Acute Back or Neck Pain Programme
Fast, effective treatment for recent onset back or neck pain
Available at our Woodford, Chigwell, Gidea Park & Bow clinics. Find your nearest
Book Now
Acute back or neck pain can come on suddenly and be extremely debilitating. Whether it started from a specific movement, a sudden twist, lifting something awkward, or for no obvious reason at all, getting the right assessment and treatment quickly makes a real difference to recovery time and to preventing the problem from becoming chronic.
We offer same-day and next-day appointments at our Woodford, Chigwell and Gidea Park clinics. If your pain is severe, you should call us directly so we can prioritise your booking.
Who This Programme Is For
This programme is appropriate if you have:
- Back or neck pain that started recently (within the last 4 to 6 weeks)
- Severe muscle spasm preventing normal movement
- Pain following a specific injury, awkward movement or lifting incident
- Acute disc episode with or without nerve symptoms
- Joint strain or "locked" back
- Wry neck (acute torticollis)
You do not need a GP referral to be seen. Please call us or book online.
The Five-Step Treatment Programme
Clinical Examination
Your practitioner will assess spinal range of motion, postural alignment, muscle tension and weakness, and perform orthopaedic and neurological testing to identify the cause of your pain. This thorough assessment guides the exact treatment you receive from the first session onward, rather than applying a generic protocol.
If imaging is clinically indicated, for example, if nerve symptoms suggest possible disc involvement, we can arrange rapid MRI access with expert reporting.
Manual Therapy
Hands-on treatment begins from your first appointment. Deep tissue massage and joint mobilisation techniques are used to release stiff, restricted muscles and joints. In the acute phase, this immediately reduces muscle guarding, relieves protective spasm and restores movement. Even when pain is severe, gentle specific techniques can be applied safely and effectively.
Trigger Point Release
Painful muscle knots (trigger points) in the spinal muscles often develop quickly following acute injury. These trigger points cause local and referred pain and can dramatically limit movement. Trigger point dry needling (medical acupuncture) or acupressure massage provides rapid, targeted relief and allows the spine to move more freely during the rest of the treatment session.
Advanced Electrotherapy
We use Class IV laser therapy, TECAR therapy and shockwave therapy to reduce tissue inflammation, promote healing and accelerate recovery beyond what manual treatment alone achieves. These modalities are particularly effective in the acute phase for reducing pain and swelling quickly, and for managing disc-related acute episodes where certain manual techniques need to be restricted.
Rehabilitation Exercises
A structured home exercise programme is introduced as soon as pain allows, combining gentle mobility exercises with progressive strengthening. Early active rehabilitation is important to prevent the deconditioning and fear-avoidance that can turn an acute injury into a chronic problem. You will receive a clear, personalised exercise plan to take away from your first appointment.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Most patients with acute back or neck pain see significant improvement within 3 to 6 sessions. Simple muscle strains often resolve within 1 to 3 appointments. More complex acute presentations, such as acute disc episodes or significant joint injuries, may require a longer course of care.
The aim of treatment in the acute phase is to move you out of pain as quickly as possible, then address the underlying cause to prevent recurrence.
Don’t suffer with acute back or neck pain. Call 020 8506 1000 for same or next-day appointments. Open Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Saturdays 9am–5pm.
Book Now