Neck pain is very common and about two-thirds of the population will complain of chronic neck pain sometime during their lifetime. Neck pain can present in a variety of ways.  Most cases of neck pain will involve headaches, stiffness, cramping, and difficulty turning the head or bending the neck.  In more severe cases, other symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, pain or numbness radiating down the arms and hands, can indicate more serious conditions that demand medical attention. Fortunately, most varieties of neck pain can be successfully managed with conservative treatment options.

Strains and Sprains

• Pain in the neck and/or shoulder

• Stiffness

• Headache

• Difficulty in moving or rotating the head or neck

• Neck muscle spasms

Radiculopathy (pinched nerves)

• Pain that travels into the shoulder and/or down the arm

• Numbness and/or tingling in the arms in arms or hands

• Weakness 

Myelopathy (spinal cord compression)

• Loss of coordination in the arms or hands

• Difficulty grasping/holding on to objects

• Heaviness or weakness in the affected arm or hand

• Disturbances in ability to walk or balance

• Poor posture/ Sleep posture

• Injury to the bones, joints or ligaments

• Whiplash

• Degenerative changes in the spine

• Herniated disc(s)

• Medical conditions such as arthritis, migraine headache

• Narrowing of the spinal canal (e.g. spinal stenosis)

• Infection

• Cancer

Medications: Anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce pain and swelling, muscle relaxants to calm tight muscles, anticonvulsants to help tingling nerve pain, or opioid medications.

Physical therapy: Can provide inactive treatment such as heat therapy, massage, and TENS therapy. Active treatment may include more traditional stretching and strengthening exercises.

Self care: Heat/cold packs, stretching, and exercise.

Minimally Invasive Procedures:

• Epidural Steroid Injections

• Facet injections/Medial Branch Block

• Radiofrequency Ablations

• Spinal Cord Stimulation