What causes neck pain?
Sports and motor vehicle accident injuries are two of the most common causes of neck pain. But you don’t need an acute injury to end up with neck pain. Daily wear-and-tear and poor posture can easily strain your neck muscles and cause severe pain.
As you get older, degenerative changes in the discs, vertebrae, and ligaments cause:
- Herniated discs
- Facet Joint arthritis
- Spinal stenosis
- Bone spurs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Slipped vertebra (spondylolisthesis)
A problem in your shoulders could also be the source of your neck pain.
What symptoms accompany neck pain?
Whether your neck pain is mild or severe, feels like an ache or a stabbing pain, chances are you will also have a stiff neck and very limited movement. Many people develop headaches, dizziness, and painful muscle knots (trigger points).
Herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis often push against the nearby nerves. Compressed nerves cause pain, tingling, and burning sensations that travel down your arm and into your hand.
A pinched nerve may also cause weak muscles in your arm, hand, and fingers, making it hard to grasp objects.
How is neck pain treated?
Dr. Cash reviews your medical history, completes a physical exam, and orders diagnostic images such as X-rays, an MRI, or CT scan when needed. After diagnosing the cause of your neck pain, he creates a customized treatment plan that may include any of the following:
- Limited activities
- Gentle stretching exercises
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Temporary cervical collar
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Muscle relaxants
- Facet joint injections
- Epidural steroid injections
- Spinal cord stimulator
If these treatments fail to improve your pain, or your pain gets worse, you may need to consider surgery.
What type of surgery treats neck pain?
As a spinal surgeon, Dr. Cash has extensive experience performing several surgical procedures to repair the underlying problem and relieve your neck pain. A few examples include:
- Discectomy
- Laminectomy
- Foraminotomy
- Cervical spinal fusion
These procedures remove part or all of a damaged disc, decompress the nerves by removing part of the bone, and stabilize your spine by fusing two vertebrae together. In some cases, Dr. Cash may be able to replace the disc with an artificial prosthetic disc instead of fusing the bones.
Don't wait to get help for neck pain. Call Desert Institute of Spine Care or book an appointment online today.
References:
Neck pain, http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00231
Neck pain, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/neck-pain/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375587
Surgery for neck pain, https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/surgery-neck-pain
