What causes neck pain?
Neck pain can originate from many different conditions and injuries. It is very important to get a professional diagnosis and find an effective treatment if the symptoms are affecting your activities of daily living (ADL’s) and quality of life (QoL). Regardless of the cause, treating your neck pain can keep it from becoming worse and more disabling. Common causes of neck pain include:
- Muscle strain
- Herniated discs
- Vertebral abnormalities
- Osteoarthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Structural deformities
- Cancer (primary and metastatic)
Many of the injuries leading to neck pain develop because of poor mechanics, awkward movements, and lifting techniques. It can also be caused by remaining in the same position for an extended periods of time as you work, drive, or sleep. Your IPRMS physicians can help you explore the factors leading to your neck pain and teach you to be more mindful of your positioning in an attempt to prevent further problems.
When should I book an appointment for neck pain?
Not all neck pain is permanent or requires professional care. In many cases, you can find relief from neck pain by resting and conservative care at home. You should consider visiting Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists for treatment if your neck pain lasts despite home treatment or if it coincides with:
- Upper or lower extremity focal weakness
- Arm pain or numbness
- Urinary or fecal incontinence
- Noticeable inflammation and/or swelling in the neck or upper back
- A recent traumatic injury
When you come in for your appointment, your IPRMS physician will perform a physical exam and ask you to describe your symptoms. They may order blood tests, X-rays or other imaging studies such as a CT scan or MRI to find the cause of your pain and develop an effective treatment plan.
What are my treatment options for neck pain?
Drs. Huffman and Ghazal create an individualized treatment plan to address your neck pain and improve your quality of life. Your plan includes a combination of lifestyle adjustments, medications, and various forms of non-interventional and interventional modalities.
Lifestyle changes
Your doctors at IPRMS typically recommend lifestyle changes like being mindful of your posture, taking breaks from prolonged sitting, weight loss and exercising to build muscle to relieve your neck pain symptoms.
Medications
Certain medications can ease inflammation and neck pain, like muscle relaxants, over-the-counter pain relievers, topical pain relievers, and more. Taking your medications as prescribed can help relieve muscle tension or block pain signals. Your IPRMS physician might also recommend other categories of prescription medication if warranted.
Therapies
Your doctors might also recommend certain therapies like, massage therapy, or physical therapy and acupuncture. These treatments can help restore your spinal alignment and strengthen the muscles in your neck.
Interventional treatment
If neck pain persists despite conservative management, injection therapies can be considered. These include epidural steroid injections, facet joint injections, medial branch nerve diagnostic blocks and Radiofrequency ablation. In more refractory cases that do not require surgery or that have failed surgical intervention, treatments such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and intrathecal drug delivery (IDDS) can be considered in addition to long-term opioid pain management.
If your neck pain causes you to miss work often or if it disrupts your daily quality of life in any way, call Interventional Pain and Regenerative Medicine Specialists, or book a consultation online today.
