Neck Pain Specialist

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain is often caused by stress and muscle tension or poor posture. Neck injuries are a common problem, stretching and tearing the muscles and connective tissues. Whiplash from auto accidents and sports injuries are frequent causes of sudden neck pain.

You might develop neck pain if you repeatedly make the same movements, causing excessive stress and wear. Chronic (long-lasting) diseases can also cause neck pain. These include:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal stenosis (narrowed spinal canal)
• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Cervical disc herniation
• Spondylosis (age-related arthritic changes)

Cervical radiculopathy frequently causes neck pain. Radiculopathy is the name for symptoms of nerve compression in your spine. Cervical refers to the seven vertebrae that make up your neck. Cervical radiculopathy develops when nerves leaving your spinal cord and passing through the vertebrae are irritated or under pressure.

Neck pain follows, and you might get tingling, prickling, or burning sensations. Your neck could feel weak, or you might have problems controlling specific movements. These symptoms can travel along the nerve’s path into your shoulder and down your arm.

How is neck pain diagnosed?

The Cleaver Medical Group Interventional Pain team asks you to describe your symptoms in detail to diagnose your neck pain. You can help by noting how the pain started, what makes it feel worse or better, and any other symptoms you experience.

Your doctor completes a physical exam, feeling the structures in your neck to check for abnormalities. They can tell a lot from any movement restrictions your neck pain’s causing. To confirm a diagnosis and gather details of the damage, you might have an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan.

How is neck pain treated?

For many people, mild neck pain gets better with home treatments. Applying hot and cold compresses several times each day reduces swelling and relieves pain. You should rest your neck by avoiding activities that make it hurt. Over-the-counter pain medicine can also help.

After a few days, your neck pain could be gone. But if it’s not, or your pain is severe, visit Cleaver Medical Group Interventional Pain. Their team offers cutting-edge treatments for neck pain, including:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Medial branch blocks (local anesthetic injections)
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation
• Trigger point injections

Steroid injections reduce inflammation in your neck. Other treatments reduce or block nerve activity to stop pain messages from reaching your brain.

Call Cleaver Medical Group Interventional Pain today or book an appointment online to find effective relief from continual neck pain.