Neck Pain

Which conditions and injuries cause neck pain?

Neck pain can arise from a variety of conditions and injuries that affect any of the tissues in your neck. A common neck injury is whiplash, a soft tissue injury that can happen when your neck is jerked forcefully backward and forward or side to side. 

Whiplash injuries are common in car accidents, but they’re far from the only type of neck injury. You can also experience neck pain from:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal stenosis
• Muscle strain
• Bone spurs
• Meningitis

When neck pain involves spinal nerve impingement, like with a herniated disc or spinal stenosis, you might also experience neurological symptoms elsewhere like in your arms or shoulders. 

How is neck pain diagnosed?

Your provider at ReGen Pain Management explores every possible neck pain cause with a physical exam, review of your symptoms, and some possible imaging tests. After a detailed evaluation, they can determine the cause of your neck pain and provide the appropriate care. 

Beyond a physical exam and medical history review, your comprehensive evaluation for neck pain might include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• X-ray
• Nerve root block
• Nerve conduction study
• Discography
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Lab tests

Your provider first works to rule out the more serious causes of neck pain like cancer or infections before exploring common causes like whiplash injuries. 

Which treatments can improve my neck pain?

Personalized care is always the most effective way to go about treating neck pain. Your provider at ReGen Pain Management creates an individualized care plan based on the cause of your neck pain and any other symptoms like stiffness. 

In most cases, you can manage neck pain without surgery. Nonsurgical treatments like pain-relief injections can calm the nerves in your neck or reduce inflammation to alleviate pain. 

Your treatment regimen might involve treatments like nerve root injections or minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation alongside physical therapy. 

Lifestyle modifications, even temporarily, might also improve your neck pain. Your provider might recommend heat, ice, or over-the-counter medications alongside clinical care. 

For more information on neck pain and the available treatments, call ReGen Pain Management or book a consultation online today.