Neck Pain
Seemingly everyone experiences neck pain at some point, and it can range from a mild twinge to extreme discomfort and disability.
You can sustain a neck injury through a fall or accident, or when participating in a sport or other physical activity. If you suffer severe pain following an accident or fall, stay still until a medical professional arrives. Attempting to move someone with a serious neck injury could have devastating consequences.
Why do I have a painful neck?
Your neck is flexible, but it’s also less well protected than other parts of the spine, so it’s vulnerable to injury and degeneration. Pain can come from:
- Cervical vertebrae
- Cervical discs between the vertebrae
- Ligaments
- Muscles
- Nerves
Fibrous ligaments that join the bones together hold the cervical vertebrae in your spine in place, and the surrounding muscles support the neck and enable it to move. There are also nerves running through your neck that generate pain if tissues incur injury or damage.
What kinds of conditions might make my neck hurt?
Infections and tumors may occasionally cause neck pain, but most often pain in the neck is due to an acute injury or a degeneration of the tissues.
Degenerative conditions that can cause neck pain include:
- Spondylosis
- Disc hernias
- Arthritis
- Cervical radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
If you have pain or reduced range of movement in your neck, you should the doctor for an assessment. There could be many possible causes of your neck pain, you should receive a thorough examination of your neck to see what could be causing the problem. We may also carry out further diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, CT scans, or diagnostic spinal injections.
How is neck pain treated?
Once we diagnose the cause of your neck pain, we can recommend a treatment program to heal the damage, reduce your pain, and restore your mobility. Possible treatments include:
- Pain relief medication
- Muscle relaxant medication
- Tricyclic antidepressants for pain relief
- Short-term use of a soft collar
- Physical therapy
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Traction
- Therapeutic steroid injections
Surgery for neck pain is an option if other treatment methods aren’t successful. Surgery is effective in relieving pain caused by nerve roots and spinal cord compression.
