If you are living with chronic pain, finding relief might be tasking. Over-the-counter medications such as pain-relieving drugs may offer temporary relief. You may experience prolonged pain in various parts of your body, including your neck, and this may be a source of discomfort when sleeping or engaging in your day-to-day activities. Neck pain may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as arthritis or spinal stenosis. Therefore, it is vital to visit your doctor at CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center for diagnosis for interventional pain management in Olney, MD, to alleviate your pain.
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What causes neck pain?
Straining your neck muscles due to poor posture like leaning over your phone is a common cause of neck pain. Other causes of neck pain include:
· Accidents. You may get a whiplash injury due to trauma that causes a strain in the soft tissues of your neck.
· Worn out joints. As you get older, you may develop osteoarthritis, which causes your neck joints to deteriorate and may result in pain.
· Nerve compression. A pinched nerve may occur when the nerve in your neck branches away from the spinal cord.
However, neck pain may be a symptom of a severe condition for example:
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
- Facet joint dysfunction
- Arthritis
- Herniated discs
- Cervical nerve injury
Diagnosis for neck pain
Your doctor at CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center may physically examine your neck to check for numbness, tenderness, and muscle weakness. A blood test may also help your doctor to rule out infectious conditions that may cause neck pain.
Before recommending treatment, your specialist may need to use imaging tests to establish the cause of your neck pain. These tests include:
· CT scan. This test involves a combination of X-ray images from different angles to give a more detailed picture of the internal structure of your neck.
· X-rays. Your doctor may use electromagnetic radiation to see the area in your neck with a pinched nerve.
· Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This examination method involves the use of radio waves to provide detailed images of your nerves, soft tissues, muscles in your neck, and the spinal cord.
Interventional treatment methods for neck pain
Your doctor will recommend an effective treatment method for you based on the results of your diagnosis. Examples include:
Injections.
This treatment method offers temporary relief. Your doctor will inject opioids into your inflamed root nerve to reduce pain and inflammation. There are different injection types, such as epidural steroid injection, facet joint injection, and sacroiliac joint injection.
Electrical stimulation
Your doctor may recommend this method to treat spine conditions. During the process, your specialist will implant a stimulator and an electoral lead to deliver electrical pulses to the area causing pain in your neck.
Intrathecal pump implants
For this method, your doctor will implant a pump under your skin. This type of neuromodulation treatment interrupts pain signals from your nerves to the brain and offers consistent pain relief.
Radiofrequency ablation
During this procedure, your doctor will use a needle fitted with an electrode to temporarily stop your nerve from sending pain signals to your brain. This treatment may provide pain relief for six to 12 months.
Neck pain is a common condition that can be managed. Schedule an appointment with your doctor at CHOICE Pain & Rehabilitation Center to start living a pain-free life.