What causes neck pain?
Your neck is made up of bones, muscles, and ligaments that support the weight of your head and allow you to move it in different directions. Your neck also contains spinal vertebrae, known as your cervical vertebrae, and protective discs that absorb the shock of your movements.
When any of these structures are damaged by direct trauma, disease, or age-related degeneration, you can develop chronic pain in your neck, which also radiates into your head and arms.
The most common causes of severe and chronic neck pain include:
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Spinal stenosis
- Herniated cervical disc
Years of poor posture can also put stress on your joints and muscles, resulting in damage that leads to chronic pain.
When neck pain becomes intense enough to interfere with your daily life, it’s time to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Raso.
How is neck pain diagnosed?
Diagnosing neck pain involves a physical evaluation where Dr. Raso assesses your range of motion and identifies areas of swelling, tenderness, and pain.
To confirm conditions like spinal stenosis and arthritis, Dr. Raso may order imaging tests, like X-rays or an MRI. Once he understands the root cause of your neck pain, Dr. Raso creates a treatment plan to alleviate pain and help restore function in your neck.
What treatments are available for chronic neck pain?
If over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatories aren’t enough to control your neck pain, Dr. Raso may prescribe stronger medications. He can also provide injectable treatments that deliver medications directly to the injured area, such as compressed or damaged nerves.
When pain is the result of spinal stenosis, you may be a candidate for kyphoplasty, where Dr. Raso inserts and inflates a small balloon in your cervical spine to widen your spinal canal.
For debilitating pain due to a herniated disc or advanced arthritis, Dr. Raso may refer you for spine surgery to remove damaged discs or vertebrae or to fuse the spine to stabilize it and limit painful movements.
Radiofrequency ablation is also an option for chronic neck pain due to nerve damage or compression. This nonsurgical procedure uses currents of electricity to destroy nerve tissue and disrupt nerve signals that cause pain sensations.
If you’re limited by chronic neck pain, schedule an evaluation today. You can book an appointment online now or call Dr. Raso’s office today.
