What causes neck pain?
The seven small vertebrae in your neck support your head and accommodate a full range of motion. The weight of your head, combined with repeated head movements, make the neck susceptible to painful injuries and disease.
The most common causes of neck pain include:
- Whiplash
- Sprains and strains
- Herniated disc
- Osteoarthritis
- Disc degeneration
- Cervical stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
All the problems in this list can lead to pinched, damaged, and inflamed nerves.
Will I have symptoms other than pain?
Neck pain limits your head movement and may cause a headache, sore throat, and muscle spasms in your upper shoulder. When a nerve is pinched, you may also experience symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or pain that radiate down your arms.
When should I see a doctor for neck pain?
Neck pain should receive immediate attention when it’s caused by an injury such as a car accident or fall. You should also get quick medical care if muscle weakness develops or you have a high fever, which could mean a serious infection. Schedule an appointment with your doctor when your neck pain lasts several weeks, worsens, or causes a headache.
How is neck pain treated?
Depending on the cause of your neck pain, the first line of treatment may include conservative options such as immobilizing your neck, modifying your activities, and physical therapy.
Dr. Purswani specializes in treating your pain with a variety of interventional treatments that are effective because they target the source of the pain. When your treatment includes an injection, he performs the procedure using imaging such as fluoroscopic X-rays to ensure precise needle placement.
Examples of interventional treatments for neck pain include:
Cervical epidural steroid injection
Dr. Purswani injects steroids into the space next to the spinal cord, targeting the area closest to damaged or pinched nerves. The steroids reduce inflammation and swelling, which in turn relieves your pain.
Cervical facet block
The facet joints on each vertebra can degenerate and develop bone spurs, which irritate and inflame nearby nerves. A facet block injection administered near the nerves delivers a local anesthetic for immediate pain relief and steroids to treat inflammation.
Cervical radiofrequency ablation
To perform radiofrequency ablation, Dr. Purswani treats the targeted nerve with gentle radiofrequency energy. This creates a lesion that blocks pain signals traveling through the nerve.
For relief from your neck pain, call Shyam Purswani, MD, or book an appointment online.
