Neck Pain Specialists

Neck Pain Overview

Neck pain can be either: 

• Acute (short-term) neck pain is very common. It can happen as a result of tense muscles, sitting in front of a computer for many hours, or sleeping in an awkward position. 
  
• Chronic (long-term) neck pain is neck pain that lasts for 12 weeks or more. It usually occurs as a result of a combination of factors: muscular strain, poor posture, and disc-related conditions. 

The neck region of the spinal column, also known as the cervical spine, is made up of bones, nerves, ligaments, muscles, and several vertebrae that connect the torso to the head and cervical discs that absorb daily shock. The neck holds the head up and allows for movement, such as turning left or right and looking up or down. 

Neck pain usually stems from overuse and bad posture. Most people experience neck pain or stiffness at some point in their life; however, typically this is short-term pain that clears up on its own. A majority of those with neck pain will feel better in 1 to 2 weeks and 90% of people will have no pain after 8 weeks. However, for some, neck pain can last significantly longer and require professional neck pain doctor to help relieve the pain. 

If your neck pain does not go away after several days, you should consider seeing a pain management doctor. We can help establish the cause of your chronic pain and create a tailored pain management plan to better reduce your pain.

Causes Of Neck Pain

The neck is designed to support the weight of the head and is therefore vulnerable to daily wear, which can lead to pain and restrict your full range of motion. Other conditions can also cause neck pain in individuals. Some common reasons for neck pain include: 

• Injury: Trauma, such as the neck being suddenly forced to move or rebound in the opposite direction (i.e. whiplash) can leave someone feeling sore for days. Serious injuries, such as those involving sports, a fall, or a car crash, are more likely to lead to spinal fractures and other issues that can cause long-term neck pain. 
• Muscle Strain: This is one of the leading causes of neck pain. Sitting hunched over at a desk/computer for hours without changing positions can strain the muscles in the neck and create a sore or “stiff neck.” Another way to strain the neck muscles is by sleeping in the wrong position, sleeping someplace other than your bed, or using a pillow that does not offer enough head and neck support. 
• Age: As people age, they are at a higher risk of wearing down their joints and cartilage. Degenerative diseases, like Osteoarthritis and Spinal Stenosis, are some of the leading causes of joint and cartilage damage. Osteoarthritis is the actual wearing down of the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones. This affects millions of people worldwide. Spinal Stenosis is the narrowing of the spaces within your spine that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. 
• Herniated Disc: Also known as a bulging disc, a herniated disc occurs when the ‘inner jelly-like substance’ pushes out of the disc because of tears or defects in the outer cartilage layer. This puts pressure on the spinal nerves, causing pain. Herniated discs can develop anywhere along the spine, although it is seen more in the lower back or in the neck. Discs that are particularly susceptible to herniation are usually at the early stage of degeneration. 
• Fibromyalgia: This is a condition that causes musculoskeletal pain all over the body, along with fatigue, sleep problems, difficulty with memory, and moodiness. About 4 million adults in the U.S. are affected by Fibromyalgia. People who are middle aged or older tend to be diagnosed more often with this condition than younger individuals. 
• Stress: Stress can significantly increase tension in the body. This can cause the muscles in the neck to tighten and become sore as a result. 
• Other Conditions: Some other health conditions that can lead to neck pain are Bone Spurs, Meningitis, and Cancer. 

Who Is More At Risk

While anyone at any age can experience neck pain, there are certain groups of people who experience a higher risk for neck pain than others. 

Neck pain does tend to occur more frequently in women than men and older populations. Neck pain is also found more often in those with jobs that require individuals to sit at a desk all day. This is because this work usually involves staring at a computer or being hunched over their work with very little movement throughout the day. Anyone who works in a hazardous job that can potentially result in injury ( i.e. construction workers) may develop neck pain from these “on-the-job” injuries.

Symptoms Of Neck Pain

Neck pain may either occur in a specific area of the neck, or it may radiate along nerves. For example, down your arm. When neck pain radiates, it can affect reflexes and muscle strength in the affected areas, and can even cause tingling sensations.

Some neck pain symptoms, or symptoms that coinside with neck pain, require urgent medical attention.

These symptoms include:

Ways to Prevent Neck Pain

Overusing your neck is one of the leading causes of neck pain. By making little adjustments to your daily routine, you may be able to avoid any further pain caused by overusing your neck. 

• If you are having to stand or sit for long periods of time at your job, be sure to use correct posture so that your body is aligned. 
• Switch to a memory foam pillow or one that is specifically designed to support the neck and head. Also, try to sleep on your back or your side. Sleeping on your stomach or in contorted positions puts a significant amount of pressure on the spine. 
• If possible, take breaks as often as you can at work and move around some to stretch the neck, shoulders, and back and improve circulation. 
• If you carry a backpack then you need to be sure to use both straps to help balance the weight and not overly strain one side of your neck. Also, try to avoid loading any bags up with a lot of things that will weigh them down too much and pull on your neck as you carry them. 
• Make sure to adjust your computer monitor and chair to appropriate heights to help maintain good posture, and don’t slouch over any laptops

Diagnosis of Neck Pain

Our neck pain doctors in Maryland are board certified and are dedicated to giving you a comprehensive exam that will aid in diagnosing the cause of your symptoms. Using advanced diagnostic techniques, our doctors will find out the reason for your pain, and then get you on the road to better health right away. Here are a few steps our physicians use when completing their comprehensive exams:

Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we will work together with you to create a treatment plan that will effectively address your neck pain.

Neck Pain Treatments

We provide a wide range of neck pain treatments. Treatment is highly individualized and will depend on the underlying cause of pain and severity of symptoms. Available treatments include: