Question 1

What causes neck pain?

Accepted Answer

Acute neck pain is often caused by muscle overuse due to poor posture and long periods of sitting. This type of neck pain typically lasts for a few weeks and is treatable with over-the-counter medicines, heat or ice therapy, and rest.
 
When neck pain lasts longer than three months, it’s considered chronic. Chronic neck pain is often the result of age-related changes in your cervical spine (neck) or due to a degenerative disease.
 
The most common causes of chronic neck pain includes:
 
 • Cancer
 • Bone spurs
 • Herniated disc
 • Osteoarthritis
 • Rheumatoid arthritis
 • Nerve compression
You can also develop chronic neck pain from whiplash after a fall or auto accident. Whiplash happens when your neck moves back and forth rapidly and causes damage to the soft tissues that support your cervical spine.

Question 2

When should I seek treatment for neck pain?

Accepted Answer

Occasional neck pain generally doesn’t require treatment. You can do stretching exercises to relax the muscles in your neck and take over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories to increase your comfort.
 
If these treatments aren’t enough to ease your pain and improve the range of motion in your neck, you can schedule an evaluation with Dr. Upadhyay.

Question 3

How is neck pain treated?

Accepted Answer

To restore flexibility in your neck and relieve pain, Dr. Upadhyay offers several in-office treatments. He customizes a care plan based on your unique needs and carefully monitors your progress with treatment.
 
Available treatment options for neck pain include:
 
Occipital nerve blocks
 
Occipital nerve blocks are injections of an anesthetic to numb the occipital nerve at the base of your skull. This nerve provides sensations to the top and back of your head. The anesthetic numbs the nerve to reduce pain.
 
Cervical facet injections
 
Cervical facet injections deliver pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications into the facet joints in your cervical spine (neck).
 
Radiofrequency ablation
 
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to destroy nerves and disrupt pain signals from traveling to the brain. This treatment focuses on treating compressed nerves in and around the joint.
 
Spinal cord stimulation
 
Spinal cord stimulation, a form of neuromodulation therapy, uses a stimulator device to deliver low-voltage electrical impulses into the epidural space of your spine or peripheral nervous system. The electricity interferes with pain signals. You use an external remote to control the device, delivering the electrical impulse whenever you feel pain.
 
Prolotherapy
 
Prolotherapy treats chronic joint pain by injecting an irritant into your joint to stimulate your body’s natural healing process. The injection triggers your body to produce more collagen. The collagen cushions your joints and relieves pressure on your surrounding nerves.
 
Dr. Upadhyay might also recommend physical therapy to strengthen the soft tissues that support the joint. He works with a chiropractor on a physical therapy plan to restore your range of motion and joint flexibility.
 
You don’t have to miss out on life because of chronic neck pain. Schedule an appointment online or by phone with Aman Upadhyay, MD, today.

Aman Upadhyay, MD

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