Neck Pain Specialist

What are the common causes of neck pain?

Your neck pain could be due to a simple muscle strain or even tension in the muscles caused by chronic stress. Sleeping in an awkward position with your neck at an angle or having incorrect posture are common causes of neck pain.

There are also a number of musculoskeletal conditions that might be the cause of your neck pain, such as:

• Herniated cervical discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Cervical spinal stenosis
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Cervical facet syndrome
• Whiplash injuries
• Osteoarthritis
• Bone spurs
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
  
  

Your neck pain might come on suddenly if you suffer an injury or develop slowly due to tissue degeneration. Many degenerative conditions only cause neck pain when the affected structures in your spine start to press on the nerves coming away from your spinal cord.

How is the cause of neck pain diagnosed?

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute excels in diagnosing the cause of your neck pain. Your provider starts by conducting a review of your medical history and having a discussion with you about your general health and current symptoms.

The next stage is a physical exam where your provider looks at and feels the structures in your neck and asks you to move in certain ways. This helps them pinpoint the source of your neck pain and see if you have other problems like numbness, restricted movement, or muscle weakness.

The physical exam often provides clear clues as to the cause of your neck pain. To confirm the cause, check for other problems, and assess the tissue damage, Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute might need to see diagnostic images such as X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI scan.

Another test your provider might perform is an EMG (electromyogram), which tests the function of your nerves to see if there's evidence of damage or compression.

What treatments are available for neck pain?

Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute creates a personalized plan for you containing the most effective treatments for the cause of your neck pain. Treatments that might be in your plan include:

• Physical therapy
• Pain medications
• Anti-inflammatories
• Epidural steroid injections
• Nerve blocks
• Chiropractic
• Medical marijuana
• Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty
• Trigger point injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)
• Spinal cord stimulation (SCS)
  
  

Botox® injections for migraines and occipital nerve blocks can help with headaches and referred neck pain. Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute also offers injectable regenerative medicine therapies, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cells, and exosomes.

These approaches use cells taken from your blood or tissues that have powerful healing properties. When your provider injects these substances into damaged tissues, they stimulate your body's healing mechanisms. The result is a gradual reduction in pain as healthy new tissues grow.

To find out more about the non-surgical treatment of neck pain, call Regenerative Spine and Pain Institute today or book an appointment online.