Neck pain is a common condition that can affect anyone, regardless of age or lifestyle. It can range from a mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain. Neck pain often stems from issues with the cervical spine, muscles, ligaments, or nerves. Given the neck's critical role in supporting the head and facilitating movement, neck pain can significantly impact daily life and overall well-being.
Neck pain can manifest in various ways, and its symptoms can vary depending on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include:
Understanding the causes of neck pain is essential for effective treatment. Common causes include:
There’s a spectrum of treatment options to treat neck pain from cervical spine issues. They range from the least invasive (physical therapy, acupuncture, prescription medications) to the extremely invasive, such as cervical spinal fusion surgery, in which vertebrae are permanently joined together with hardware.
More conservative treatment options include trigger-point injections and high-dose epidural steroid injections. While both can temporarily help the pain, steroid injections can cause severe side effects and reduce your body’s ability to heal. And trigger-point injections can be myotoxic, or toxic to the muscle.