With over a quarter of Americans being affected with neck pain, it has become the third cause of chronic pain in the world. Neck pain can be caused by something as simple as sleeping, sitting or standing with bad posture or as complex as auto accident injuries, sports injuries, workplace trauma, arthritis, degenerative disk disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, obesity, heavy lifting or emotional issues such as stress. Neck pain has the ability to affect your daily routine and also has the potential to make tasks such as sitting or turning your head nearly impossible.
The following are symptoms that can occur from neck pain:
- Headaches
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers, hand or forearm
- Stiffness and compromised range of motion
- Pain that spreads down the arm or to the upper back and shoulders
- Muscle weakness
You may be able to alleviate some of your neck pain by stretching, applying ice or heat, changing posture habits (by sitting and standing up straight), talking on speaker phone and/or by seeking out a Physician that specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Neck Pain and Medical Care
Neck pain patients have the option to avoid aggressive, unnecessary and often expensive pain management strategies by trusting a physiatrist with a non-surgical, moderate and effective approach. At Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation, our Medical Director aims to customize a pain management plan for each patient, which includes physical therapy, Spinal Decompression Tractions, chiropractic and acupuncture.
Spinal Injections, Fluoroscopy, and Neck Pain
Our Physiatrists provide patients with plenty of alternatives if they are unable to participate in physical therapy or other rehabilitative practices due to severe neck pain. Some physiatrists may suggest spinal injections, a tactic that is used to end the cycle of pain and inflammation that is preventing the body’s natural ability to heal.
Often, a Fluoroscope is used during injections, which is an imaging technology that allows the doctor to view the affected body part in real time. Fluoroscopes are used in many Epidural Steroid Injections. A Trigger Point Injection is also used for neck pain relief by injecting an anesthetic/cortisone combination that may be given in the ligaments, muscles, or other soft tissues of the spine. Sometimes, muscle spasms can cause neck pain and doctors often rely on the Trigger Point Injection to help alleviate these spasms.
Medical Treatment for Neck Pain at Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation
All of these treatments are available for patients during the pain management and rehabilitation process. Don’t hesitate to contact us at 732-345-1377 or stop by our Red Bank or Wall office for more information on the treatments above. Our Physiatrists would love to work with you to figure out which tactic will work best for your particular neck pain symptoms. Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation also offers other procedures such as Facet Injections, Sacroiliac Joint Injections, Radiofrequency Ablation and Peripheral Joint Injections.
