What causes neck pain?
Neck pain can occur with injury, disease, or trauma. Some common causes include:
- Whiplash
- Facet syndrome
- Cervical disc herniation
- Cervical spinal stenosis
- Cervical spondylosis (neck osteoarthritis)
- Cervical spondylolisthesis
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Neck sprain (ligament injury)
- Neck strain (tendon or muscle injury)
Less commonly, conditions like meningitis and cancer are the root cause of neck pain.
When do I need treatment for neck pain?
Neck pain is quite common, and it's usually not serious. Many people experience temporary neck pain after craning their neck to look at a computer for hours or after sleeping in an abnormal position.
But, some types of neck pain are warning signs that you need treatment promptly. If you have any of the following issues, contact Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic for help:
- Pain that lasts several days or more
- Difficulty moving your head
- Headaches along with neck pain
- Radiating neck pain that moves to your arm or upper back
- Numbness or tingling along with neck pain
- Sudden-onset neck pain after an accident
These symptoms don't necessarily mean you have a serious problem, but they do mean that you need a diagnosis and customized treatment plan.
How is the cause of neck pain diagnosed?
Your Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic provider reviews your medical history and the details of your neck pain and performs a careful physical exam.
To isolate the specific cause of pain, you may need lab tests, nerve conduction tests, or imaging tests in the state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging center on campus.
What kind of neck pain treatment might I need?
Neck pain treatment generally encompasses a range of non-surgical measures at first, such as medication, activity modification, bracing, and on-site physical therapy.
If you have severe neck pain, steroid injections, selective nerve root blocks, or radiofrequency ablation may provide longer-lasting relief.
It's quite rare to need surgery for neck pain. But, if you have persistent neck pain that doesn't yield to conservative care, or if you have a severe structural abnormality or damage in your neck, your experienced Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic surgeon can tailor a surgical procedure such as fusion or disc replacement for your unique needs.
If you have chronic neck pain, Rogozinski Orthopedic Clinic is here to help. Book your appointment online or call the office to request your consultation.
