What causes neck pain?
Your neck consists of seven small vertebrae that make up the cervical spine. Sprains and strains are one of the top causes of neck pain, typically due to sports activities and whiplash accidents.
As you get older, however, neck pain is more likely to develop due to degenerative conditions such as:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint arthropathy
- Spinal stenosis
- Thickened ligaments
- Bone spurs
These conditions cause pain as they compress the nerves.
What symptoms develop, in addition to neck pain?
Neck pain goes together with headaches and limited neck movement. It’s also common to develop tight or knotted muscles called trigger points.
Compressed nerves may cause pain and tingling that travel down your arm. In severe cases, a pinched nerve results in arm weakness or numbness, and difficulty using your hands for fine movements.
How is neck pain diagnosed?
The team at The Rehab Doctors specializes in diagnosing the cause of neck pain. After reviewing your symptoms and performing a physical examination, they may order diagnostic imaging such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI.
Your provider may perform a diagnostic nerve block or an electromyography (EMG), to diagnose nerve root dysfunction.
How is neck pain treated?
Treatment for neck pain begins with conservative options such as activity modification, temporary immobilization, and physical therapy. Most medical insurance plans require at least six physical therapy visits before they cover advanced interventional treatments.
When your pain persists despite treatment, The Rehab Doctors’ team may recommend interventional therapies such as:
Cervical epidural steroid injection
The epidural space is the area between the vertebrae and the membrane that surrounds and protects the spinal cord. When your provider injects a combination of steroids and an anesthetic into this space, nerve inflammation reduces, and neck pain diminishes.
Cervical medial branch block or cervical facet injection
The medial nerve carries pain signals from the facet joints in your cervical vertebrae to your brain. To verify your pain originates in a specific facet joint, your provider injects an anesthetic at the medial nerve associated with that joint.
Cervical radiofrequency ablation
After you receive two medial branch blocks that result in at least 80% pain relief, you’re a good candidate for cervical radiofrequency ablation, which is also called a rhizotomy. Your provider at The Rehab Doctors uses radiofrequency energy to create a small wound on the medial nerve.
The wound stops the pain signals from going to your brain, providing pain relief that lasts until the nerve regenerates. There’s no way to predict how long it may take your nerve to regenerate, but you should maintain your results for at least six months.
If you suffer from chronic neck pain, call The Rehab Doctors, or schedule an appointment online.
