Neck Pain

What causes neck pain?

Neck pain often stems from the discs, nerve roots, bones, or soft tissues (muscles, tendons, bursa, and ligaments) in the neck. Some of the specific causes of neck pain are: 

• Trauma: sports injuries or other neck trauma
• Age-related degeneration: wear-and-tear of discs and other tissues over time
• Bulging discs: an intervertebral disc that bulges out on one side of the spinal canal
• Dislocation: cervical vertebrae that move out of position
• Tumors: abnormal growth in the cervical spine
• Fractures: broken vertebrae in the neck area
• Infections: bacterial or viral infections

According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, zygapophysial (facet) joints are the main source of neck pain in up to 67% of people with this type of pain. The facet joints connect the vertebrae in your cervical (upper) spine. 

Although facet joints are tiny, they have ample nerve supply, so the pain receptors can cause sharp or dull chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, base of the skull, and upper arms, as well as headaches. 

What are the signs of a bulging disc in the neck?

Bulging discs create pressure points on nearby nerves, creating a variety of sensations. Some specific symptoms you may experience in your neck, arms, hands, fingers, or shoulders include:

• Tingling
• Sharp or burning pain
• Pain that radiates from your neck to your shoulder or arm
• Numbness
• Difficulty lifting items

Bulging disc symptoms may range from mild to severe. A bulging disc can progress to a herniated disc, which makes the problem far more severe.

How is neck pain diagnosed?

Randall Pain Management takes a holistic approach to finding the source of your neck pain. They consider the whole body and look for root causes of neck pain using diagnostic techniques like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans, and nerve conduction studies.

What are the treatment options for neck pain? 

Treatment methods include:

• Physical therapy
• Manipulation therapy
• Custom-fitted neck brace
• Gravity inversion
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Antidepressants
• Anticonvulsants
• Injections

Spinal surgery is a last resort, only for situations in which no nonsurgical treatment is successful. But, in most situations, patients with neck pain respond well to holistic neck pain management and can return to their regular lives.

Randall Pain Management offers the most advanced approaches and has elite experts ready to help with your neck pain. Call the office or request your appointment online now.