Common Causes of Neck Pain
- Cervical Herniated Discs
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Spinal Stenosis
- Cervical Spondylosis (Arthritis)
- Whiplash and Muscle Strains
- Pinched Nerves (Radiculopathy)
Neck pain can be a persistent and debilitating condition that affects your ability to work, sleep, and enjoy life. At the Center for Brain and Spine, our specialists provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment solutions for cervical spine disorders.
Neck Pain
When Should I See a Doctor?
Usually, neck pain gradually improves with at-home care. If your pain has not improved over several days, it may be time to give our office a visit.
Symptoms that require a doctor’s attention include:
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Severe pain or pain that does not fade
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Pain that radiates down one or both arms or legs
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Weak, numb, or tingling arms or legs
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Headache
If you feel these symptoms may be caused by a recent traumatic injury brought on by incidents such as tripping, a car accident, or a diving accident, seek immediate care.
How Can It Be Treated?
The physicians perform a physical examination of your neck. They check for tingling, sensitivity, numbness or weakness and assess your ability to move your head forward, backward, and side to side. Further examination may require imaging, blood, or muscle tests for accurate and precise diagnosis.
Treatment can come in several forms.
MEDICATION
If the pain is acute, our providers may recommend a regimen of over-the-counter pain medication, heat pads, and rest. In more chronic cases, prescription medication, physical therapy to correct posture and relieve pain, or electrical stimulation to alleviate pain may be suggested.
IMMOBILIZATION
Our providers may also recommend short-term immobilization with a soft collar worn a few hours a day for 1-2 weeks or physical therapy sessions with traction, which involve weights and pulleys being used to gently stretch your neck and reduce pressure on your nerves.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES
In more extreme cases where there is unrelenting pain, obstruction of nerves, or structural problems, minimally invasive procedures such as injection therapies and neuromodulatory treatments may be recommended. Surgery may also be recommended.
Injection therapies include platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapy, which both concentrate your body’s natural healing process on your neck. Other injection therapies include the usage of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and pain.
Neuromodulatory treatments consist of spinal cord stimulation, which uses low-level electrical signals to alter pain signaling from the back to the brain.