Neck Pain

Neck pain (or cervicalgia) is a common problem, with two-thirds of the population experiencing neck pain at some point in their lives. It may arise due to muscular tightness or joint disruption in both the neck and upper back or pinching of the nerves emanating from the cervical vertebrae. The vertebral joints in the neck and those of the upper back create a supportive structure for the head to sit upon. If this support system is affected adversely, then the muscles in the area can tighten and lead to neck pain.
Other potential causes of neck pain include:
- Over-use – muscular strain is one of the most common causes
- Chronic partial rotator cuff tears
- Spondylosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated disc
- Pinched nerve
- Injuries and falls – car accidents, sporting events etc.
- Chronic Stress – physical and emotional
- Referred pain from other parts of the body
- Carotid artery dissection
- Head and neck cancer
Treatment
For the majority of people with cervicalgia, their pain can be treated conservatively. Initial treatments could include anti-inflammatory medication, heat/ice application, ergonomic reform, and physical therapy.
Medication
If a patient finds that their pain is persisting despite conservative treatments, more targeted medications can be prescribed such as muscle relaxants, topical anti-inflammatories, or even anticonvulsants which are known to control nerve pain.
If the patient finds that medication alone is not controlling their pain, there are many minimally invasive procedures that target the source of their cervicalgia. Treatments such as Epidural steroid injections, Radiofrequency ablations, nerve branch blocks, can be used as a last resort option.
Conditions
- Arthritis
- Cancer Pain
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Compression Fractures of the Spine
- Herniated Discs
- Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Whiplash CAD
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Neck Pain
- Chronic Abdominal Pain
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Neuropathy
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Migraine Headaches
Treatments
- Kyphoplasty
- Lidocaine Infusion
- Lumbar Epidural Spinal Injection (LESI)
- Lumbar Radiofrequency Neurotomy
- Medial Branch Block (MBB)
- Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression (MILD)
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
- Regenerative Medicine
- SI Joint Injections
- Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS)
- Stellate Ganglion Block
- Sympathetic Nerve Block
- Transforaminal Epidural Spinal Injection (TFESI)
- Trigger Point Injections
- Vertebroplasty
- Capsaicin (8%) Patch
- Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection
- Disc Nucleoplasty
- Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulator (DRG)
- Endoscopic Discectomy
- Facet Joint Syndrome
- Intrathecal Pain Pumps
- Ketamine Infusion
- Hip Joint Injections
- Platelet Rich Plasma
- Knee Joint Injections
- Botox Injections
- Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Block
- Intercostal Nerve Block
- Minuteman Procedure
- Vertiflex Procedure