In most cases, neck pain emanates from the compression of one or several nerves in your cervical spine. If home care remedies like over-the-counter pain medications, icing, and rest don’t work, you may need medical intervention. The Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine offers effective neck pain Shrewsbury treatments that guarantee quick recovery.
Table of Contents
Reasons why you have neck pain
In most cases, it results from posture when working on a computer, often improving with a change of posture and pain medications. Neck pain is rarely a symptom of a severe underlying problem; however, if the pain is accompanied by loss of strength and numbness in your hands and arms or excruciating pain that radiates into your shoulder, inform your doctor immediately.
Your neck is also susceptible to acute injuries and wear and tear as it has minimal protection compared to the other parts of your spine. You can easily strain the tendon or muscle, or the nerves in your cervical spine can undergo extreme pressure from diseased or damaged intervertebral discs, bones, or ligaments. Medical conditions contributing to neck pain include osteoarthritis, cervical stenosis, cervical radiculopathy, facet joint syndrome, spondylosis, herniated cervical discs, and degenerative disc disease. Rarely do neck problems result in unpleasant feelings like prickling, tingling, or burning sensations.
How your doctor can diagnose neck pain
During your appointment at The Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine, the team may analyze your symptoms, review your medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Your provider may move and feel your neck to identify the location of your pain. They may also enquire about previous neck injuries that may have resulted in a herniated disc or whiplash. Additionally, the team may utilize computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or X-ray to detect any damage in your neck’s surrounding tissues and bones. They may also use nerve conduction studies, electromyography, or nerve root block to obtain a clear view of your spine and evaluate nerves’ muscle response and function. Before developing a treatment plan, these tests are necessary to pinpoint the trigger of your pain and discomfort and the extent.
Available treatments for neck pain
The specialists at the practice prefer beginning treatment with conservative approaches like acupuncture, physical therapies, and medications before moving on to more aggressive options. Most patients respond positively to these treatments. However, if your symptoms fail to improve, you may recommend minimally invasive treatments like steroid injections into the epidural space to minimize tissue inflammation.
Spinal cord stimulation and percutaneous disc nucleoplasty may also be an option. If these methods don’t work, the team may recommend minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) to reduce bleeding, tissue damage, and pain and shorten your recovery period. Your provider may suggest surgical options like anterior cervical corpectomy, posterior cervical laminectomy, anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, microdiscectomy, or cervical artificial disc replacement.
Don’t tolerate bothersome neck pain when you can access conservative and minimally invasive treatments. Call The Center for the Functional Restoration of the Spine office or book your spot online today for comprehensive care.
