Neck Pain

Neck pain is almost as common as low back pain. For many it can be precipitated by trauma such as auto accidents, falls, and others, but for others it may just come on slowly over many years. Generally speaking, neck pain is not dangerous. Most people will get better with a tincture of time and sometimes can speed recovery by getting involved in some low impact aerobic exercise. However, for some, neck pain becomes debilitating. In these cases, it is important to distinguish neck pain from pain that may originate in the neck, but then radiates to the shoulders, arms or hands. The radiating pain can be accompanied by weakness and/or numbness.

For those with radiating pain, weakness or numbness in the shoulders, arms or hands, consultation with a spine specialist may be in order. Often times, these radiating symptoms are caused by something irritating a nerve in the neck. For those without radiating pain, just pain up and down the back of the neck, the pain is rarely caused by nerves being irritated. Rather most of these symptoms come from muscular and/or tendinous irritation and can even be caused by some wearing out of the joints in the back of the neck.

Most often with both types of neck pain, treatment will begin conservatively. This usually involves a combination of treatments which may include physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, traction, exercise, injections, medications, and others. For most individuals, these conservative treatments along with some time are all that will be required and many return to baseline function within a few weeks or months. For others, symptoms worsen or remain the same and further treatment may be required. At this point, evaluation or repeat evaluation would be warranted.

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