Neck Pain Treatment
Like back pain, neck pain is something many of us experience at some time in our lives. However, severe neck pain can have a significant effect on your ability to function.
Fortunately, Dr. Bradley D. Ahlgren and his team of highly skilled physician assistants at Ahlgren Spine in Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Lapeer, Michigan have the expertise to diagnose and effectively treat your neck pain.
Your neck is a durable area of your body, made up of muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, vertebrae, and discs that work in tandem to enable you to move your head normally. Nevertheless, it is vulnerable to injury or illness, and if any tissues or bones are damaged, it can cause pain resulting from:
- Bone spurs
- Cervical myelopathy
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Degenerative disc disease
- Falls
- Herniated discs
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Pinched nerves
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sports injuries
- Whiplash
Neck Pain Treatment
Types of Neck Pain
There are two types of neck pain. Acute neck pain occurs suddenly, usually due to an injury, and the pain subsides as the damaged tissues heal. Chronic neck pain is discomfort that doesn’t improve and lasts for more than three months, likely due to a degenerative disease that causes structural changes in your spine.
At Ahlgren Spine, Dr. Ahlgren treats neck pain by first reviewing your history and assessing your symptoms. He then performs a physical examination to test your range of motion and pinpoint the source of your pain by testing your reflex and nerve responses.
We also have access to a range of diagnostic tools and imaging technology to help diagnose and assess the extent of any damage, including X-rays, myelogram, bone scan, CT scan, discogram, MRI, electromyography (EMG), and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests.
The good news is that most neck pain is caused by soft tissue damage that heals with rest. In the meantime, anti-inflammatory pain medication and wearing a soft, supportive collar helps relieve discomfort while your neck heals.
More severe or chronic neck pain may require treatment that includes pain-relieving injections, physical therapy, heat therapy, ultrasound, and/or electrical stimulation therapy. In the case of a fractured vertebrae, surgery is often required to resolve your neck pain. Learn about some of the cervical spine treatments we offer.
Neck Pain Relief in Rochester Hills, Bad Axe, and Lapeer, Michigan
For a specific diagnosis and effective treatment of your neck pain, you can rely on the expertise of Dr. Bradley D. Ahlgren and his team at Ahlgren Spine. Call us today at (248) 215-8080 to schedule a private consultation or use our convenient online form.
