What other help is available?

If your neck pain lasts for many months you may need help to cope. The answer may be a pain management programme (see below) which aims to teach you how to control, and live with, your pain. Understandably, people avoid situations which make their neck pain worse, such as certain positions and activities. Education, therefore, plays an important part in the pain management approach, and will include a full explanation of the physical and psychological factors contributing to your pain. Most people will be able to exercise and become fitter, although it will take longer for some than for others. In this way people regain their physical confidence and are able to do more in spite of their pain. Specific exercises also help to strengthen the neck muscles that have become weak with lack of use.

Pain management programmes vary from outpatient group sessions, usually led by physiotherapists, to residential in-patient programmes lasting 2–3 weeks. There are only a few residential centres in the UK but there are many non-residential centres. These programmes include education, exercise, coping strategies and the use of medication. They are led by a team including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists. Psychologists are also usually part of the team as they can explain why you might suffer psychological distress and how you can cope with this.

Your doctor may be able to refer you if s/he thinks you would benefit from a pain management programme.