What is the anatomy of the neck?
In order to better understand neck pain, it’s helpful to review the different components that make up your neck, specifically:
Your cervical spine, which is comprised of seven vertebrae
- Discs
- Joints
- Tendons
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Nerves
In an ideal world, all of these components work together seamlessly, supporting and allowing movement of your head. In the real world, however, there are any number of things that can cause a breakdown in your neck’s ability to function properly.
What causes neck pain?
There are three main causes of neck pain:
Injury
The most common neck injury is whiplash, which describes the whipping motion of your head back and forth, putting enormous strain on every component in your neck. Other injuries include overextending your neck or twisting it beyond its limits.
Nerve compression
Nerve compression is a broad diagnosis that encompasses an array of conditions, including:
- Stenosis
- Ruptured/herniated/slipped cervical discs
The end result of these conditions or diseases is irritation of the nerves in your neck, which can cause localized pain, or radiating pain, which can extend to your arms, back, and shoulders.
Arthritis
- Degenerative joint disease
- Degenerative disc disease
Arthritis can cause degeneration, or "wear and tear" of the discs and joints. The goal is to identify the pain generator whether it is the disc, joints, or muscles, and ligaments.
How is neck pain treated?
The first step in treating your neck pain is to diagnose the underlying problem, as each condition may respond better to one treatment over another. To do this, Dr. Nemeth at Signe Spine & Rehab, LLC performs a thorough examination of your neck and reviews your symptoms. Advanced imaging, such as X-rays or MRIs, plays a critical role in pinpointing your problem.
With the diagnosis in hand, Dr. Nemeth can hone in on the best treatment option for your individual case. This may include:
- Physical therapy, mechanics, and core treatment
- Epidural injections to numb the pain and reduce the swelling
- Facet injections, which the doctors deliver directly to the joint space in your cervical spine
- Radiofrequency ablation, which can eliminate the nerves signaling facet mediated pain
- Spinal cord stimulation, which helps block nerve activity as a way to minimize the sensation of pain signals
Whatever the treatment, rest assured that Dr. Nemeth at Signe Spine & Rehab, LLC works exhaustively to relieve your pain.
If you’re experiencing chronic neck pain, call Signe Spine & Rehab, LLC to schedule a visit.
