A large selection of neck pain treatments enables you to make informed decisions regarding your neck pain care. Simple to complex procedures such as injections and surgery have shown to effectively manage neck pain. In terms of non-invasive neck pain treatment, we will inform you whether you are suitable for our latest list of non-invasive technologies that are available. Rest assured that only time-proven treatments are used for managing neck pain issues.
Understanding Neck Pain and its Causes
It’s very common for the neck to become strained due to committing one of the many activities that require us to be in a single, forward-facing position for extended periods of time, such as watching television, sitting in a car, or using a computer. Sometimes, neck pain can be indicative of a more serious issue as well. There is a common cause for neck pain in older individuals, and that is the usual wear and tear that comes as a result of aging. Such wear in the neck can cause osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc diseases. Other common causes of neck pain include, but are not limited to, neck strains, neck injuries, and diseases or infections. Only professional orthopaedic and pain practices treat neck pain effectively, as they usually possess a vast knowledge of the human body, experience, and have the necessary tools to help the patient move past the pain.
The neck, or cervical spine, is composed of several vertebrae that begin in the upper torso and end at the base of the skull. It has a multitude of functions as it supports the entire weight of the head—an average of 11 pounds—and allows it to move in several directions. Since the neck is so incredibly flexible and responsible for a lot of heavy lifting, chances are it could wear down over time, leading to regular neck pain. Neck pain can easily be avoided thanks to the vast network of muscles and tissues in the neck. However, this also means that if something were to go wrong, neck pain could be very severe and debilitating.
Alleviating Neck Pain: Treatment Approaches and Techniques
Our treatments and therapies are designed to alleviate neck pain and restore your comfort and mobility. The spine is stabilized by many muscles, e.g. trapezius, pectorals, sternocleidomastoid, levator scapulae, and rhomboids that are inserted in many different places. For the blood and nerve supply to those muscle groups to work properly, the major tissue areas, e.g. the alar areas, both ligamentous (like sharp pains) and discogenic (e.g. more severe and deeper or a general chronic aching condition) require appropriate treatment or spinal health care. We also have several appropriate treatments for reducing an axial disc bulge that has been verified on MRI. These range from chemonucleolysis to steroid injections in the epidural area to try to alleviate the pain, to surgical interventions.
Chronic neck pain caused by disc or facet joint problems generally results in neck stiffness, muscular tenderness, and weakness in the arms. Treatment of the neck may involve conservative care such as detailed physiotherapy, graded exercise programs, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulative treatment, massage, acupuncture, and perhaps TENS units and ultrasound. More invasive treatments may include facet joint injections, radiofrequency neurotomy, or cervical percutaneous discectomy and decompression. Surgery is a treatment of last resort.
Best Treatment Options for Neck Pain at The Orthopaedic and Pain Practice
Most nerve tunneling problems (cervical radiculopathy) can be taken care of with physiotherapy, posture exercises, and painkillers to manage symptoms only. Neck pain with or without associated arm pain, however, should be evaluated and treated appropriately as there have been studies that show a higher risk for stroke in patients who are waiting for evaluation, treatment, or those who are non-compliant with their medical treatment plan during episodes of neck pain. At the clinic, we offer tense unit treatment, therapeutic nerve blocks, manual therapy, or acupuncture to decrease the chronicity of symptoms and provide you with the relief you need. Any use of tape for some of our neck conditions that may benefit patients will be custom-tailored depending on individual conditions.
Neck pain with or without arm symptoms is a very common problem that our orthopaedic team sees. It can be due to cervical spondylosis, soft tissue bad posture and muscle stiffness, nerve compression or tumors. Once we diagnose the cause, we would then be able to offer patients an informed treatment algorithm. If you are not certain about the cause or if there are associated pain in your arm or neurological deficits, it is important for you to consult with one of our orthopaedic surgeons. We will normally offer you the option of surgery, especially in the setting of tumors or spinal cord compressions that can lead to long-term neurological damage. Minimally invasive techniques during the surgery are mostly used where applicable. We provide the best treatment for neck pain, using state-of-the-art techniques and personalized care plans.
Managing Neck Nerve Pain: Specialized Treatments and Therapies
In patients with cervical spinal nerves pinched by arthritis of the cervical facet joints (cervical spondylosis), as well as those with acute disc herniation compressing a nerve root, nerve pain is prevalent. When appropriate, it is important to perform coordinated treatment with nerve calming injections because increasing the intensity of physiotherapy rehabilitation or similar activities can expose the nerves to greater stress and lead to increased symptoms. In the treatment of acute cervical radiculopathy, the majority of randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that selective nerve root blocks and cervical epidural injections show significant benefits in terms of short-term pain relief. In contrast, only minor to modest short-term pain relief (less than 6 weeks) is provided by oral pain medication, which is associated with a relatively high incidence of gastrointestinal and somnolence-related side effects, as well as potential issues of addiction liability and abuse.
Nerve involvement within the neck is a major source of chronic neck pain and is often associated with pain or altered sensations in the arms, as well as weakness and stiffness. When the wear and tear of the cervical facet joints results in inflammation or pressure on the cervical spinal nerves, symptoms related to neck-related specific nerve pain or cervical radiculopathy are commonly observed. Non-surgical medical treatments, including selective nerve root block or cervical epidural corticosteroid injections, can be effective in providing pain relief and the ability to participate in physiotherapy to strengthen the neck and shoulder muscles. The Orthopaedic and Pain Practice works closely with expert physiotherapists who specialize in neck and back rehabilitation exercises, providing comprehensive care for these degenerative conditions. Our specialized neck nerve pain treatment targets the root cause to provide lasting relief and improved quality of life.
Here at The Orthopaedic and Pain Practice, it is easy to talk to us! We can also get back to you with informative consultations addressing the questions you may have. So why not just pop in and ask us? Our warm-hearted team looks forward to welcoming you soon! Thank you for putting your trust in us!
