Also referred to as ‘Neck-Arm syndrome’, Neck-Arm pain encompasses a number of conditions that affect your neck or upper back, which include some arm symptoms. The most common form is the shoulder variety. Specific to problems that cause referred pain down the arm, Neck–Arm pain can also lead to a more advanced condition of ‘Abnormal Neural Tension.’
Why do we get Neck–Arm pain and Abnormal Neural Tension?
Both Carpal tunnel and Thoracic outlet syndromes, pinched nerves, abnormal Neurodynamics and even common Tennis elbow and repetitive strain injuries can be causes of normal Neck–Arm pain. Neural tension is the strain on a resting or moving nerve and so ‘Abnormal neural tension’ is when the nerve becomes restricted, like with restricted neck movement, muscle spasm around the nerve, or inflammation of soft tissue.
What are the symptoms of Neck–Arm pain?
- Stiffness, soreness or pain suffered in the neck
- A dull, sharp or even a burning pain running down the arm or arms
- Weakness, numbness or pins and needles.
What do I do if I experience these symptoms?
To save time and money, see your Physiotherapist as a first port of call, because Physiotherapists are specifically trained to clinically diagnose these conditions without sending you on a wild goose chase as the first step. Being nerve specific, it is important that they know the location and degree of your symptoms and the nature thereof to differentiate between Neck-Arm Syndrome and other possible causes of your arm pain. Physiotherapists are also trained to be able to identify Abnormal Neural Tension by moving your arm into certain positions which tests the movement of each nerve individually as it travels down the arm.
How long will it take for me to be healed?
The length of recovery is often dictated by how long you have had the symptoms and we’d therefore advise that you contact us sooner rather than later. The good news is that Neck-Arm Pain is generally healed completely when the main problem has been identified and treated and in most cases, you can expect a noticeable decrease in your arm symptoms after only the first session. If there is a local dysfunction in the arm, like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Tennis Elbow, then these areas would also need to be treated before a full recovery can be achieved.