Neck Pain

Neck pain

Neck pain can affect all of us at some stage of our lives. It may occur because of a number of reasons, but for most of us it may be simply treated and prevented. Mild pain in the neck may occur from sitting in the wrong position, particularly when looking at a computer or screen, putting your head, neck and shoulders in an unnatural position for too long without regular changes of posture.

More severe or persistent neck pain may also involve injuries to the shoulder or collarbone, or from pinched nerves in the spine. Whiplash injuries, usually from motor vehicle accidents, are another major cause of persistent neck pain. Wearing an approved seat belt is common sense to help minimise whiplash or more serious injuries.

Neck pain may be described as dull, cramping, stabbing or a range of these, depending on the cause of the pain. Pain from pinched nerves is often described as burning or stabbing, whereas muscle injury pain is usually cramping, and often worsens on movement, particularly after a period of rest.

Neck pain as a result of arthritis in the spine can also pinch nerves as the vertebra collapse or change shape. Neck pain may vary in type and intensity, and may cause pain to spread or radiate to other areas of the body, such as the shoulder and further down the backbone. Pain may also cause muscle weakness, both from limiting movement in that area to prevent the pain occurring and from actual damage to the area.

If neck pain, or any pain, is severe or crushing, then it is important to consult your doctor or go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital at once in order to rule out the possibility of heart problems or other conditions that may cause pain to radiate out from the heart to other areas.

Your community pharmacist can advise you if any neck pain that you may be suffering from may be treated with treatments from the pharmacy. They will also refer you to your doctor, a physiotherapist or other health professional if needed.

Rest is helpful for mild neck pain or an injury so try to limit uncomfortable neck positions for two or three days after it first occurs. If you must work at a screen, have regular breaks, at least every 20 minutes. Use this break time to rotate the neck and shoulders or take a short walk for a minute or two before returning to the screen or keyboard again.

Mild pain relieving medicine is helpful, your pharmacist can advise on the best medicine and the correct dose for you in order to relieve the pain. It is important to not use pain reliever medicines to allow you to continue to do what caused the problem in the first place. Your pharmacist has the treatment and advice that will help you to manage and prevent neck pain.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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