Chronic Neck Pain Specialists
In Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia
Neck pain is usually caused by overuse, bad posture, or injury and typically resolves on its own after a short period. If your pain does not resolve independently, you may need to find a neck pain specialist. Our Pain and Spine Specialists doctors will thoroughly evaluate your neck pain symptoms and provide comprehensive treatment options to address your pain.
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When to See a Doctor for Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common issue that affects millions of people worldwide, impacting their daily life and overall quality of life. It can stem from various causes like personal injuries, muscle strains, age, herniated discs, fibromyalgia, or stress. Neck pain can last a couple of days or continue for years. How long you experience pain and the severity of pain often depends on what is causing your neck pain.
Comprehensive pain management is an essential next step when pain symptoms are not resolving independently, regardless of what may be causing your pain. If you are ready to schedule a consultation with a neck pain specialist, use our contact form.
If you're interested in learning more about neck pain, you can use the navigation buttons to explore detailed information about its causes, symptoms, and available treatment options.
What Patients Are Saying
Great office, good people. Been there quite a few years. Never a problem. Leave them a message, they always respond. I've had six back surgeries 2knees and right shoulder. Gregg keeps my chronic debilitating pain managed well so I can still live my life best I can. Im so grateful.
Jenny Martins / google review
Dr. Rao. I can't find the words to tell you how much he has meant to me. I followed him from an old practice to his very new high tech office. They offer so many different areas of assistance to those with issues from nutrition to spinal surgery... and much more. His office is professional.
Mom To2 / vitals
Dr. Rao is such an amazing doctor! During my first visit, he never tried to rush through my appt.; he genuinely listened to all my concerns and then took his time to explain to me in detail all his recommendations and how they would help me.
Nikki / healthgrades
Neck Pain Treatment Guide
Digital Guide
Explore our in-depth digital guide on neck pain, offering valuable insights into its causes, symptoms, and treatments. This guide also answers frequently asked questions, so you'll find immediate information about your neck pain concerns.
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Access to our Neck Pain guide, pain quiz, FAQ's, and patient reviews.
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Understanding Neck Pain
The neck region of the spinal column, also known as the cervical spine, comprises bones, nerves, ligaments, muscles, and several vertebrae that connect the torso to the head and cervical discs that absorb daily shock. The neck supports the head 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. Typically, this is short-term pain that clears up on its own. A majority of those with neck pain will feel better in one to two weeks, and 90% of people will have no pain after eight weeks. However, for some, neck pain can last significantly longer and require a professional neck pain doctor to help relieve the pain.
Types of Neck Pain
- Short-term neck pain, also known as acute 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 neck pain is a persistent constant neck pain that lasts for 12 weeks or more. It usually occurs as a result of a combination of factors like muscular strain, poor posture, and disc-related conditions.
Neck Pain: When to See a Doctor
If your neck pain doesn't disappear after several days, you should consider seeing a neck pain treatment doctor at Pain and Spine Specialists. We can help establish the cause of your chronic pain and create a tailored pain management plan to reduce your pain better.
Causes of Neck Pain
The neck is designed to support the head's weight and is therefore vulnerable to daily wear, leading to pain and restricting full range of motion. The root causes of chronic neck pain are many, but most are treatable to some degree.
Constant neck pain causes include:
Who Is at Risk?
While anyone at any age can experience neck pain, certain groups share a higher risk for neck pain than others. For example, neck pain tends to occur more frequently in women than men and older populations, as well.
Neck pain is also found more often in jobs requiring people to sit at a desk all day. Staring at a computer or being hunched over a desk with little movement throughout the day can significantly affect the neck. Additionally, anyone who works in a hazardous job, such as construction workers, might develop neck pain from on-the-job injuries..
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Symptoms of Neck Pain
Neck pain can occur in a specific area of the neck or radiate along nerves down your arms, for example. When neck pain radiates, it can affect reflexes and muscle strength in the affected areas, and even cause tingling sensations.
Some neck pain symptoms, or symptoms that coincide with neck pain, require urgent medical attention.
Symptoms that should be diagnosed immediately include:
- Difficulty Moving Your Fingers
- Neck Pain After an Accident
- Unintentional Weight Loss
- Fever or Chills
- Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control
- Frequent Hand or Leg Numbness or Tingling
- Loss of Balance
Remember, everyone's experience with neck pain is different, so paying attention to your body and not ignoring persistent pain or discomfort is crucial.
