You Need To Consider Doing This If Your Neck Pain Is Not Improving With Pilates
Neck pain can be more than just an inconvenience—it can feel like an unrelenting weight that affects every part of your life. Whether it’s a sharp, stabbing sensation or a constant dull ache, neck pain can limit your ability to turn your head, look up, or even sit at your desk without discomfort. It can make simple tasks seem daunting and drain your energy throughout the day.
The emotional toll of neck pain is just as severe. The constant worry about making the pain worse, combined with the frustration of not finding lasting relief, can leave you feeling helpless, stressed, and drained. If Pilates hasn’t been the miracle solution for your neck pain, it’s time to consider other methods that can truly address the root cause and provide the relief you so desperately need.
Pilates: A Common Approach to Treating Neck Pain
Pilates has become a popular exercise method for those seeking relief from neck pain because of its focus on core strength, posture, and flexibility. The controlled movements aim to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and neck, helping to alleviate pressure and tension. The exercises promote better alignment and posture, which are often key contributors to neck discomfort.
However, Pilates might not always be enough for everyone. If your neck pain is caused by deeper issues like misalignments in the cervical spine, herniated discs, or nerve compression, Pilates exercises alone may not provide the relief you need. For some, the pain may return or persist, leaving you feeling frustrated and uncertain about the path forward.
Why Getting a Clear Diagnosis Is Crucial
Neck pain can arise from many causes, and it’s essential to understand what’s at the root of it. Here are five common causes of neck pain:
- Muscle Strain – Overuse, poor posture, or sudden jerking movements can strain the muscles in the neck, causing pain and tightness.
- Herniated Disc – A slipped or ruptured disc in the cervical spine can press on surrounding nerves, causing pain, numbness, or tingling down the arms.
- Cervical Spondylosis – Age-related changes in the spine, such as bone spurs and disc degeneration, can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
- Whiplash – A sudden jerking motion of the neck, often from an accident, can lead to injury and pain in the neck muscles and ligaments.
- Pinched Nerve – Compression of a nerve in the cervical spine can lead to pain, weakness, and tingling sensations in the neck, shoulders, or arms.
In addition to these common causes, two more serious, yet rare, conditions can also lead to neck pain:
- Spinal Tumors – A growth in or near the spine can cause pain and nerve compression, requiring immediate medical attention.
- Infections – Spinal infections can cause swelling and pressure on the cervical spine, leading to severe pain and potential complications.
The Need for Imaging to Get a Precise Diagnosis
It’s crucial to understand that neck pain can’t always be diagnosed simply based on physical symptoms or a basic examination. Imaging techniques, such as X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, are necessary to see what’s happening inside your spine. These tools provide detailed views of your cervical spine, muscles, and discs, helping healthcare providers get to the root of the problem and recommend the right treatment plan.
The Pain Relief Clinic: Your Partner in Finding a Clear Diagnosis
At The Pain Relief Clinic, we understand how debilitating neck pain can be. We know that living with constant discomfort affects every aspect of your life. That’s why we specialize in offering non-invasive diagnostic services to uncover the true cause of your pain. If you’ve been battling neck pain with limited results, we can arrange for affordable scans, usually within one working day.
With the help of Medisave, we can often make the cost of scans more accessible, so you don’t have to choose between quality care and your budget.
We also help you with insurance claims, including accident insurance, travel insurance, and company insurance, ensuring that you have access to the treatment you need without added financial strain.
Once we have a precise diagnosis, we can provide targeted treatments and solutions to help you find lasting relief from your neck pain and restore your ability to live pain-free.
Ready to take control of your neck pain? Send us a message today to arrange an appointment and take the first step toward a pain-free life.
What To Expect When I Visit The Pain Relief Clinic
A typical visit will involve our doctor first understanding your medical history, concerns and previous experience with other pain treatments.
For patients who have consulted many people but have yet to receive a clear diagnosis, selecting an affordable imaging scan might be recommended to confirm the cause of your pain..
Some patients have already done scans with other doctors for their pain condition but are still not clearly told what they suffer from.
Dr Terence Tan is happy to offer you a second opinion and recommend how best to manage your condition.
We also see patients who already have a confirmed diagnosis from specialist pain doctors, but are "stuck” because treatment options offered are not practical or acceptable.
We can help by discussing options that you might have potentially never been told of.
A common experience is when a patient has already consulted a specialist doctor for pain management and is told to consider orthopaedic surgery which they find too aggressive.
Or they may have seen doctors for their pain and were prescribed painkillers with potential side effects which made them feel uncomfortable.
Many of our patients have also first tried complementary treatments or acupuncture with traditional Chinese pain doctors.
They look for a second opinion after finding any relief experienced from other treatments to be temporary or requiring repetitive treatments, which add up to time and cost.
Especially in such situations, we emphasize using non-invasive medical technology you likely have not been told about .
This can make a big difference to your results.