Chronic Neck Pain Treatment

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; 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 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:

• 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: constant 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. 

Neck Pain When To See A Doctor:

If your neck pain disappears after several days, you should consider seeing a neck pain treatment doctor. 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 your full range of motion. Other conditions can also cause neck pain in individuals. 

Constant neck pain causes include

Who Is More At Risk

While anyone at any age can experience neck pain, certain groups share 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 jobs requiring 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 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 can occur in a specific area of the neck or radiate along nerves, for example, down your arm. 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.

These symptoms include:

• Signs of paralysis, such as difficulty moving your fingers
• Neck pain after an accident
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fever or chills
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Frequent numbness or tingling sensations in your hands or legs
• Trouble keeping your balance when walking

Remember, everyone's experience with neck pain is different. Paying attention to your body and not ignoring persistent pain or discomfort is essential.

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: This can be a slight discomfort or stiffness in your neck, often disappearing after rest or gentle stretching. It's usually associated with poor posture or overuse.
• Moderate Neck Pain: This pain level is more noticeable and may start affecting your daily activities. You might experience increased stiffness or discomfort, especially after long periods of sitting or standing.
• Severe Neck Pain: This 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.

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 may be able to avoid any further discomfort caused by overusing your neck. 

• If you have to stand or sit for long periods at your job, use the correct posture to align your body. 
• 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 significant pressure on the spine. 
• Take breaks as often as possible at work and move around some to stretch the neck, shoulders, and back and improve circulation. 
• If you carry a backpack, you need to use both straps to help balance the weight and not overly strain one side of your neck. Also, avoid loading bags with many things that weigh too much and pull on your neck as you carry them. 
• Adjust your computer monitor and chair to appropriate heights to help maintain good posture, and don't slouch over any laptops.

Treatment For Chronic Neck Pain

We provide a wide range of neck pain treatments. Treatment is highly individualized and will depend on the underlying cause of pain and the severity of symptoms. Here's a closer look at some of the therapies we offer:

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. Here are some of the injections for neck pain that we offer:

• Facet Joint Injections: A treatment involving injecting 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: This procedure involves administering steroids into the epidural space around the spinal cord to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
• Occipital Nerve Blocks: A treatment that involves 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: This procedure involves injecting 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: A device implanted under your skin that sends a mild electric current to the spinal cord to relieve chronic pain.
• Radiofrequency Ablation: This procedure 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: These programs involve the use of medications to control pain under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
• Referrals to Physical Therapy: Patients are referred to physical therapists who provide 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. These can include:

• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: A noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.
• Acupuncture: An ancient Chinese medicine-based approach to treating various conditions by triggering specific points on the skin with needles.

These therapies are referred to our sister company, Shakthi Health and Wellness Center.

Comprehensive neck pain management

At Pain and Spine Specialists, we provide comprehensive neck pain management and personalized care for individuals 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 may refer you to our sister company, Shakthi Health and Wellness Center, for treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation or acupuncture.

Getting Started with Us

Looking for neck pain treatment near me? Simply 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 may have, and discuss potential treatment options.