Variation in Symptoms Based on Severity
The severity of neck pain can vary significantly between individuals, and the symptoms can change accordingly.
- Mild Neck Pain: Mild neck pain often results in a slight discomfort or stiffness in your neck, often disappearing after rest or gentle stretching. Generally, it's associated with poor posture or overuse.
- Moderate Neck Pain: When you experience moderate neck pain, it is more noticeable and might start affecting your daily activities. You might experience increased stiffness or discomfort, especially after long periods of sitting or standing.
- Severe Neck Pain: Intense pain can limit physical activity. It might be accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or hands. Severe neck pain can be a sign of a serious condition, like a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional immediately.
Remember, neck pain is not something you have to live with. At Pain and Spine Specialists, we're committed to diagnosing the root cause of your discomfort and creating a personalized treatment plan to alleviate your pain and improve your quality of life.
Neck pain, sciatica and scoliosis in the cervical spine isolated on white background, chiropractor treatment concept, painful area highlighted in red and blue
Ways to Prevent Neck Pain
Overusing your neck is one of the leading causes of constant neck pain. By making little adjustments to your daily routine, you might be able to avoid any further discomfort caused by overusing your neck. A few ways how to manage chronic neck pain include:
Types of Neck Pain Diagnosis Techniques
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 neck pain diagnosis techniques, our neck pain specialists will find out the reason for your pain and then get you on the road to better health immediately.
Types of neck pain diagnosis techniques our neck pain specialists use include:
- 1Review of Medical History: A detailed review of your health history aids us in identifying any previous injuries or conditions contributing to your neck pain.
- 2Physical Examination: Our specialists conduct a thorough physical exam to assess your neck's range of motion, muscle strength, and reflexes, as well as to pinpoint areas causing discomfort.
- 3Diagnostic Imaging: To better understand what's happening internally, we employ advanced imaging techniques like X-rays, MRI, or CT scans. These tools can reveal abnormalities such as herniated discs or bone spurs that could be causing your neck pain.
- 4Nerve Tests: If nerve damage is suspected, additional tests may be performed to measure electrical activity in your muscles and nerves, helping us identify potential nerve-related issues.
- 5Diagnostic Nerve Blocks: In certain cases, we use diagnostic nerve blocks like facet joint injections, epidural steroid injections, SI injections, or medial branch blocks. These procedures can help determine if specific nerves in your neck are causing your pain.
Through this comprehensive approach, we accurately detect the source of your neck pain and develop a tailor-made treatment plan to relieve your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.
Treatment for Chronic Neck Pain
We at Pain and Spine Specialists provide a wide range of neck pain treatments. Treatment at our neck pain relief center is highly individualized and will depend on the underlying cause of pain and the severity of symptoms.
Some of the many therapies we offer are:
Injections for Neck Pain
Injection therapies are often the best treatment for severe neck pain. These neck injections for pain relief involve injecting medication directly into the affected area to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.
Some of the injections for neck pain that we offer include:
- Facet Joint Injections: Facet joint injections administer a local anesthetic and steroid medication into the facet joints between each set of vertebrae in the spine to alleviate pain and inflammation.
- Epidural Steroid Injection: Epidural steroid injections go right to the epidural space around the spinal cord to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
- Occipital Nerve Blocks: Occipital nerve blocks are injections of a steroid or other medication around the occipital nerves located on the back of the head just above the neck to treat headache pain.
- Stellate Ganglion Block: A stellate ganglion block is a local anesthetic into the front of the neck to block the sympathetic nerves contributing to pain syndromes and other problems.
Advanced Interventional Procedures
When conventional treatments aren't enough, we turn to advanced interventional procedures. These innovative techniques provide targeted relief for chronic neck pain.
- Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS): SCS is a device implanted under your skin during spinal cord stimulation sends a mild electric current to the spinal cord to relieve chronic pain.
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Radiofrequency ablation uses heat generated by radio waves to target specific nerves and interrupt their ability to send pain signals to the brain.
Conventional Treatments
Conventional treatments remain a vital part of managing neck pain.
These can include:
- Medication Management Programs: Medication management programs involve the use of medications to control pain under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
- Referrals to Physical Therapy: Neck pain patients are often referred to physical therapists for exercises and other therapies to help improve mobility and manage pain.
