Treating Neck Pain is something I do well.
One thing about Manual Therapists is that we tend to do the type of work that we like to receive. Relieving neck pain-I know a great deal about based on personal experience.
For me, I ran into my own challenges with severe arm and neck pain about six years ago. It was excruciating. My right arm felt like a constant charlie horse and nothing I could do made it feel better. It took about a month before my doctor got me into the right place to have it taken care of properly. Once I finally saw a neurosurgeon, he ordered me into surgery the next day. In my circumstance, I had a huge bone spur in my neck pressing against my nerve. My disc was a mess and needed to be replaced. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But more than that- I would rather hear that people be more proactive than I was and take better care of their necks as soon as they notice any restriction or problem. Healing hands can help wonders!
neck pain
Don’t wait too long! As you get older and continue to use unhealthy structural movement, the worst things can get.
What I do for people who are really in pain, is start with the sacrum. I want to make sure that the sacrum ( a triangular bone in the back between the hip bones) is moving well. I bet you didn’t know this, but all the bones in the body move in a constant flexion and extension motion based on the fluid circulating around the brain and the spine. Once a therapist learns how to listen this way, the rhythm can be felt anywhere in the body. The sacrum is connected through the spinal canal up to the cranium (the skull). The occiput which is on the bottom of the back of the head should be moving similarly to that of the sacrum. Once this motion is enhanced and moving nicely, we go to the neck.
A stiff neck or soreness can be approached either by gentle or deep work. Each person responds differently. What I suggest though is a series of work when clients are in a lot of pain. People might hope to get things resolved immediately, but that seldom happens in all honesty. It takes years to damage the body, and it takes time to heal in most cases. So while we can get a lot of great change on the first session, the client is actually looking at a real commitment to get better.
For me, this is one of my favorite types of work. Relieving Neck Pain. Today, one of my clients who has been coming in for years, felt really tight along the SCM muscle and Traps. I so enjoyed just holding and listening to the tissues. Feeling them softly let go layer by layer. The deep muscles began to feel more alive, and motion started to roll under my hands and fingers. I worked with both the muscles and the fascia. While also staying in contact with the Craniosacral Rhythm . She quietly made sounds of relief. There is nothing better than helping someone move out of pain for me anyway. It’s a great feeling being of service to another like that. A sacred experience of sorts.
If you have been feeling deep neck pain, and want to get better. Feel free to give me a 10 minute free phone consult. I have had much success helping me to restore their motion and rotation. And it is my pleasure to help where I can.
Sharon Hartnett LMT, CST-D, SI, BHSP, Hakomi Practioner
703 509-1792
www.craniosacraltherapistcolumbus.com