What is neck pain?
Neck pain is any type of soreness, aching, or general discomfort that occurs in your cervical spine. Your cervical spine runs from the top of your shoulders to the base of your skull and supports the weight of your head. It also plays an important role in rotating your head and looking from side to side.
Neck pain usually subsides on its own with rest, ice, and other conservative treatments. However, if your neck pain persists or gets worse, it may point to a more serious underlying health problem.
What are the symptoms of neck pain?
Everyone experiences neck pain differently, but common telltale signs include:
- Muscle tightness
- Muscle spasms
- Decreased range of motion
- Headaches
- Stiffness
If you suffer from neck pain, you might also notice your pain gets worse when you hold your head in a certain position, such as looking at a computer screen all day or driving for long periods of time.
What are some common causes of neck pain?
Neck pain occurs for a wide range of reasons. Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists regularly diagnoses and treats neck pain caused by:
- Muscle strains
- Worn down joints
- Compressed nerves
- Arthritis
- Scoliosis
- Kyphosis
You might also experience neck pain as a result of a sports injury, automobile accident, or slip-and-fall injury at work.
How is neck pain diagnosed?
To diagnose neck pain, your Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists provider conducts a thorough physical exam.
During your appointment, they gently press on your neck and cervical spine to pinpoint areas of tenderness, numbness, or muscle weakness. Your provider also asks you to turn your head from side to side and to move your neck forward and backward.
If these measures don’t provide enough information, your provider might also order an X-ray or MRI to gain further insights.
How is neck pain treated?
Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists usually treats neck pain using conservative, integrative measures such as rest, ice, and physical therapy.
If your pain persists or interferes with your quality of life, they might recommend a minimally invasive treatment like an epidural injection, facet joint injection, or nerve block. In rare instances, surgical intervention may be necessary, but only as a last resort.
Don’t let neck pain prevent you from living an active, mobile life. Request an appointment at Crenshaw Interventional Pain Specialists today by calling the office or booking online.
