Neck Pain

What causes neck pain?

Pain in your neck can come from one of many different injuries and conditions and often comes with stiffness, headaches, or muscle spasms. Symptoms like these can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep and perform everyday tasks. 

At Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery, the team treats traumatic, acute, and chronic neck pain. Acute neck pain lasts for four weeks or less, while chronic neck pain lasts for months or years. Both can be severe enough to impact your life significantly and may require professional treatment for relief. 

Possible causes of your neck pain include:

• Muscle strains
• Pinched nerves
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Cervical degenerative disc disease
• Cervical herniated discs
• Cervical spinal stenosis
• Fibromyalgia

Muscle strains, a widespread cause of neck pain, often come from whiplash injuries, poor posture, or gritting your teeth. You might also get temporary neck pain if you sit hunched over in one position for too long or sleep in an awkward position.

When should I book an appointment for neck pain?

Not all cases of neck pain require a trip to the doctor’s office for professional care. You may relieve your neck pain by improving your posture, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and using heat and cold therapy. If your neck pain doesn’t improve with these practices, you should consider booking an evaluation at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery. 

Professional treatment may be necessary for particularly severe neck pain or other symptoms, like radiating pain in your limbs or numbness and tingling. The team at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic surgery asks for details about your symptoms and might perform imaging tests if the cause isn’t immediately apparent. 

What are my treatment options for neck pain?

The team at Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery typically starts neck pain treatments using conservative, nonsurgical procedures and medications. While surgery for neck pain is rarely necessary, the team might recommend it if your neck pain doesn’t resolve with nonsurgical treatments. 

After your initial evaluation, the team personalizes your treatment plan according to the injury or condition causing your pain. Your treatment might involve:

• Pain medications
• Physical therapy
• Immobilization with a collar
• Corticosteroid injections

The team might also recommend making some changes to your daily routine, like avoiding smoking or taking frequent breaks while sitting in the same position for a long time. In rare cases, when surgery is necessary, it might involve treating bone spurs or herniated discs that place pressure on nerves near your cervical spine. 

If neck pain affects your sleep or your ability to work, call Frontier Spine & Orthopaedic Surgery, or book an appointment online today for a diagnosis and custom treatment plan.