When neck pain strikes
Your neck is a very delicate and flexible part of your body—it’s easy to take its range of motion for granted. This flexibility, combined with the weight of your head, can put your neck at risk for pain.
At some point, most people have had some neck pain, whether it’s from sleeping in a strange position or looking up at a movie screen in a theater for a couple hours. But neck pain can go beyond these simple aches. Chronic or ongoing neck pain can be a sign of illness or injury.
These illnesses are a pain in the neck
Causes of neck pain can include:
- Injury to the muscles, bones, ligaments or tendons
- Arthritis
- Herniated disc
- Degenerative spinal disease
- Spinal tumors
- Bone abnormalities, often present from birth
To help figure out what’s causing your neck pain, your doctor will ask you questions about your pain and do a physical exam. You may also need imaging tests like an X-ray, MRI or CT scan.
In some cases, your doctor may also want to take a blood sample or do a test called an electromyogram, which checks to see how well your nerves are working.
Working together to treat neck pain
Once we’ve pinpointed the cause of your neck pain, our team will work with you to build a treatment plan that works for you. Depending on what’s causing your pain, your treatment may include the following:
- Medicines to relive pain and reduce inflammation
- Rest
- A brace to keep your neck still
- Physical therapy
- Neck exercises
- Surgery
Our team of doctors, physical therapists and pain management specialists will all work together to make sure you get the care you need.
