Neck pain is a prevalent concern that impacts millions of individuals worldwide. It can drastically impact daily life, making it difficult to perform even simple tasks. The good news is that there are a number of effective neck pain treatments available that can help improve symptoms and your quality of life.
This blog will guide you through understanding neck pain, recognizing when to seek treatment, and exploring the available options to find relief.
Understanding Neck Pain
Neck or cervical pain can affect day-to-day life. From turning your head to look over your shoulder to staring at a computer screen for hours, symptoms can be debilitating. It is a common problem, estimated to affect 10% to 20% of adults, and is more common in women and in older adults.
Neck pain can arise for various reasons. Common causes include poor posture, a pinched neck nerve, and injuries. Underlying health conditions, like degenerative disc disease, can also result in neck pain and other symptoms.
Poor Posture
In today’s digital era, many of us find ourselves spending hours hunched over our computers or phones. This poor posture, along with other contributing factors, such as weak abdominal muscles or carrying extra body weight, can affect your spine’s alignment and cause strain on the muscles and ligaments in the neck, resulting in pain.
Injury
Trauma from accidents, such as whiplash from a car crash, can cause severe neck pain. Overuse injuries from repetitive or strenuous activities can also lead to stiffness and pain. These injuries can damage different structures in the neck, such as muscles, ligaments, nerves, discs, and even the bones (vertebrae) in the neck.
Underlying Health Conditions
Several health conditions can contribute to neck pain, including:
- Herniated Disc: When a disc in the spine slips out of place, it can press on nearby nerves, causing pain
- Degenerative Conditions: Age-related conditions, such as osteoarthritis or degenerative disc disease, can affect the cervical spine, causing different structures to wear down, resulting in pain, stiffness, and other symptoms
- Spinal Stenosis: This condition, characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in pain
Signs and Symptoms
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of neck pain can help you determine when to seek treatment. Common symptoms include:
- Stiffness: Difficulty moving your neck, particularly when turning your head
- Sharp Pain: A sharp, stabbing, or burning pain in one spot
- Aching: A persistent ache in the neck area
- General Soreness: A tender or achy feeling in the neck
- Radiating Pain: Pain that spreads to the shoulders, arms, or back
- Tightness: Tension in your shoulders and upper back, as well as your neck
- Headaches: Pain that starts in the neck and moves up to the face or head
- Weakness, Tingling, or Numbness: If you experience weakness or numbness in your shoulders, arms, or hands, it could indicate a more serious issue
Available Treatments
There are various treatments available for neck pain, ranging from conventional methods to surgical options. The type of treatment you need will depend on the underlying cause of your symptoms. A spine doctor can work with you to diagnose and manage your condition effectively. They will explore the range of treatment options with you to enable you to make an informed decision about your care.
Conventional Treatments
Nonsurgical therapies are usually considered first before exploring more invasive treatments, such as surgery. These include:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps strengthen the neck muscles and improve posture. Orthopedic manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and other modalities will be utilized to reduce pain, increase function and mobility, and prevent future issues.
Medication
Over-the-counter or prescribed medications can help manage pain and inflammation.
Pain Management Techniques
Pain management techniques may be recommended to manage acute and chronic neck pain conditions related to spinal disorders. These effective treatments typically require minimal downtime and may offer relief for several weeks or months, depending on your specific condition and its severity. Popular pain management techniques include:
- Nerve Blocks: Injections designed to interrupt pain signals from targeted nerves
- Epidural Injections: Injections that reduce inflammation around the spinal cord
- Facet Injections: Target the small joints in the spine to relieve pain and inflammation
- Radiofrequency Ablation: Utilizes heat to minimize pain signals from nerves
Surgical Treatments
Surgery is typically only considered when conservative treatments have been fully explored. In most cases, minimally invasive surgeries are performed, which involve smaller incisions, less trauma to nearby tissues, and a quicker recovery than conventional surgery. The most common surgical procedures for neck pain include:
- Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement: Replaces damaged discs with artificial ones to reduce pain, maintain motion, and reduce further degeneration in the spine.
- Cervical Laminoforaminotomy: Removes part of the bone that protects the spinal cord, known as the lamina, to relieve pressure on nerves.
- Cervical Fusion: Fuses two or more vertebrae to stabilize the spine.
- Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF): Removes a damaged disc and fuses the adjacent vertebrae.
- Corpectomy/Hemi-Corpectomy: Removes part of the vertebra and discs to stabilize the spine and relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
Finding the Right Spine Doctor
Choosing the right provider is crucial for effective neck pain relief. Qualities to look for include:
- Expertise: Ensure you choose an experienced, certified spine doctor or medical professional who specializes in neck pain
- Patient Reviews: Look for positive reviews from previous patients
- Location Convenience: Choose a provider that is easily accessible to you
- Insurance: If using insurance, check who and what is covered in your plan to avoid unexpected costs
Neck Pain Treatment in Rochester Hills, Michigan
At Ahlgren Spine, we specialize in diagnosing and treating spine conditions and offer comprehensive care for neck pain. We utilize cutting-edge technology along with the latest surgical and non-invasive techniques to alleviate your symptoms, restore function, and swiftly return you to your normal, active lifestyle. Dr. Bradley D. Ahlgren is a highly respected spinal surgeon known for his expertise and dedication to patient care.
What We Offer
- Physical Therapy: Our physical therapy services aim to reduce pain, improve mobility, and prevent future issues. We offer treatments such as orthopedic manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, and balance and fall prevention.
- Pain Management Techniques: We provide various pain management options, including nerve blocks, epidural injections, and radiofrequency ablation.
- Surgical Treatments: For severe cases, we offer advanced surgical options like Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement and Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us today at (248) 215-8080 or use our convenient appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
