Neck pain symptoms may come and go better on your posture and stress and activity levels. Neck pain often presents with neck stiffness, shoulder pain, muscle tightness, and jaw pain. If your condition involves nerve root compression (cervical radiculopathy), pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in an arm may also develop.
Contact the professionals at American Pain Consortium to learn more about neck pain management in Indiana & Ohio.
Acute or chronic neck pain and headaches may have a number of causes, including muscular strain, spinal disorders, or arthritis. Because the spine is so complex, any condition affecting its nerves, discs, bones, or joints may cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.
Our board-certified pain management specialists at American Pain Consortium frequently diagnose the following causes of neck pain:
After using thorough diagnostic tests and procedures, our team implements individualized neck pain treatment that may include nerve blocks, medications, or pain-relieving injections.
Depending on the source of the pain, we may use a variety of treatments to alleviate neck and head pain, such as nerve blocks, steroid injections, and physical therapy.
Your neck pain treatment plan might include:
Try alternating heat with ice packs, or wearing a neck brace to relieve pain and inflammation while an injury heals.
Your doctor can refer you to a qualified physical therapist in your area to help you improve posture, stretch, and strengthen tissues in your neck to accelerate healing and relieve pain.
Steroid or numbing injections can alleviate neck pain and get you on the road to recovery quickly.
Your doctor can place electrodes on your skin to deliver electrical impulses and reduce pain signals to your brain.
Radiofrequency energy can also block pain signals to your brain to alleviate neck discomfort naturally.
Your pain specialist may refer you out for chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy to alleviate neck pain without pain medicine or surgery.
Acute neck pain often improves within a few weeks, while chronic neck pain may require a longer treatment plan. Consistent adherence to recommended treatments, such as physical therapy and medication, can significantly speed up recovery.
Yes, various exercises can help strengthen and stretch the neck muscles. A physical therapist can provide tailored exercises based on your specific condition. Some common exercises include neck rolls, chin tucks, and shoulder shrugs.
Both heat and ice can provide temporary relief for neck pain. Heat helps relax muscles, while ice reduces inflammation. Experiment with both to see which works best for you.
You should seek medical attention if your neck pain is severe, persistent, accompanied by numbness or weakness, or if you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing. These could be signs of a more serious underlying condition.
Neck pain and headaches can be debilitating, but you don’t have to live with it. If neck pain doesn’t go away after a few days, is severe, or prevents you from working or staying active, visit American Pain Consortium for an evaluation. Contact us today.