Neck Pain Causes and Treatments
Are you experiencing neck pain? You are not alone. Neck pain is a common complaint.
Neck muscles may be strained due to bad posture — whether it’s leaning over your computer or hunching over while reading. Osteoarthritis might also cause neck pain if the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones wears down over time.
Sometimes, neck pain can be a symptom of a more serious problem. Get medical help if your neck pain goes along with loss of strength in your arms or hands, numbness or if you have intense pain in your arm or shoulder.
Book a consultation with our neck pain specialists at VISP.
Let’s explore the causes of neck pain
There are quite a few conditions that can cause pain, discomfort, and stiffness in the neck.
1. DEGENERATION OF THE VERTEBRAE
You may know all too well that, with age, your body starts to change. You may not be as agile or flexible as you used to be, and you may be feeling a few more aches than you did in your youth.
Shoulder and neck pain is often the result of a decline in the bone structure of the cervical spine in older adults. The degeneration causes the vertebrae to decrease in thickness, reducing the cushion of cartilage to protect the bone structure. This could also lead to osteoarthritis, which is the inflammation of the facet joints.
At VISP, the diagnosis is confirmed with the help of X-ray imaging. This will determine the specific treatment method. If your X-ray shows that a nerve is being compressed by the degeneration of the vertebrae, we may recommend a nerve block procedure to decrease, temporarily stop, or resolve the pain.
2. OSTEOARTHRITIS
This inflammatory condition is also known as arthritis in the facet joints of your spinal cord. Osteoarthritis often causes pain in the shoulders and neck. It also causes you to experience a stiff neck.
The most common treatment for neck pain and cervical spine disorders is to start with NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. Advil, Tylenol) to help decrease the inflammation. Movement and heat throughout the day can also help. If your condition worsens or the pain is too severe, your doctor may prescribe a medication that has proven to help.
If you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and the previous pain-relieving methods have not been successful, our specialists at VISP provide effective, minimally-invasive procedures to offer better pain relief.
Facet Joint Injections provide pain relief directly to the site that is causing the discomfort by injecting an anti-inflammatory medication to help soothe and numb the irritation.
3. PINCHED NERVE IN THE CERVICAL SPINE
Pinched nerves can be caused by degenerating discs that lead to spinal stenosis, which is the narrowing of the spinal cord. This narrowing often creates pressure on the nerves which can cause symptoms such as arm, neck, and shoulder pain, numbness, and weakness.
If you are a patient with osteoarthritis, the inflammation may make you more susceptible to bone spurs which can also add pressure to the nerves.
The doctors of VISP are trained and experienced in nerve block procedures to help relieve pain in the neck, shoulder, and arms that you are feeling. This procedure will help to identify the exact source of the pain and will allow for a more effective treatment plan.
One of our successful methods of pain treatment is a steroid injection. This will help reduce inflammation and aid in the healing of the damaged nerve.
Find out how we treat pinched nerves here at VISP.
4. POOR POSTURE AND WEAK NECK MUSCLES
Do you sit at a desk all day looking down at a screen? Are you in the habit of talking on the phone holding it in between your head and your shoulder while carrying a load of laundry or a two-year-old? Or are you a laborer who is constantly looking up at pipes, vents, or the undercarriage of a car?
Whatever your profession or daily responsibilities are, they may be contributing to your neck and muscle pain. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck are responsible for holding up your head. If your neck is constantly in a poor posture, cocked to one side, up or down then your muscles are going to get tired and strained.
Before you see your doctor for medical advice, re-evaluate your posture. Being more cognizant of how you hold your head may help relieve the discomfort naturally.
If you just can’t get rid of the discomfort, we encourage you to call our office to have your neck pain diagnosed. In rare cases, you would have to seek medical attention immediately if your neck pain is accompanied by numbness, loss of strength, or shooting pains down your arm or shoulder.
TREATMENT FOR NECK PAIN
Most neck pain problems can be treated with non-surgical methods like self-care at home or guidance from a medical professional.
SELF-CARE FOR NECK PAIN
If neck pain is not debilitating and not caused by trauma, it can usually be treated with self-care.
- Short period of rest. Neck stiffness is a very common problem among Americans. Strenuous activities and movements that cause muscle strain and intensify the pain are to be avoided. However, some movement is encouraged to prevent the neck from becoming stiffer or weaker.
- Ice or heat. Applying ice can reduce swelling or pain. Applying heat could help relax muscles, assist in blood flow, and bring healing nutrients to the affected area. For ice or heat therapy, applications are limited to 15 or 20 minutes with at least a 2-hour break for the skin to recover.
- Light stretches. Some forms of neck pain or muscle tightness are alleviated with a gentle range of motion stretches. If a certain movement or stretch intensifies the pain, stop immediately and try other movements. These exercises alleviate radiating pain from the neck area.
Other self-care remedies are available whenever your neck hurts. Lifestyle changes can also ease the pain. Some examples of these lifestyle changes include having a more physically active lifestyle, quitting smoking, and maintaining correct posture throughout the day.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
A lot of treatment plans for persistent neck pain include some form of physical therapy to improve neck flexibility and strength. The length and structure of the physical therapy program will depend on the diagnosis and the situation. Several sessions with a physical therapist could be recommended to start. In time, prescribed exercises could be done at home.
MEDICATIONS
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen are usually tried first for neck pain. If the neck pain continues, the doctor might prescribe stronger medications like prescription-strength NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, or opioids on a short-term basis.
THERAPEUTIC INJECTION PROCEDURES FOR NECK PAIN
At VISP, patients with chronic neck pain may be offered pain relief injections.
Cortisone injections for neck pain are a good alternative to surgery. You may be a candidate for one of the following treatment options if physical therapy or pain medication didn’t help your neck pain.
- Epidural steroid injection. A cervical epidural injection places steroids in the epidural area and into the dura (the membrane that covers the spine and nerve root in the neck) to relieve pain by reducing inflammation at the nerve roots.
- Facet joint injections. If you are experiencing acute or severe neck pain due to facet joint inflammation, this injection is recommended. The steroid is injected into your facet joint (a small joint located behind the vertebral bones).
- Nerve root block. A nerve root block may be considered if the persistent pain in your cervical spine is due to a fractured disk or bone spur. To reduce inflammation, this injection is given to the area surrounding the spinal nerve root.
[Learn more about our pain management procedures]
WE ARE YOUR EXPERTS TO HELP RELIEVE NECK PAIN
Your well-being, health, and care are of extreme importance to us at Vascular & Interventional Specialists of Prescott (VISP). We invite you to our medical facility to get evaluated for the discomfort you are feeling. Our goal is to provide pain relief without surgery and to increase your quality of life!
At VISP, we want to improve your quality of life by finding the source of your pain and providing the relief you’ve been waiting for. Give us a call today.