Alternative Therapies
We also recognize the value of alternative therapies in managing neck pain, such as:
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine-based approach, acupuncture treats various conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with needles.
These therapies are referred to our sister company, Shakthi Health and Wellness Center, a trusted partner in comprehensive pain management.
Comprehensive neck pain management
At Pain and Spine Specialists, we provide comprehensive neck pain management and personalized care for people with severe neck pain. Our team of highly experienced healthcare professionals utilizes the latest advancements in pain management to help our patients regain control of their lives.
Neck pain is a complex condition, and identifying the best treatment for chronic neck pain is crucial. That's why we take a comprehensive approach to treating it. We begin by conducting a thorough examination to understand the root cause of your pain. This includes an in-depth discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and any previous treatments you've tried.
Once we clearly understand your condition, we create a customized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This plan could include a variety of therapies, such as facet joint injections or epidural steroid injections, advanced interventional procedures like spinal cord stimulation or radiofrequency ablation, and conventional treatments like medication management programs or referrals to physical therapy.
We also recognize the value of alternative therapies in managing neck pain so that we might refer you to our sister company, Shakthi Health and Wellness Center, for treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation or acupuncture.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may see a variety of specialists, such as orthopedists, neurologists, rheumatologists, or physical therapists, depending on the cause and severity of your neck pain. A general practitioner can guide you to the right specialist.
If your neck pain is severe, persists for several days, radiates down arms or legs, or is accompanied by headache, numbness, weakness, or tingling, you should see a doctor.
A pain specialist has specific training in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all different types of pain, including neck pain. They can provide a comprehensive treatment plan to manage your pain effectively.
Coverage varies greatly depending on your insurance provider and plan. It's best to contact your insurance company for detailed information.
You can ask for a referral from your primary care physician, search online, or use health-specific search engines like Zocdoc.
Comprehensive pain management involves a multi-disciplinary approach to diagnose and treating pain. It may include medication, physical therapy, lifestyle modification, and psychological counseling.
A board-certified doctor has passed rigorous exams demonstrating their knowledge and expertise in their specialty. This ensures you're getting care from someone highly qualified.
Minimally invasive treatments often involve less pain, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and less risk of complications compared to open surgery.
Initial treatments may include rest, heat or cold application, over-the-counter pain relievers, and gentle stretching and strengthening exercises.
If first-line treatments are ineffective, doctors may consider options like prescription medications, physical therapy, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, or as a last resort, surgery.
Getting Started with Us
Looking for "neck pain treatment near me" or "neck pain doctors near me" online? Just give us a call or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule an initial consultation. During this appointment, one of our pain management specialists will evaluate your condition, answer any questions you have, and discuss potential treatment options.
About Us
We are a comprehensive pain management practice with board-certified back pain doctors in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia that specialize in innovative treatments for Neck Pain.
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Neck Pain Treatments
Patients diagnosed with Neck Pain may be good candidates for the following treatments.
Common Causes
Neck Pain is often caused by the following conditions.
Related Pain Conditions
Neck Pain is often caused by the following conditions.
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Contact Us
If you would like more information about chronic neck pain treatments, please call Pain and Spine Specialists and speak to our dedicated team to improve your mobility.
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*We accept workers' comp and personal injury claim patients
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Appointment FAQ's
We Accept All Insurances!
That includes Medicare and state Medicaid.
Usually within one week of the initial call.
Appointments can be schedule by phone or through our contact form here.
At Pain and Spine Specialists we provide comprehensive pain care while offering the most up-to-date minimally invasive techniques. Our ethos is to treat each patient (and potential patient) as if they were a family member.
At Pain and Spine Specialists we want to provide the most efficient and pleasurable experience possible. As in all medical facilities, we have certain policies in place to ensure that you receive the time you require to address your needs as well as enhance your experience while in our care.
We encourage patient feedback to better improve your experience. We strive to create a friendly and warm environment where patients feel their voices are heard and validated.
Meet Our Team
Neck Pain Specialists in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, & Virginia
At Pain and Spine Specialists, our board-certified specialists are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care for those suffering from neck pain. Our team believes in a comprehensive approach to pain management, which means we don't just treat your symptoms. We strive to understand and address the root cause of your neck pain. By integrating state-of-the-art technology with proven medical practices, we can create personalized treatment plans that best meet each patient's unique needs. You can find us conveniently located throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia.
