and professional experience. I could not fault anything. Mr Rajesh was very professional he explained everything in detail on all my visits. From initial consultation to post op Mr Rajesh took care of everything.

Dr Bhav Gami

Thank you so much to Mr Rajesh for helping my father when he was an inpatient at the height of the pandemic. Mr Rajesh is an amazing surgeon and was very informative, thorough and professional. Luckily my father was not infected with Covid 19 despite being an inpatient for 6 weeks.

Kemal Ykm

Dr Mangattil Rajesh is my hero he has helped me a great deal with my fractured back after a car accident. My recovery has improved significantly ever since he took on my case with regular consultations and real talk. He knows his stuff so I trust him with every decision we make together Lore Epsom.

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Stretches & Exercises for Neck Pain Relief

Mild stretches will help loosen your tense neck muscles. This helps release some pressure on the spine & the nerves, and also strengthens other surrounding muscles to help you move.

It is advisable to take each step gently as any stretches that cause excessive strain can damage your muscles.

Spine surgeon and Consultant Mr Rajesh recommends these 6 quick stretches as the best exercises for relief  from neck pain in the comfort of your own home:

1) Forward Bend

2) Backward Bend

3) Side Bend

4) Side to Side Turn

5) Roll your Neck

6) Pull your Neck Back and Hold

 

6 Simple stretches for Neck pain that will help with instant pain relief Mangattil Rajesh Spine Surgeon in London

Perform these stretches as per the instructions in the above image and you’ll feel instant relief from your neck pain. These pain-relief exercises recommended by Mr Rajesh helps relieve the tension in your neck and shoulder muscles.

Remember to breathe in and out slowly and deeply during these neck pain-relief exercises. Also, stop whenever you feel any discomfort during the exercises.

As part of your comprehensive Neck pain treatment plan, London Neck pain specialist Mr Mangattil Rajesh will guide you with more specialised physiotherapy and exercises to get complete relief from Neck pain.

Call spine specialist Mr Rajesh at 07956 318 383 today, for your effective neck treatment in London!

 

Instant Relief for Neck Pain at Home

If you experience minor neck pain or stiffness, London neck pain specialist Mr Mangattil Rajesh recommends you take these simple steps to relieve the neck pain:

  • Take a break from activities and rest.
  • Apply ice for the first few days.
  • Apply heat with a heating pad, hot compress, or even by just taking a hot shower.
  • Over the counter pain relievers can be taken.
  • Exercise your neck every day.
  • Slowly stretch your head in side-to-side and up-and-down motions.
  • Adopt good posture.
  • Take a few days off from sports, activities that aggravate your symptoms
  • When you resume normal activity, do so slowly as your symptoms ease
  • Get a gentle neck massage.

If your neck pain persists or worsens, it is advisable to consult with a doctor to identify and rectify if there are any deeper problems with your neck such as issues in the spine. In that case, a spinal injection would be recommended as the first step to relieve the neck pain.

If you are experiencing neck pain it is important that you speak to a neck pain specialist. When you choose to visit spine surgeon Mr Rajesh for neck pain treatment in London you can rest assured that his professional team will ensure that you receive the best treatment available to relieve your neck pain completely.

Severe Neck Pain?

Feel free to talk to me. I will be happy to answer all your questions and concerns.

Make your appointment today!

0203 1500 259

Neck Pain after COVID

General body aches and neck pain are also among the most frequently reported symptoms of COVID-19. The neck is one of the most common places people with COVID-19 report feeling pain. General body aches, muscle pain, or joint pain are common symptoms of COVID-19 and other viral infections. It’s thought that neck pain too is part of the ‘flu-like’ symptom that is commonly seen in COVID.

Neck pain often appears in the early stages of the disease, but it can also be a long-haul symptom that persists for weeks or months after infection. Neck pain can have many possible causes. It’s impossible to know if your neck pain was caused by COVID-19 unless you also had a positive COVID-19 diagnostic test. COVID-19 infection can stimulate the release of pro-inflammatory molecules called cytokines by the viral attack on your immune system.

Neck pain caused by COVID-19 is often described as a deep pain instead of a sharp or stabbing pain that may accompany a sudden muscular injury. Pain caused by viral infections is also less likely to be eased by changing your posture than the pain caused by muscular injuries.

Some people with COVID-19 develop symptoms that last weeks or months after the original infection. These persistent complications are called long-haul symptoms. Joint & back pain is one of the most common long haul symptoms of COVID-19.

Patients with any concern about their neck pain should not hesitate to seek evaluation. It is always better to be reassured & start with pain relief measures that will stop the development of any long term pain/damage.

Have you started feeling persistent pain in neck after recovering from COVID-19? Feel free to contact the trusted neck pain specialist in London Mr Mangattil Rajesh at 07956 318 383!

How do I know if my neck pain is serious?

Some neck problems can cause pain in other parts of your arm, depending on the nerves affected. The main symptom of neck pain is an ache or pain anywhere in the neck, and sometimes all the way down to the arm and fingers. Most neck pain often goes away without treatment, but if it occurs with any of the following features, you should consult a doctor without delay!

  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Neck pain worse at night
  • Pain down your arms
  • Worsening numbness of your fingers
  • Weakness in your arms
  • Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
  • Difficulty in walking

Most neck pain conditions can be treated effectively with medication, physical therapy and spinal injections. Only in very few cases, neck pain treatment requires surgery. London spine surgeon Mr Rajesh skilfully performs Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) procedures with minimal tissue dissection for faster recovery and early return to normal life.

Frequently Asked Questions about Neck Pain

Can neck pain be something serious?

Most neck pain often goes away without treatment. But if your neck pain persists for more than a few days and if it occurs with any of the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor without delay!

 

  • Weight loss
  • Fever
  • Neck pain worsening at night
  • Pain down your arms
  • Worsening numbness of your fingers
  • Weakness in your arms
  • Loss of bladder and/or bowel control

How can I stop neck pain?

You can stop neck pain by:

  • Hot and ice packs provide immediate relief for neck pain
  • Following proper posture
  • Adjusting your desk and chair height ergonomically
  • Avoiding text neck
  • Taking frequent breaks from your desk work

Most neck pain conditions can be treated effectively with medication, physical therapy and spinal injections. Only in very few cases, neck pain treatment requires surgery.

How can I get immediate relief from neck pain?

You can get immediate relief from neck pain by:

 

  • Taking a break from work and resting
  • Hot and ice packs provide immediate relief for neck pain
  • Over the counter non-steroidal pain killers
  • Following proper posture during sitting and sleeping
  • Simple and slow neck stretches will give immediate relief from neck pain & tension

Are spinal injections for neck pain safe?

Spinal injections are generally safe procedures. They are also the most effective for instant relief from serious conditions of the spine. If complications occur, they are usually mild and self-limited. However, like with any treatment procedure, some of the common risks with epidural steroid injections are:

 

1) Infection:

This is rare but there is an increased risk in skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. The rate is less than 1 in 1000 injections.

 

2) Bleeding:

People who take medications to ‘thin their blood’ like warfarin, rivaroxaban or clopidogrel will be advised to stop these medications at least a week in advance of the procedure for safety.

 

3) Steroid facial flushing:

A temporary side effect with flushing of the face and chest, with warmth and an increase in temperature for several days. Settles down very quickly.

 

4) Anxiety or vasovagal:

Caused due to the stress of the procedure and is not life-threatening. 1 in 100 patients do have such episodes and it settles very quickly.

 

5) Menstrual changes

 

6) Water retention

How long do the effect of neck pain injections last?

Neck pain injections have an immediate effect of pain relief from the local anaesthetic which wears off over a few hours. The steroidal cortisone starts to work in about 3 to 7 days and it can last up to a few months. More injections may be required for longer-lasting pain relief. Most specialists would wait for at least six months before repeating the injection.

Insurance Affiliations

Spine Surgeon London is authorised by all major Insurance companies. We offer seamless and world class treatment for your Back pain or Neck pain. We accept all major Insurances. We are fee assured with the following private medical insurers:

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