Neck Pain
Neck pain can be acute, meaning it lasts a few hours to a few weeks, or it can be chronic, meaning it lasts several weeks or longer. Symptoms of neck problems include neck pain, neck stiffness, and pain that radiates from the neck into the shoulders and back. Sometimes neck pain can signify something serious. If your neck pain is so severe that you can't touch your chin to your chest, you need immediate medical attention.
What are the causes of neck pain?
The causes of neck pain range from repeated stress to disease. The most common causes include:
- Abnormalities in the bones or joints
- Trauma
- Poor posture
- Degenerative diseases
- Tumors
- Muscle strain
What are the symptoms of neck problems?
- A knot, stiffness, or severe pain in your neck
- Pain in your shoulders, upper back, or arms
- Headaches
- Inability to move or turn your head and neck easily
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm
Diagnosing Neck Pain
A thorough diagnosis involves obtaining a detailed history of your condition and performing an examination of your neck and the surrounding area. To ensure the most accurate diagnosis, we also offer such options as open MRIs, and CT scans. Other tests may include X-rays, a bone density test, blood tests, an EMG, and a discography.
Treating Neck Pain
Often people get neck pain relief on their own - taking over-the-counter pain relievers and resting can help. If your neck pain is due to an injury, is severe and comes on suddenly, or doesn't improve after three days (becomes chronic), contact us for further evaluation.
Treatment options for neck pain relief include wearing a soft collar; traction; physical therapy (ultrasound, massage, manipulation); local injections of cortisone or anesthetics; medications; and surgical intervention for extreme cases - such as when nerve roots or the spinal cord are involved.
In addition, we embrace non-traditional treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, meditation/relaxation, and Qui-Gong. Our goal is to return you to good health without pain.
When conservative measures fail to control pain and improve back function, we will discuss surgery. In most cases, surgery is performed on an outpatient basis using minimally invasive procedures, which reduces pain, risk, recovery time, and expense.