What is neck pain?
Neck pain refers to any discomfort, aching, or soreness that affects the cervical spine. Your cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae that connect your head to your shoulders.
Most of the time, neck pain resolves on its own and responds to conservative treatments like rest, ice, and over-the-counter painkillers. If your neck pain persists, gets worse, or interferes with your job or other routine tasks, don’t wait to seek professional medical help.
What are the symptoms of neck pain?
Neck pain affects everyone differently. Common indications of neck pain include:
- Muscle tightness and spasms
- Headache
- Decreased ability to move your head
- Pain that gets worse after holding your head in a specific position
If your neck pain occurs due to a muscle strain or other mechanical injury, you might also experience neck stiffness or swelling.
What causes neck pain?
Neck pain can occur for many reasons. Broward Specialty Group regularly sees patients experiencing neck pain due to:
- Muscle strains
- Worn joints
- Never compression
- Sports injuries
- Work injuries
- Automobile accidents
Neck pain can also occur due to an underlying medical condition. Some illnesses that may trigger neck pain include osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain types of cancer.
How is neck pain diagnosed?
To diagnose neck pain, Broward Specialty Group asks about your symptoms and lifestyle, reviews your medical history, and conducts a physical exam.
During the exam, your provider carefully observes your neck, checking for areas of tenderness, numbness, and muscle weakness. They also test your neck’s range-of-motion and ability to look up, down, and side to side.
If these measures aren’t enough to diagnose, your provider might order X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI. These diagnostic imaging techniques can pinpoint pinched nerves, bone spurs, and herniated discs.
How is neck pain treated?
Care for neck pain depends on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause. Usually, Broward Specialty Group recommends conservative treatments like rest, bracing, eating a balanced diet, and managing stress levels.
If your neck pain persists, you might benefit from a minimally-invasive treatment like epidural injections, radiofrequency ablation, facet joint injections, spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, or regenerative medicine.
If your neck pain is due to a vertebral compression fracture, you might benefit from a minimally-invasive surgery like kyphoplasty.
Don’t let neck pain prevent you from living an active, healthy lifestyle. To schedule an appointment at Broward Specialty Group, call the office or book a consultation online today.
