What is neck pain?
Neck pain is discomfort at or near your neck. It might be mild, moderate, or severe, and come and go or last long-term. Symptoms include:
- Muscle tightness
- Muscle spasms
- Headaches
- Decreased ability to move your head
- Pain that gets worse when driving or working
Neck pain might resolve on its own after several days, but if it doesn’t or is severe, schedule an appointment with Maryland Pain & Wellness Center for an evaluation.
What causes neck pain?
Many injuries or diseases can cause neck pain. Examples include:
- Whiplash or other automobile injuries
- Cervical disc herniation
- Cervical spondylosis/facet joint pain
- Arthritis
- Cervical radiculopathy/pinched nerves
- Cervical spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of spaces within your spine
- Brachial plexus injury, or nerve damage
- Failed spine surgery, or post laminectomy syndrome
- Muscle strains
- Nerve compression
To determine the cause of neck pain, your doctor examines you and reviews your medical history. They ask you questions about your symptoms and may use blood or imaging tests — such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs — to make a diagnosis.
How is neck pain treated?
Your personalized neck pain treatment plan depends on the type and severity of pain and what’s causing it. Your pain specialist might recommend one or more of the following:
At-home treatments
Applying ice or heat to your neck and wearing a soft cervical collar help to relieve neck pain while an injury heals.
Medications
Over-the-counter or prescription medications can alleviate neck pain, relax your muscles, and reduce inflammation.
Alternative treatments
Massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and relaxation exercises are natural ways to ease chronic neck pain.
Physical therapy
A certified physical therapist at Maryland Pain & Wellness Center helps you strengthen and stretch neck muscles to prevent re-injury and accelerate healing.
Injections
Steroid, nerve block, or numbing injections help reduce neck pain and inflammation. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections contain platelets sourced from your blood to stimulate healing naturally.
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure in which your pain doctor uses heat energy to minimize pain signal transmission.
TENS
During transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), your doctor places electrodes near painful areas of your neck to deliver electrical impulses that relieve pain.
Surgery
While rarely needed, neck surgery might be recommended to relieve pain associated with spinal cord or nerve root compression. Your pain doctor lets you know if you’re a good candidate for surgery.
Don’t live with neck pain if it’s severe or long-lasting. Schedule an appointment with Maryland Pain & Wellness Center over the phone or online today.
